The Dictators

Lord Emsworth
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The Dictators Aug 9, 2020 13:27:24 GMT stu77 likes this

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Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 9, 2020 13:27:24 GMT

The Dictators came up in that Don Letts Punk Attitude doc

I've never paid them much heed but I was v surprised to discover that their first LP came out in 1975

What's yer verdict?

Formed in 1974, N.Y.C.'s Dictators were one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth. Alternately reveling in and satirizing the wanton excesses of a rock & roll lifestyle and lowbrow culture (e.g., wrestling, TV, fast food), with their world-view defined by bassist/keyboardist and former fanzine publisher (Teenage Wasteland Gazette) Andy (occasionally Adny) Shernoff and renegade rock critic/theorist Richard Meltzer, the Dictators played loud, fast rock & roll fueled by a love of '60s American garage rock, British Invasion pop, and the sonic onslaught of the Who. Driven by the guitar barrage of Scott "Top Ten" Kempner and Ross "the Boss" Funichello and fronted by indefatigable ex-roadie and wrestler Handsome Dick Manitoba (aka Richard Blum), it seemed that nothing stood in the way of the Dictators and mega-popularity.....

www.allmusic.com/artist/the-dictators-mn0000787757/biography

Probably too American to really be embraced here?

Or were they?

The Dictators - The Next Big Thing

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personunknown
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The Dictators Aug 9, 2020 13:42:56 GMT Lord Emsworth and johnnyoi like this

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Post by personunknown on Aug 9, 2020 13:42:56 GMT

Bought the above which was a 12 inch release back in the day, brilliant cover of the Iggy track. But the b side, Sleeping With The TV On, was a bit US seventies Aerosmith rock, so I didn't investigate any further.

Lord Emsworth Administrator Posts: 15,750	The Dictators Aug 9, 2020 14:13:21 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 9, 2020 14:13:21 GMT I'll be honest, good as that Iggy cover is, I find it hard to get past the Jeff Lynne curly barnet
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johnnyoi God Posts: 508	The Dictators Aug 9, 2020 14:15:27 GMT via mobile Lord Emsworth likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by johnnyoi on Aug 9, 2020 14:15:27 GMT Completely passed me by back in the day.Got to say I like “Stay with me” though.

doug61
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The Dictators Apr 8, 2021 14:17:32 GMT Lord Emsworth and stu77 like this

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Post by doug61 on Apr 8, 2021 14:17:32 GMT

Were the most hated band in NYC, Dick Manitoba sued Wayne County after he (at that time) broke the Handsome one's collarbone with a mic stand after he gave Wayne some anti gay shit in CBGBs. Everyone took Wayne's side and did a big charity bash to pay his costs.

zeopold God Posts: 3,382	The Dictators Apr 9, 2021 21:43:58 GMT Lord Emsworth and stu77 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by zeopold on Apr 9, 2021 21:43:58 GMT Cheesy old squares playing boring old fashioned rock. The Tubes were another example. Waste of electricity at the time when there were so many cool groups to get into.
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Lord Emsworth
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The Dictators Apr 10, 2021 7:42:04 GMT

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Post by Lord Emsworth on Apr 10, 2021 7:42:04 GMT

Apr 9, 2021 21:43:58 GMT zeopold said:

Cheesy old squares playing boring old fashioned rock.
The Tubes were another example.
Waste of electricity at the time when there were so many cool groups to get into.

Apr 8, 2021 14:17:32 GMT doug61 said:

Were the most hated band in NYC, Dick Manitoba sued Wayne County after he (at that time) broke the Handsome one's collarbone with a mic stand after he gave Wayne some anti gay shit in CBGBs. Everyone took Wayne's side and did a big charity bash to pay his costs.

Hard to see the appeal of The Dictators based on the comments so far

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doug61 God Posts: 2,710	The Dictators Apr 10, 2021 10:49:38 GMT Lord Emsworth likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by doug61 on Apr 10, 2021 10:49:38 GMT Most of those bands that were lauded on "live at CBGBs" albums were like the Dictators. The American version of Pub Rock maybe, stodgy and slightly dated jumping aboard the "punk" bandwagon.

Lord Emsworth
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The Dictators Apr 10, 2021 12:11:40 GMT stu77 likes this

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Post by Lord Emsworth on Apr 10, 2021 12:11:40 GMT

Apr 10, 2021 10:49:38 GMT doug61 said:

Most of those bands that were lauded on "live at CBGBs" albums were like the Dictators. The American version of Pub Rock maybe, stodgy and slightly dated jumping aboard the "punk" bandwagon.

Sounds about right Doug

I was never convinced by Stiv Bators / Dead Boys either except Sonic Reducer of course

Not that I have ever given them more than a cursory listen

We should probably have a thread for them and now we have...

talkpunk.freeforums.net/thread/899/dead-boys

Let's discuss Dead Boys over there

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doug61
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The Dictators Apr 10, 2021 12:22:09 GMT stu77 likes this

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Post by doug61 on Apr 10, 2021 12:22:09 GMT

Apr 10, 2021 12:11:40 GMT Lord Emsworth said:

Apr 10, 2021 10:49:38 GMT doug61 said:

Most of those bands that were lauded on "live at CBGBs" albums were like the Dictators. The American version of Pub Rock maybe, stodgy and slightly dated jumping aboard the "punk" bandwagon.

Sounds about right Doug

I was never convinced by Stiv Bators / Dead Boys either except Sonic Reducer of course

Not that I have ever given them more than a cursory listen

We should probably have a thread for them and now we have...

talkpunk.freeforums.net/thread/899/dead-boys

Let's discuss Dead Boys over there

I saw Stiv quite a few times with Lords Of The New Church in the 80's.

stu77 God Posts: 5,638	The Dictators Nov 30, 2023 3:39:13 GMT via mobile Lord Emsworth and doug61 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by stu77 on Nov 30, 2023 3:39:13 GMT RIP Scott Kempner variety.com/2023/music/news/scott-kempner-dead-the-dictators-1235813925/

stu77 God Posts: 5,638	The Dictators Feb 11, 2024 0:44:56 GMT via mobile Lord Emsworth likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by stu77 on Feb 11, 2024 0:44:56 GMT www.c86show.org/e/andy-shernoff-the-dictators/

Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 9, 2020 13:27:24 GMT

Post by personunknown on Aug 9, 2020 13:42:56 GMT

Post by Lord Emsworth on Aug 9, 2020 14:13:21 GMT

Post by johnnyoi on Aug 9, 2020 14:15:27 GMT

Post by doug61 on Apr 8, 2021 14:17:32 GMT

Post by zeopold on Apr 9, 2021 21:43:58 GMT

Post by Lord Emsworth on Apr 10, 2021 7:42:04 GMT

Post by doug61 on Apr 10, 2021 10:49:38 GMT

Post by Lord Emsworth on Apr 10, 2021 12:11:40 GMT

Post by doug61 on Apr 10, 2021 12:22:09 GMT

Post by stu77 on Nov 30, 2023 3:39:13 GMT

Post by stu77 on Feb 11, 2024 0:44:56 GMT

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