Category Archives: Dictators Assembled

On this date in 1977, the Dictators opened for Kiss at McElroy Auditorium in Waterloo, Iowa. This was the first of 6 sporadic dates the guys did with Kiss between February and March of that year.

Manitoba used to tell the story of the 2 bands’ different perspectives as follows:

“We would show up at these shows, and say to ourselves, ‘Alright, we’re finally starting to get someplace, 10,000 people!’ and then we’d pass Simmons in the hallway, and he’d be complaining, ‘Why are we playing in this tiny 10,000 seat dump??’”

Rumor has it that there were significant problems with the backstage accommodations, as the Dictators got bumped from their dressing room into Auxiliary Electrical Closet B to make room for Kiss’ pyro crew and the crates of Paul Stanley’s emergency girdles.

— Salvi C.

And you thought today was gonna suck.

Here’s the Dictators’ full performance from Little Steven’s Underground Garage Festival!

Thanks much to MonkeyBeat!!!!

— DFFD123

It’s hard to believe that the 4th anniversary of the closing of CBGBs is already upon us. Patti Smith got the headlines, but the two Dictators shows that preceded Patti were really the heart and soul of the weekend. There are a thousand stories to be told from those nights. Here’s mine.

To set the stage: there we were, at the end of the Saturday gig. We had just been thrilled by the Dics’ fantastic performance, capped by the surprise encore appearance of Tommy Ramone to sing “Blitzkrieg Bop.” “Goosebumps” and “tears” were the popular descriptives from everyone in attendance.

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