The Dictators
This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (November 2023) |
The Dictators | |
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Origin | New York City, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1972–1975, 1976–1980, 1995–2009, 2020-present |
Labels | |
Members | |
Past members |
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Website | thedictators |
The Dictators are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973.[2] Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth."[3]
Origins
The band was formed in 1972 by
Frustrated by the lack of sales, the band broke up for a few months in late 1975, but reconvened in early 1976, with bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza replacing Shernoff and Ritchie Teeter replacing King.[4] After a few months Shernoff was persuaded to return to the group as the group's keyboardist.[4] This line-up soon secured a contract with Asylum Records[4] (at least partly due to the notoriety the group had developed following a well-publicized brawl between Manitoba and Jayne County)[8] and released their second album, Manifest Destiny, in 1977.[4] The album was produced by Pearlman and Krugman with songs written by Shernoff.
Early in 1978, Mendoza had left the band (he soon joined
1980s
After the break-up, Manitoba drove a taxi cab, Shernoff worked as a record producer and songwriter and Friedman worked first with the French
The members of the band began reuniting occasionally and in 1981,
," plus two new Shernoff numbers, "Loyola" and "New York New York".Other than occasional reunion shows, little was heard from The Dictators during the next five years. However, in late 1986 Shernoff and Manitoba (along with guitarist Daniel Rey) formed Wild Kingdom, releasing a version of "New York New York" on the 1988 soundtrack to Mondo New York.
1990s
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In 1990, MCA Records released the Wild Kingdom debut, ...And You? written and produced by Andy Shernoff, though they were now billed as Manitoba's Wild Kingdom to avoid a lawsuit from the TV show Wild Kingdom. By this time Rey had left the group and had been replaced by Friedman (the group was rounded out by drummer J.P. Patterson). ...And You? - a brief 25 minutes in length - received excellent reviews, with Rolling Stone calling it "the first great punk rock album of the '90s."
The ...And You? album cover was a source of some controversy, since it was lifted from a
By the 1990s, much about the lives of the band's members had changed markedly. Shernoff recorded and toured with
However, the group - first with Frank Funaro on drums, then again with Patterson - began recording a new Dictators album written and produced by Andy Shernoff in the late 1990s, which was eventually released as D.F.F.D. in 2001. AllMusic called the album a "non-stop barrage of spitfire precision rock. The material is, unbelievably, their best and most consistent ever for an album".[9]
2000s
This section needs additional citations for verification. (March 2023) |
The Dictators continued to perform to a devoted audience releasing a live album, Viva Dictators in 2005, produced by Shernoff. In 2007, they compiled an album of demos, rarities, and unreleased songs which were recorded at various times over their thirty-plus year career called Every Day Is Saturday on Norton Records. The title was a line in the song "Weekend" from the band's first album The Dictators Go Girl Crazy.
Shernoff formed The Master Plan with The Fleshtones' Keith Streng, releasing Colossus of Destiny on Alive-Total Energy Records in 2003, and Maximum Respect on Green Mist Records in 2011.
Manitoba sang with the surviving members of the
In October 2006, the band (Manitoba, Shernoff, Friedman, Patterson, Kempner) headlined the second and third to last shows ever at CBGB. The second to last show featured Blondie on the bill as well, and during the Dictators final song on the CBGB stage, they were joined by Tommy Ramone, the last surviving original member of The Ramones for a rendition of the Ramones song "Blitzkrieg Bop".
In November 2007, Manitoba, along with author Amy Wallace, put out The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists on BackBeat Books, a small book company owned by Hal Leonard Publishing.
Manitoba's Wild Kingdom reunited in May 2008 to play at the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, with a lineup featuring Manitoba, Shernoff, Friedman and Patterson.[11]
In July 2008, Kempner released his second solo album Saving Grace.
In October 2008, The Dictators reunited for a series of four concerts in Spain.
Ross The Boss released his debut solo album, New Metal Leader, in August 2008. He and his band have released their second album Hailstorm in 2010.
Patterson released his second album, entitled The LP Is Dead, in November 2009 via No Fun Records.
2010s
Kempner and the rest of The Del-Lords re-united in early 2010 for a successful tour of Spain and began working on an album of all new material. Kempner's first solo album, Tenement Angels, was released on March 1, 2011, on GB Music. The release is on CD (remastered with a bonus track) and on vinyl. The LP is a limited edition on 500, and comes with a digital download and a hand signed poster by Kempner.
Manitoba, Ross the Boss, Dean Rispler (ex-Murphys Law), JP Paterson, and Daniel Rey formed Manitoba in January 2012.[12] In April 2013, the band changed its name to The Dictators NYC.[13] A single "Supply and Demand," composed by Boss, Manitoba, and Manitoba's son Jake, and backed with a live version of the MC5's "Kick Out the Jams," was released in November 2015.[14] In July 2017, it was announced that the band name would be changed back to Manitoba, "due to legal threats by ex-bandmates, Andy Shernoff and Scott Kempner". In December of that year the band announced it had broken up.[15]
Shernoff released his first solo EP Don't Fade Away on Yazoo Squelch Records in 2012. Critic Mark Deming wrote "the man is still writing excellent songs and singing them straight from the heart, which is what his best work has always been about, and it's great news that well over three decades into his career, he's still got fresh and worthwhile things to say."[16] He released his second EP On The First Day, Man Created God in 2013 again on Yazoo Squelch records. In August 2015, he released a video collaboration with Lydia Lunch for the song "A Good Night To Say Goodbye".[17] Another video to celebrate Joey Ramone's 65th birthday was released on May 15, 2016.[18]
Former member Richard Teeter, who played drums for The Dictators between 1976 and 1979, died on April 10, 2012, due to complications from esophageal cancer.[19] He was 61.[20]
In November 2015, Go Girl Crazy! received an expanded and remastered CD reissue, featuring several unreleased selections and remixes of three tunes by Andrew W.K.[21]
On May 1, 2018, the Dictators original drummer, Stuart 'Stu Boy' King, died from pancreatic cancer.[22]
In November 2019, Manitoba released his first solo album Born in the Bronx.
