Category Archives: Dictators Assembled

by Robbiecube | January 23, 2010 · 11:14 pm

Jan. 24, 1986: The Musical Comeback of the Century!

THE DICTATORS RE-FORM TO HEADLINE
“THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF PUNK”

CONCERT AT THE RITZ, NYC
January 24,1986

Ross and Scott with the Dics at the Ritz in '86. Photo courtesy of CJ Scioscia

NYC? The Big Apple? Me? It was January, 1986. I was 32, and had never been east of Dayton. But when the call came from Salvi, telling me about the Dictators reforming to headline the “10th Anniversary of Punk” at the Ritz, I did what any red-blooded Dictators fan would do … I borrowed $250 from my then-girlfriend and headed to Midway Airport! I hopped a Thursday night flight to Newark via People’s Express, a budget airline that required passengers to pay in cash once the plane was in the air! People’s Express made traveling by Greyhound seem like a first-class trip in comparison. But I got there in one piece. Who knows what fell off that plane en route?

I landed at Newark, no plans, no room, ending up crashing at the Ben Franklin Inn (“Where a Penny Saved…”). Friday dawned bright and crisp, I grabbed an eventual bus to downtown Newark. A nice gentleman sat next to me immediately, asking me lots of questions, several times inviting me to hop off the bus for “a drink or two.” People sure were friendly in Newark! And I’d heard such bad things.

Continue reading →

4 Comments

Filed under Adny, Archive, Dictators Assembled, HDM, Live, Live Review, Mark the Animal, Ritchie Teeter, Ross the Boss, Top Ten

Tagged as Anniversary, Archives, Live Music, Music, Review

by DFFD123 | January 21, 2010 · 7:26 pm

“New York New York” — A Hell of a Song

The Powers That Be behind the The New York Nobody Sings blog, dedicated to songs about New York, might not be the world’s biggest Dictators fans — at least according to a new post this week — but they did dredge up a cool clip of “New York New York” from Irving Plaza in ’81. For that, we salute you.

— DFFD123

6 Comments

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

Tagged as Music, New York, Video

by DFFD123 | January 19, 2010 · 12:11 am

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

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:

Continue reading →

1 Comment

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

Tagged as Comments, Covers, Music, Punk, Video, YouTube

by Salvi C. | January 2, 2010 · 11:32 am

1/2/87: They Were Really Rockin’ in Boston

The Channel was a low-ceilinged warehouse near the South Station Postal Annex, accessible only by several pitch-dark alleys. I feared for my life every time I went there. This show was in a huge snowstorm, which closed many roads, and left me doubting whether or not the band would make it, or if any other fans would brave the trip. No problems on either front — the place was banged out, 800 strong in attendance!

The Dics were obviously psyched to be making an extremely rare road trip, their first Boston show in almost nine years. The show had an unusual intro: They opened with “Science Gone Too Far,” and each band member took the stage individually as his part was called for. Rich Teeter began alone with the thunderous drum roll, then Andy came out and rumbled the bass line, then Scott threw the rhythm guitar on top, then RTB, and finally Manitoba brought the energy level off the charts with his entrance. t was a very exciting beginning, and it never let up. Band members were hopping around like jumping beans, and Manitoba gave unprecedented love to Boston for being so loyal. I almost fainted when he yelled out, “Boston is effing GREAT, and I MEAN IT!”

— Salvi C.

[Note: Photos, set list and ad reproduced courtesy of the Cincotta Archives.]

1 Comment

Filed under Archive, Dics Pix, Dictators Assembled, Live, The Cincotta Archives

Tagged as Anniversary, Archives, Boston rock, Music

by DFFD123 | December 31, 2009 · 4:40 pm

Happy New Year From the DFFD Blog!

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

5 Comments

Filed under Dictators Assembled, Lists, PSA

Tagged as Decade, Lists, Music, New Year, Year End

by DFFD123 | December 29, 2009 · 10:24 pm

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

12/28/77
CBGB’s Theater
NYC

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: