Sign hanging inside the Beekman Arms, “America’s Oldest Continually Operating Inn” (est. 1766), Rhinebeck, N.Y.
— DFFD123
Author Archives: DFFD123
A Spanish Spin on ‘Who Will Save Rock and Roll?’
Spanish band Los Vicentes has reworked the lyrics to Dictators favorite “Who Will Save Rock and Roll?” The translation follows, with footnotes provided by the band:
I’m stuck on the ground and look up to the sky.
Who will save Rock’nRoll?
Guille Martin (1) is not here.
Who will save Rock’nRoll?
Neither the “Perroflautas” (2),
nor the “Gafapasta” (3),
nor the saloon dolls.
My generation is not the solution.
Who will save Rock’nRoll?
I saw “Guns’n Roses” but I hate those poses.
Who will save Rock’nRoll?
All’em mercenaries.
Three revolutionary chords.
Choose your tribe and choose it well.
I’m broken down and angry.
Joey Ramone has already left us.
There are only brothel rhythms.
My generation is not the solution.
Who will save Rock’nRoll?
(1) Guille Martin was a great Spanish guitarist who died in 2006 of lung cancer, he played with the best Rock bands in Spain, and was a friend of our singer. He was very funny besides.
(2) We call “Perroflautas,” a combined word from “dog” and “flute,” to those “anti-system” guys and chicks who like Manu Chao, dress with dirty clothes and wear extensions and dreadlocks on their hair. They never work and live in squats.
(3) “Gafapasta” are here in Spain some kind of indies who use to wear black paste glasses and they are very boring.
— DFFD123
Filed under Cool covers
Now This Is an Idea We Can Get Behind
Join us in joining the new Facebook group It’s About Time For The DICTATORS To Do A Gig in NYC!!
— DFFD123
The Dictators Finally Make the Big League
(aka “Someone at Fox Has Surprisingly Tremendous Taste in Music”)
The Dictators’ version of “California Sun” from Every Day Is Saturday provides the soundtrack to this Fox promo for the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Anaheim:
— DFFD123
Filed under Dictators Assembled, Video
11 Years Ago Today … We Wish YouTube Existed
Reprint courtesy of TheDictators.com:
Manitoba’s, New York City
June 18, 1999
Review by DFFD123
Another day, another birthday, another birthday show, another brief appearance by the Dictators. This time the birthday boy was East Village musician Tom Clark, a friend of the ‘Tators who opened for them at CBGBs a couple of years ago. The Dictators started their set, well, as Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom. In Top Ten’s absence, Ross, Andy, HDM and J.P. performed “The Party Starts Now” and “Had It Coming,” followed by “Sonic Reducer.” And Clark got the ultimate present when he was invited onstage to play rhythm guitar on “Baby, Let’s Twist,” “Stay With Me” and a rollicking version of “California Sun.”
— DFFD123
Filed under Adny, Archive, HDM, Live, Live Review, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt
Giants Walked — Andy Talks
Andy Shernoff is currently in Canada with his “When Giants Walked the Earth: A Musical Memoir” solo tour — Thursday was Toronto. Next up: London, Ontario (Friday), and Hamilton, Ontario (Saturday). Details.
Get caught up on all the latest press on the show, which he just took south to Tennessee and will soon be bringing to several places in the Northeast:
GoMemphis.com: Rock pioneer Andy Shernoff kindles music and memories
Nashville Scene: A lesson in the history of rock ‘n’ roll according to Andy Shernoff
Über Röck: Andy Shernoff – The Dictators/Master Plan: Interview Exclusive
Everyone’s Wrong and I’m Right: Andy Shernoff Breaks His Silence
Join the Andy Shernoff Appreciation Society on Facebook.
If you see any other relevant new links out there, please let us know in the comments!
— DFFD123
YouTube Tuesday: Putting the ‘Wow’ in Bilbao
You know what sucks? When you put off doing something pretty special ’cause it’s slightly inconvenient — you don’t have quite enough vacation time at your stupid job, or you’re a little low on cash — so you say to yourself, “Next time. I’ll do it next time.” My “next times” include attending a performance of the legendary Les Paul at Iridium, which he did EVERY DAMNED MONDAY for eons while I lived within walking distance (d’oh!); and seeing James Brown in person, which I should have done several times over since he always played the club right across from my office, but no, the last time it was, like, 85 bucks, so when did I finally see him? WHEN HE WAS LYING IN A COFFIN IN HARLEM (D’OH!).
And it was always the stupid job, the stupid cash keeping me from traveling to witness the Dictators knock ’em dead in the rock’n’roll mecca of Spain (d’oh?). But thanks to tipster Esther Lecanda and the fine camera work by YouTube hero Rock & Roll First Line (see all his great uploads here), I can at least pretend to not have missed out on that last “next” time, as long as I blow up these Rocktober ’08 vids from Bilbao’s Kafe Antzokia, squint a little and turn up the speakers. Gracias, fellas!
Enjoy, the rest of you — and carpe diem.
“Avenue A” (featuring the kindest, gentlest ejection of a stage crasher anywhere, ever)
Click through for three more rockin’ vids.
Filed under Dictators Assembled, Video, YouTube Tuesday
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