Author Archives: DFFD123

YouTube Tuesday: “A Little Cosmic Surf Jam, Perhaps?”

A “California Sun” filmed onstage — and we mean onstage — in Oviedo, Spain, in 1996.

Some more unobstructed Oviedo treats from YouTube user pacovigil for your YouTube Tuesday viewing pleasure:

“Channel Surfing”
“New York New York” and “Science Gone Too Far!”
“Who Will Save Rock and Roll?” and “I Am Right!”

Muchas gracias, pacovigil!

— DFFD123

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Filed under Adny, Dictators Assembled, Frank Funaro, HDM, Live, Ross the Boss, Top Ten, Video, YouTube Tuesday

‘Tators Tracker: Mid-January Roll Call Edition

Roll callDictators roll call!

In random order, and with info courtesy of our friends over at TheDictators.com, here’s who’s been doing what and where and when:

Thunderbolt Patterson

Handsome Dick Manitoba

  • Performing two songs at the Continental in NYC on Sunday night (midnight with CJ Ramone and Daniel Rey, 12:30 a.m. with Cheetah Chrome)
  • Interviewing Cheetah Chrome for his radio program
  • Wrote the introduction to Clifford Meth’s Whorehouse Madrigals, available now for preorder
  • Massachusetts teens record tribute tune
  • Caught by the New York Times catching the Care Bears on Fire with his son, Jake

Andy Shernoff

Scott Kempner

Ross the Boss

— DFFD123

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Filed under 'Tators Tracker, Adny, HDM, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt, Top Ten

Return to the Lost Continental

The ContinentalLive music makes a surprise return to New York City dive bar-turned-shot palace the Continental on Jan. 17 with a star-studded Rock & Roll Reunion — featuring a guest appearance on two tunes from our fave frontman, Handsome Dick Manitoba.

The Continental, along with CBGB’s (RIP) and Coney Island High (RIP), was once a highlight of the East Village’s Punk Rock Club Circuit; however, unlike the other two spots, the Continental has remained, at least, a drinking establishment (and not a high-end clothing store) since it changed its business model in September 2006. But now it’s merely a place to drink and get drunk, and not a place to drink and get drunk while watching the Waldos.

As we gear up for the reunion next Sunday night — remember that the next day is a holiday, so you can stay out late — we at the DFFD Blog take a look back at the big show that closed out the club’s first chapter on Sept. 17, 2006.

A report from SugarBuzz Magazine on that final night discussed being confronted with the “mammoth power and energy” of the Handsome Dick Manitoba Band, consisting of HDM and the members of Thunderboss (aka Ross the Boss, J.P. “Thunderbolt” Patterson and bassist Dean Rispler):

Despite the one-off nature of this lineup, they were tight, shit-hot and need I say LOUD as they straddled the line between Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom and the Dictators, opening with “The Party Starts Now!” (no shit cause the mother erupted!).

Read the rest and check out some photos at SugarBuzz Magazine.

— DFFD123

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Filed under HDM, Live Review

Happy Birthday, J.P.! That’s What We Said.

J.P. "Thunderbolt" Patterson

The DFFD Blog lifts one beverage in celebration of Mr. J.P. “Thunderbolt” Patterson on the anniversary of his birth (Jan. 6)!

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YouTube Tuesday: “Dude . . . Put Some Pants On”

What an enchanting way to kick off a new year and new decade: Sit back, crank up the speakers and behold the Dics and their afros performing “Search and Destroy” in a clip that hasn’t lost a lick of its kinetic charm in the nearly 33 years since it was filmed. Manitoba takes the mic like he was fired from a rocket, Ross stares his singer down for an unsettlingly long time, Mark the Animal rocks ferociously, Ritchie Teeter punishes his drum kit, Andy hides in the background like a hired hand, and the otherwise cool-looking Top Ten, he wears short shorts.

This video of the performance is a bit better synced than most we’ve found, which ups the enjoyment factor considerably. Also adding to the fun: the 250 comments on this poorly synced version of the video. Look out, honey, they’re using technology! I’ll save you some serious scrolling by reproducing my faves — complete with original spelling and punctuation, for the authentic experience — starting with the uploader’s intro:

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Filed under Adny, Dictators Assembled, HDM, Live, Mark the Animal, Ritchie Teeter, Ross the Boss, Top Ten, Video, YouTube Tuesday

All Hail Today’s Birthday Boy!

Ross

The DFFD Blog wishes Ross the Boss a very happy birthday today (Jan. 3)!

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Filed under PSA, Ross the Boss

Happy New Year From the DFFD Blog!

Randall's Island

Aug. 14, 2004: The Dictators at Little Steven's Underground Garage Festival, Randall's Island, NYC Photo by CJ Scioscia

As we bid farewell to 2009 and the first decade of the millennium — and unplug the computer and prepare to make merry — we at the DFFD Blog are putting off opening that bottle of delicious red long enough to reflect on some of the finer moments the Dictators brought us in the last 10 years:

The release of D.F.F.D. The band’s first album in two decades made many critics’ year-end lists in 2001, and without a doubt made our entire year. In fact, it was so damned good it sustains us still.

A hot set at Little Steven’s Underground Garage Festival. The boys wowed ’em in Randall’s Island (click to supersize the photo above). Spinning stage, humongous screen, large crowd, media frenzy — that’s how the ‘Tators team deserves to roll.

Two memorable shows during CBGB’s last weekend. The last band standing pulls off a pair of fitting tributes to the punk rock palace. We just hope we weren’t also saying farewell to stateside shows by our heroes.

And this:

We sign off hoping beyond hope for more such Dictators delights in the near future, but most of all we wish you — our fellow fans with the finest taste in music — the happiest and healthiest of new years.

Talk to ya in ’10!

Cheers,

DFFD123

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Filed under Dictators Assembled, Lists, PSA

Should Auld New Year’s Eve Gigs Be Forgot . . .

12/28/77
CBGB’s Theater
NYC

CBGB's 1977 ad

Click to enlarge image

OK, OK, so the 28th of December isn’t technically New Year’s Eve, but check out the milestones that made this a more momentous gig than your average holiday show:

  • Mark the Animal’s final performance as a Dictator
  • Andy’s last show on keys
  • “What It Is” live premiere
  • “I Stand Tall” live premiere

12/31/86
Irving Plaza
NYC

Yes. The legendary White Castle food fight show.

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Filed under Dictators Assembled, Live, The Cincotta Archives