Tag Archives: Music

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

Channel flier Channel set listThe 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.]

Channel 1987

Channel 1987

Channel 1987

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Happy New Year From the DFFD Blog!

Randall's Island

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

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

12/28/77
CBGB’s Theater
NYC

CBGB's 1977 ad

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:

  • Mark the Animal’s final performance as a Dictator
  • Andy’s last show on keys
  • “What It Is” live premiere
  • “I Stand Tall” live premiere

12/31/86
Irving Plaza
NYC

Yes. The legendary White Castle food fight show.

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Merry Christmas From the DFFD Blog!

Santa ClausThank you to Scott Kempner and the Del-Lords for this most delightful of gifts:

Merry Christmas Baby

— DFFD123

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YouTube Tuesday: Scenes From Manitoba’s (99 Avenue B, between 6th and 7th)

For you this YouTube Tuesday: Some fun stuff filmed at Manitoba’s bar (99 Avenue B, between 6th and 7th). First up, in the clip above, the Handsome One regales the Brew Yorker with a story about Sid Vicious’ jacket. (Let the ending serve as a lesson to us all.)

Meanwhile, more good stuff with HDM from Josephine’s New York: a chat and personal tour of the bar’s many fine artifacts.

— DFFD123

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Fingers and Steel, Baby! Our Picks for the Top 10 Ross the Boss Solos

Ross at CBGB

CBGB, New York City, Dec. 5, 2003

We here at DFFD are used to doing impossible things every day. Yesterday, we made a dodo egg omelet for breakfast. Today, we attempt something even more ridiculous: We’re rating the top 10 Ross the Boss solos. What’s that you say? “Outrageous!! It can’t be done!! It’s like going to the Louvre, and declaring this Da Vinci is way better than that Da Vinci over there!’” Well, pooh-pooh and hubba hubba, we laugh at your concerns, bwahaha. We’re doing it anyway.

Ground rules:

1. Dictators + MWK material only. The “best solos in Manowar” post will have to wait for another writer on another day. Fans of Shakin’ Street, Heyday or the Spinatras will also have to wait for their time to shine.

2. Since no 2 RTB solos are ever the same, we’re restricting things to studio or live albums, otherwise we’ll be here all week. Maybe you have time to go through 100 bootleg versions of “Two Tub Man” to find the best one, but I sure don’t.

3. No technical jibber-jabber is allowed. It either rocks or it doesn’t rock.

Without any further ado, show us where you live, Ross:

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Del-Lords: Whole Lotta Somethin’ Goin’ On

Del-Lords Based on a True Story coverAs Scott promised last month, major activity is ramping up in Del-Lords World, hot on the heels of expanded reissues of their entire back catalog.

They’ve just launched a new official website, http://del-lords.com, in which they confirm work on a new recording and tease the denizens of Spain with hopes of a tour in 2010.

Our hero, meanwhile, rallies the troops on his hot-off-the-press Top Ten Blog:

“A new Del-Lords record. These are all new songs, featuring, you guessed it, two guitars, bass and drums, and a whole lot of vocalizing from one and all. We are not reinventing the Rock’n’Roll wheel, for it is round enough. Just some good solid pitching, alert defense, timely hitting and smart base running, as always. A combination that has worked since the damn thing was invented, and shows no sign of breaking down yet.”

Enjoy the rest here: Top Ten Blog.

— DFFD123

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‘Tators Tracker: Media Giants Edition

C’mon, let’s rock ‘n’ roll with the Dictators — four of whom hit the radio waves this week:

Wednesday (12/16), 2 p.m. ET: Thunderbolt Patterson joins host Lou Molinaro live on Indi101 FM in Hamilton, Ontario, and simulcast online at http://indifm.ca. Featuring cuts from Thunderbolt’s The LP Is Dead.

Thursday (12/17), 8-11 p.m. ET: Ross the Boss guests on the Internet-based show Metal Meltdown.

Archived from Sunday, 12/13: Andy talks wine and song on the Mr. Cutlets Show.

And, last but not least, for your daily entertainment:

Weekdays, 8 p.m-midnight ET: The Handsome Dick Manitoba Program, on Sirius Satellite Radio, Underground Garage, Channel 25.

For a look at radio host HDM at work, check out this video clip of him interviewing Iggy Pop — the only man we dare not mock for rocking mandals.

[Edited to add: Congrats on that Hall of Fame thing, Iggy!]

— DFFD123

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