The Dictators, the seminal
NYC Proto-punk legends are back – well – sort of. For reasons it's best not to get into here –
how can I be politically correct about this – musicians who were in the band The
Dictators have joined forces with other musicians - to play the music of the
Dictators to fans around the world.
They've been touring steadily since 2011 performing said music, and this
year they sat down and wrote new music together.
The band consists of singer and world renowned personality “Handsome Dick” Manitoba, guitar god Ross “The Boss”
Friedman (both founding members of the Dictators), bassist Dean “The Dream”
Rispler (aka that dude that EVERYONE fucking knows apparently!!), rhythm
guitarist Daniel Rey and drummer J.P “Thunderbolt” Patterson.
Pay attention here, Wave-riders: Manitoba,
JP and Daniel formed Manitoba's
Wild Kingdom (With Andy Shernoff – bassist and primary
songwriter for the Dictators). Ross
replaced Rey before the band recorded their only album “...And You?”. JP joined the Dictators when they recorded
“D.F.F.D (Dictators Forever, Forever Dictators) in 2001. Dean and J.P played together in Richard Lloyd's
(ex Television) band.
Phew...in January 2012, Manitoba,
RTB, Daniel, Dean and J.P played their first show – as Manitoba at Asbury Lanes in NJ as part of
the Light of Day foundation's weekend. I
was there – I have the shirt. In fact,
there's a video on YouTube where you can
see me smiling and headbanging off Ross's side of the stage, but I digress.
That was the beginning of those dudes touring and performing the music
of the Dictators and Wild
Kingdom.
In May 2013, the group re-named themselves “The Dictators
NYC”. That's where they're at now –
that's the banner the single is being released under.
Now that that's out of the way – what does the music sound
like? Co-written by Ross the Boss and Handsome Dick Manitoba: IT SOUNDS LIKE
THE DICTATORS!!! I can't put it any
other way...It's about – simply - “Supply and Demand” - the fans wanted to
hear the music, these guys are playing the music. That's what's up!! According to Ross the Boss
himself, “We've been touring with the new lineup and new agent; doing better,
playing to bigger crowds in more countries than ever ! We've been touring since '96 but now we're
blowing up everywhere!” He continues,
“The new era of The Dictators NYC HAD BEEN BORN. NYC added to let the fans know
its not the same lineup and respect the old band, but same ideology and a the
start of the new era.”
The digital “b-side” is a cover of the MC5 ditty “Kick out
the Jams” - recorded live at Slims in San
Francisco.
I've been told the
boys are working on a full-length of original material – and if this single is
any indication it's going to give all these young up-start bands a run for
their money. In the immortal words from
“Two Tub Man” - “It's feeding time” !!
- Rys
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