Founded in 1995 by Sami Yaffa (ex-Hanoi Rocks, Demolition 23., Jerusalem Slim, New York Dolls, Michael Monroe etc.) and his wife Karmen Guy, Mad Juana offers up a sophisticated brew of bohemian-gypsy rock, blending blues, reggae, dub, flamenco and good old dirty rock n roll. Karmen Guy’s smoky, soulful vocals conjure comparisons to Nico-era Velvet Underground (the band acknowledges this influence with a cover of “Venus in Furs”.) Yaffa trades in his usual bass for pulsing acoustic guitar. The band also includes Marni Rice (accordion), Danny Ray (tenor saxophone), Jimmy Vespa (trumpet), Paul Garisto (congas & percussion), and Karmen Guy (vox, melodica & other percussion).

Discography:

Kumpania (Backstage Alliance, 2011)
Bruja on the Corner (Acetate Records, 2008)
Acoustic Voodoo (U.S. release on Azra Records, 2006)
In Your Blood (U.K. release, 2002)
Skin of My Teeth (Finnish release on Spinefarm Records, 1997)