The Party Starts Again!!

In accordance with the age-old show biz axiom of “Always open out of town,” Manitoba made their world debut on Friday, Jan. 13. The band headlined at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ, as part of the “Light the Day” benefit series.

It had been a looooong 5 years since these songs have been performed in the loud and proud, and it was a toss-up as to who was more excited — the band, to finally have the chance to play them, or the audience, who finally had their patience rewarded by being able to hear them. Suffice to say, it was an emotional and cathartic night for everyone in attendance. The supermodel-thin Handsome Dick spoke for everyone in the room when he bellowed, “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than in a bowling alley in New Jersey on a beautiful Friday night!”

Continue reading

3 Comments

Filed under HDM, Live Review, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt

Happy Birthday to the Thunderbolt!

Happy birthday to our favorite renaissance man, J.P. “Thunderbolt” Patterson!! If you can’t wait until the upcoming Manitoba shows (Jan 13 and 26, as if you didn’t know already) to catch him in action, and we can’t, then give your channel changer a work-out, and look for him in the new Capital One commercial with Jerry Stiller.

— Salvi C.

1 Comment

Filed under PSA, Thunderbolt

The MANITOBA Era Is Nigh!!

The chance to catch MANITOBA is nearly upon us!

Catch the debut of the band (Handsome Dick Manitoba, Ross the Boss, J.P. “Thunderbolt” Patterson, Daniel Rey, Dean Rispler) at Asbury Park, N.J.’s Light of Day benefit, on Friday, Jan. 13. They’ll play only a handful of songs, but you can say YOU WERE THERE … and the ticket proceeds go to a great cause. Get your tickets at TicketWeb.

MANITOBA will perform a full set at their second show, Thursday, Jan. 26, at NYC’s Bowery Electric. TicketWeb has your $15 ticket (for now, so hurry). We will SEE YOU THERE!

DFFD123

1 Comment

Filed under HDM, Live, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt

Happy Holidays From The DFFD Blog!

It doesn’t matter if you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa — we ALL celebrate the Dictators! Happy holidays and Dictators Forever Forever Dictators!

To celebrate, some video of the band in 1997 at Coney Island High … enjoy!

Leave a comment

Filed under Live, PSA, Video

Manitoba Debuts!! [Update: Not]

[12/12 UPDATE: Manitoba is unfortunately off the bill, so let’s hold this thought until next time … there WILL be a next time, right?!?!]

It could be great. It could be “Jazz Odyssey.” Either way, we’ve waited 5+ years for it. If this ends up being a one and out, or a living and breathing entity, will really hinge upon our acceptance of the band as, if not The Next Big Thing, then at very least, The Next Best Thing.

There’s no need for debate, or dismissing the project with a “It’s not the Dictators.” We already KNOW that. For us, your humble reporters, it’s all about the songs. We know and trust the guys involved to do justice to the old classics and then, if the project grows legs, to breathe life into new classics.

Whether or not you decide to embrace the new line-up is entirely up to you. You know where you can find me. I’ll be up front, on the Ross side.

— Salvi C.

6 Comments

Filed under HDM, Live, Ross the Boss, Thunderbolt

“Don’t Mess With Manitoba!!”

Too late for Chanukah 2011, but just in time for Purim 2012 – Aggronautix is accepting pre-orders for the Handsome Dick Manitoba Throbblehead doll! Even the BOX is cool!

— Salvi C.

Handsome Dick Manitoda Throbblehead Figure Announced

Pre-orders open now, shipping February 2012

Handsome Dick Manitoba, King of New York and fearless leader of The Dictators, has been promoted to throbblehead status!



This figure capturing Richard’s signature modern day look is limited to 1000 numbered units, stands at 7 inches tall, and is made of super strong polyresin.



Don’t mess with Manitoba as he stands proudly representing the Lower East Side. He’s accurately sculpted right down to the weathered Dictators leather jacket and searing glare.

Continue reading

Leave a comment

Filed under HDM

Woohoo!! We’re 2!!

It’s the two-year anniversary of this thing of ours. If you haven’t figured it out by now, this site exists to pay homage to the greatest band ever. There is no room here for the negativity and arguing that is running rampant in Tatorland.

Our wishes for the future are that our boys should play the songs however they want, whether loud or quiet, in whatever collaboration can stand each other’s company, and please, please SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY.

Respect!

— DFFD123 & Salvi C.

1 Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Foooking Hell!

We’ll have a much longer blow by blow on the Norton 25th Anny weekend in the days to come, but while we try to deal with the harsh return to reality, and sift through the detritus of the trip (any theories as to why I bought a “Learn to Dance with Jackie and The Cedrics” DVD would be appreciated), here’s the highlight of the event from our Dictators-centric point of view. Enjoy.

— Salvi C.

1 Comment

Filed under Adny, Live, Video