Malarkey in the UK!!

This week in 1977 found the Dictators at the mid-point of their first-ever European tour. In support of the Stranglers, who were the biggest band in England at the time, the guys were stuck in the dreaded opening slot for most of the tour.  

Opening acts here in the US of A are met with disdain and indifference. Opening acts in the UK were literally spat upon, which invariably was met with physical threats from either Scott or Mark. It’s a safe bet that the waiting rooms at local dentist offices were standing room only when our guys were done distributing the hurt.

  The tour wasn’t all phlegm and broken teeth. Seeing the CIash and Generation X enthrall their audiences led our guys to transition from their alignment with the heavy metal dinosaurs (looking at you, Heep) to the younger, sharper, stripped down sound of the new wave. The now-classic “Bloodbrothers” sound — no frills, all thrills — was conceived right here.

   The 1977 European tour:

• 1. 10/23 Cardiff
• 2. 10/24 Cardiff
• 3. 10/26 Brighton
• 4. 10/28 Surrey
• 5. 10/29 Hastings
• 6. 10/30 Reading
• 7. 10/31 Southampton
• 8. 11/2 London
• 9. 11/2 London
• 10. 11/3 London
• 11. 11/4 London
• 12. 11/5 London
• 13. 11/6 London
• 14. 11/8 Paris
• 15. 11/9 Paris
• 16. 11/11 Amsterdam
• 17. 11/12 Amsterdam
• 18. 11/15 Munich (canceled)
• 19. 11/18 London