Mink DeVille

Mink DeVille (formed 1974; split 1986) was an American rock band that formed in San Francisco but is best known for its association with early punk bands at New York's CBGB nightclub and also for being a showcase for the eclectic music of Willy DeVille. The band recorded six albums during the years 1977 to 1985, reaching their peak of mainstream success with their lively 1977 single "Spanish Stroll". Except for frontman Willy DeVille, the original members of the band played only on the first two albums ('Cabretta' and 'Return to Magenta'). For the remaining albums and for tours, Willy DeVille assembled musicians to play under the name Mink DeVille. After 1985, when Willy DeVille began recording and touring under his own name (saying that he felt tired of being referred to as 'Mink' after performances), his backup bands were sometimes called 'The Mink DeVille Band,' an allusion to the earlier 'Mink DeVille' group.