2020s
On May 28, 2020, Andy Shernoff announced that the Dictators were reforming to record some new material and possibly play live, with a line-up comprising Shernoff on bass and vocals, Ross The Boss and Kempner on guitars and Albert Bouchard (formerly of Blue Öyster Cult) on drums.[23] On January 8, 2021, Shernoff announced on Facebook that a new Dictators song and video would be released on January 15. On April 6 that year, the Dictators announced "Scott Kempner will be leaving the band due to health reasons."[24] On October 18, the band announced that Keith Roth (David Johansen, Earl Slick, Cherie Currie, Cheetah Crome) would join the band on vocals and guitar. Kempner died from complications of dementia in a nursing home in Connecticut on November 29, 2023, at the age of 69.[25]
Members
Current
- Ross "The Boss" Friedman – lead guitar, backing vocals (1973–1975, 1976–1980, 1995–2008, 2020-present)
- Andy Shernoff – bass guitar (1973–1975, 1978–1980, 1995–2008, 2020-present), keyboards (1976–1980, 1995–2008), lead and backing vocals (1973–1975, 1976–1980, 1995–2008, 2020-present)
- Albert Bouchard – drums, occasional lead vocals[26] (2020-present)
- Keith Roth – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (2021-present)
Former
- Richard Manitoba – backing vocals (1974–1975), lead vocals (1974–1975, 1976–1980, 1995–2008)
- Scott "Top Ten" Kempner – rhythm guitar (1973–1975, 1976–1980, 1995–2008, 2020–2021; died 2023)
- Stu Boy King – drums (1974–1975, died 2018)
- Ritchie Teeter – drums (1976–1979; died 2012)
- Mark Mendoza – bass guitar, backing vocals (1976–1977)
- Mel "Starr" Anderson – drums (1979–1980)
- Frank Funaro – drums (1995–1998)
- J.P. Patterson – drums (1998–2008)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
- Go Girl Crazy!(1975)
- Manifest Destiny (1977) #193 Billboard Top 200 Albums
- Bloodbrothers (1978)
- ...And You? (1990) (as Manitoba's Wild Kingdom)
- D.F.F.D. (2001)
Live albums
- Fuck 'Em If They Can't Take a Joke (ROIR, 1981)
- The Dictators Live, New York, New York (ROIR, 1998)
- Viva Dictators (2005)
Singles/EPs
- "Search & Destroy" (1977)
- "Hey Boys" (1977)
- "Heartache" (1977)
- "I Am Right" (1996)
- "Who Will Save Rock 'N' Roll?" (1997)
- "Avenue A" (2001)
- "16 Forever" (2007)
- "The Next Big Thing" EP (2015)
- "God Damn New York" (2021)
- "Let's Get the Band Back Together" (2021)
- "Festivus" (2021)
- "Crazy Horses" (2023)
Compilations
- Every Day Is Saturday (2007)
- Faster... Louder - The Dictators' Best 1975-2001 (2014)
References
- ^ "The Dictators - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
- ^ "The Dictators". Thedictators.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ John Dougan. "The Dictators | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-579-4.
- ^ "Interview Still in Rock : Andy Shernoff (The Dictators)". Stillinrock.com. January 15, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ Ira Robbins (February 22, 1991). "Go Girl Crazy". Entertainment Weekly. No. 52. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-55652-761-6.
- ^ "Man Enough To Be A Woman". Jayne County. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ "D.F.F.D. - The Dictators | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. October 9, 2001. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ "Dick Manitoba Explains Sirius Firing". PunkNews.org.
- ^ "Manitoba's Wild Kingdom at the 2008 Joey Ramone Birthday Bash". Manitobaswildkingdom.com. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ Rainone, Phil (January 2012). "Asbury Lanes Lights Up For January: Two Nights of Light Of Day Benefits". Jersey Beat. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "Coming Soon..."The Dictators NYC" Tickets Here | Manitoba NYC's Former Website". Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "New Single Out Now!!!". The Dictators NYC Official Website. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "The Dictators - Manitoba's Wild Kingdom". Ross-the-boss.com. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ Mark Deming (August 13, 2012). "Don't Fade Away - Andy Shernoff | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- YouTube
- YouTube
- ^ "2012 January To June". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
- ^ "Former Twisted Sister drummer Teeter dies". The West Australian. April 12, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ "The Dictators: The Next Big Thing EP–Andrew W.K. 2015 Remixes & Studio Outtakes (Black Friday Exclusive Release)". Real Gone Music. October 9, 2015.
- ^ "R.I.P. Stu Boy King (1954-2018)". DFFD Blog. May 2, 2018.
- ^ "Dictators re-assemble". I94bar.com. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ "Facebook". Facebook.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ Staff, Best Classic Bands (November 29, 2023). "Scott Kempner, Founding Member of NYC Bands The Dictators and Del-Lords, Dies". Best Classic Bands. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "Dominance and Submission - Dictators rehearsal". YouTube.