Where are the Dictators members these days? Where AREN’T they?
Personally, I’m having great difficulty keeping track of them and their many different projects. Here’s a quick snapshot of where to find who doing what when … if I missed something (and I probably did), please e-mail me or comment below!
In random order, because I love ALL my Dictators (separate but equal, yo!):
Filed under 'Tators Tracker, Adny, HDM, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt, Top Ten
Today would have been the great Joey Ramone‘s 60th birthday … if you’re in NYC, you can catch three Dictators (Andy, Ross and J.P. — not together) at tonight’s annual Joey Ramone Birthday Bash! More info here.
— DFFD123
Filed under Adny, PSA, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt
Just checking.
If not, you can watch it here.
From last Sunday’s New York Daily News (two-page!) (full-color!) spread:
Heavy hitter: Metal rocker Ross Friedman of Dictators fame helps kids bang out singles (and doubles)
— DFFD123
Filed under Ross the Boss, Video
The new Ross the Boss album, “Hailstorm,” has been out for a couple of months now, and if you’re like me, you’ve been eyeing it with much trepidation. Let’s face facts: Most Dictator fans have not had an easy time with Manowar. Liking both bands is like trying to be a Democrat and a Republican at the same time, much easier said than done. Ross’ current band is cut from the Manowar template, so the question of the day is, does “Hailstorm” have anything that your average beer-swilling Dictator fan can enjoy?
First things first. There are a few basics that have to be accepted. Like every project Ross has ever been associated with, he’s the best thing here by a factor of about a million. No surprises there. The bigger pill that has to be swallowed is the crush-kill-destroy Viking imagery that permeates the lyrics, vastly different from Shernoff’s smart-a** NYC-centric point of view. Much like your fat aunt, this is difficult to get your arms around, and is a reluctant embrace.
Filed under Music Review, Ross the Boss
Celebrate Ross the Boss’s birthday today by buying a gift for yourself: the “very limited edition” Shakin’ Street double-DVD set, “Live in the 21st Century.” Click here to watch the promo video.
— DFFD123
Filed under PSA, Ross the Boss
Today’s Hannukah gift (Day 7!) is for all the golfers in the house. While the seasonal temperatures here in the NE have forced most of us to put our clubs away for the year, we can be thankful that the Manowar Golf Course remains open. Plaid bunny-fur loincloths are required apparel.
— Salvi C.
Filed under Ross the Boss, Special, Tomfoolery
For all of you budding RTBs out there, our Hanukkah gift for the day is the chord changes to the “Bloodbrothers” album, plus a couple extra.
This was Fritz “The Boss” Erikson’s cheat sheet from the “Faster and Louder” 2009 tribute set. It’s about time for another gig, guys.
Here’s Faster and Louder blazing their way through “Young, Fast, and Scientific.” Richie Parsons and Fritz have been doing this one since the Band 19 days, and it has never failed to smoke!
— Salvi C.
Filed under Cool covers, Ross the Boss, Special, Tomfoolery
Approximately sixty-seven minutes after booking my flight to Boston to hang out with Salvi, and to finally see the almighty Radio Birdman play at the Middle East on Sept. 9, I got the call; Thunderbolt Patterson, Ross the Boss, and Dean Rispler, aka THUNDERBOSS, were playing a set at Poptown’s release party for “THUNDERBOSS,” at J.P.’s favorite hangout, BillyMarks West in NYC. And J.P. hisself had cordially invited us to attend!
Salvi and I found our way to BillyMarks, strolling in the door as the band did a brief soundcheck. Mid-song, J.P. spotted Salvi, and yelled “SAL!” After finishing the check, J.P. came over to chat and thank us for traveling so far for his little bash. Not a problem, Mr. Bolt. As J.P. worked the room, we spoke quite a while with Dean, Ross and C.J. Sciøscia. J.P.’s daughter filled snack bags with crunchies, while his wife sold T-shirts and CDs, and searched for gaffer’s tape. Once behind his drumkit, J.P. explained that he and his missus were on the eve of their 17th wedding anniversary … awwww.
Karen (our wunnerful webhostess) and her hubby John arrived, followed shortly by a dapper gent, who turned out to be J.P.’s Dad. We were introduced to Mr. Patterson, and spent most of the non-musical portion of the evening yakkin’ with him. The man’s led a fascinating life being, among other things, a member of the US Diplomatic Corps, traveling the world with his family. Granddad was a professional wrassler, Dad’s a diplomat, J.P.’s a rock drummer/thespian. Now that’s a colorful family lineage! Adrianna, J.P’s sister, arrived from Maryland just as the first set began. Given the family history, I wondered what her chosen calling was. Geophysics? Gourmet chef? Rockette?
Ross had taken his legendary black Les Paul out of protective custody for this gig. Dean played a cool Epiphone bass, J.P. played his usual Pearl kit. With the Poptown/NFL Film Crew in place, THUNDERBOSS launched into their seven-song set, wrapping it up with a rip through Jeff Beck’s “Rice Pudding,” with a dash of Jimi tossed in by Ross. An excellent, smokin’ set, but much too short. But…
Filed under Archive, Live, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt, Video
See what you might have missed in The Dictators Holiday Gift Guide!
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