The Dictators

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The Dictators
General information
Genre (s) Rock , protopunk , punk rock
founding 1973
Website www.thedictators.com
Founding members
Handsome Dick Manitoba
Bass , vocals
 Andy "Adny" Shernoff
Ross "The Boss" Friedman (Funicello)
guitar
 Scott "Top Ten" Kempner
Stu Boy King
Later members
bass
 Mark "The Animal" Mendoza
Drums
 Richard "Ritchie" Teeter
Drums
 Mel Anderson
Drums
 JP "Thunderbolt" Patterson
Drums
 Frank Funaro

The Dictators is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973 . Because of her loud and fast rock 'n' roll she is considered one of the forerunners of punk rock together with bands like MC5 , the New York Dolls and The Stooges .

Band history

The band The Dictators was founded in 1973 in New York City by bassist Andy Shernoff, guitarists Ross "The Boss" Friedman (Funicello) and Scott "Top Ten" Kempner, and drummer Stu Boy King. Shernoff, editor of the fanzine "Teenage Wasteland Gazette" , was initially also the singer of the band; However, this task was soon taken over by her roadie Handsome Dick Manitoba . Their music was a mixture of simple, loud and fast rock'n'roll, combined with lyrics about elements of everyday culture such as television, cars, fast food , beer and wrestling .

Sponsored by music journalist Richard Meltzer, the Dictators recorded their 1975 debut album The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! which was produced by Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman. Commercially this album was a disappointment, but it is considered by music critics to be one of the most important albums of the period. The band broke up for a few months in response, only to get back together in 1976; this time initially without Andy Shernoff, with Mark “The Animal” Mendoza as bassist. Shernoff returned to the band a little later as a keyboardist . With this line-up they recorded their second album Manifest Destiny in 1977 , again produced by Pearlman and Krugman, who had become known for their work for Blue Öyster Cult .

In 1978 Mendoza left the band to join Twisted Sister ; therefore Andy Shernoff took over the job as bassist for the Dictators again. In the meantime Richard "Ritchie" Teeter had joined the band as a drummer. In the same year they recorded their most successful album, Bloodbrothers , also produced by Pearlman / Krugman. The song Baby, Let's Twist was a minor hit and was played more frequently on radio stations on the east coast. Bruce Springsteen , a fan of the band, can be heard on the opening track Faster and Louder counting the song. This album was also not very successful commercially, so that the band finally broke up in 1979. Mel Anderson of Twisted Sister had previously joined the band as a drummer.

After the breakup, Manitoba worked as a taxi driver, Shernoff became a music producer , and Kempner continued to play guitar in the band Del Lords . Ross "The Boss" Friedman first worked as a guitarist for the French hard rock band Shakin 'Street and in 1982 became a founding member of the US heavy metal band Manowar . In 1981 the band got back together occasionally and recorded the album Fuck 'em if They Can't Take a Joke , which was only released on cassette . Nevertheless, the band was largely inactive except for occasional concerts.

In 1986 Shernoff and Manitoba founded the band Manitoba's Wild Kingdom together with guitarist and producer Daniel Rey , which immediately afterwards released their debut album … And You? published. By this time Rey had already left the band; for this Friedman came back as a guitarist. After a club tour, Kempner got back into the band, so that the original line-up with JP “Thunderbolt” Patterson as drummer was complete again. In the episode they therefore appeared again under their previous name The Dictators .

In the late 1990s they also recorded another studio album: DFFD ("Dictators Forever - Forever Dictators!"), Which was released in 2001. Shernoff described this album as likely the band's last studio album, as it was difficult to write new songs. Despite guitarist Kempner's move to California , the band keeps coming together for individual concerts; At one of these concerts a live album, VIVA Dictators , was recorded in 2005.

Former drummer Richard "Ritchie" Teeter died on April 6, 2012 at the age of 61 from esophageal cancer .

Discography

  • 1975: The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!
  • 1976: CBGB & OMFUG
  • 1977: Manifest Destiny
  • 1978: Bloodbrothers
  • 1981: Irving Plaza
  • 1981: Fuck 'em if They Can't Take a Joke (live)
  • 1998: The Dictators Live: New York New York
  • 2001: DFFD
  • 2005: VIVA Dictators (live)
  • 2007: Every Day Is Saturday
  • 2015: Go Girl Crazy!

literature

  • Steven Lee Beeber: The Heebie Jeebies at CBGB's. The Jewish roots of punk. Ventil Verlag, Mainz 2008, ISBN 978-3-931555-64-1 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ RockHard, April 11, 2012 , accessed April 11, 2012
  2. ^ In Appreciation of Richie Teeter , accessed April 11, 2012

Web links