Tag Archives: Music

by | December 10, 2009 · 2:44 pm

Talking to the Animal

Mark the AnimalMy esteemed colleague Salvi C. brought this illuminating interview with former Dictators bassist, and current Twisted Sister, Mark “the Animal” Mendoza to my attention. From the Twisted Sister website, the article — of indeterminate age — features a wealth of nuggets from possibly the only person on the planet who refers to Andy Shernoff as “the keyboard player.”

On hearing The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! for the first time:

“I listened to it and thought it was the worst crap I ever heard! And I said that there’s no way I’m playing in this band. I’m sorry. I’m just not playing this crap.”

On how he impacted the band:

“When I joined the Dictators I kind of changed their style of music. All of a sudden these guys had to play pretty hard to keep up with me. It was like all of a sudden ‘super charging’ the band.”

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by | December 8, 2009 · 12:56 pm

YouTube Tuesday: “A Veritable Punk Rock Aria!”

For you this YouTube Tuesday: A masterful performance of “Master Race Rock,” recorded live at NYC’s late, lamented Coney Island High on Dec. 12, 1997. Thanks to Boulevard07 for having the foresight and gumption to upload it to YouTube and Twitter user @netmeg for proving that something with a lame name like Twitter can be used in cool ways.

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by | December 7, 2009 · 12:51 am

The Dictators Holiday Gift Guide 2009

Every Day Is Saturday cover Because the DFFD Blog exists to serve you, the Dictators fan — and because nothing says “yuletide cheer” quite like the music of the Dictators — we want to help you fill your stockings with the latest in ‘Tators entertainment this holiday season.

If you made your way here, and actually stayed, chances are that you already have all of the Dictators studio and live albums and, most likely, a choice vinyl single or eight.

But if you haven’t yet picked up their latest — the odds ‘n’ sods album Every Day Is Saturday, released in January 2008 — go ahead now. We’ll wait. (You can thank us later.)

Amazon.com (U.S.)holly
Amazon.co.uk
iTunes

Now get one for your mom. (She can thank us later, too.)

The Dictators may not be making music together of late (bad), but its individual members have at least been keeping busy creatively (very, very good). Which leaves us, the fans, with — at least! — five times the material to keep track of in the quest to complete our collections (good and bad). And, let’s face it, not all this stuff is available at your local Wal-Mart, so you can probably use a little direction.

Without further ado, we offer you the Dictators Holiday Gift Guide 2009:

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by | December 6, 2009 · 2:45 pm

Ross Le Boss et Shakin’ Street: Zee Albums

Shakin' StreetIn 1979 and 1980, the period between the end of the Dictators’ original reign and the birth of Manowar, Ross the Boss did yeoman duty as the guitar god for the French band Shakin’ Street. It’s time to give them a fresh listen.

The logical starting point is their self-titled 1980 album on Columbia. Singer Fabienne’s English as a Second Language vocals don’t always work, and there are points where the material doesn’t keep up with the playing. But RTB is killer throughout, and there are high points tune-wise, with “Solid as a Rock,” “No Time To Lose,” “So Fine” and especially “Susie Wong.”  “Susie Wong” is easily the best thing here, a beautiful tune with a nicely structured arrangement that winds its way to RTB’s best bits on the LP, where he’s sympathetic and muscular all at once. It’s simply a great song, and one of the best non-Dics things he’s ever played on. The highs more than compensate for the lows here, and overall this is a pretty solid album. Continue reading →

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by | December 3, 2009 · 10:28 pm

Cool Covers: Boston’s “Bloodbrothers” Tribute

Last August, five veterans of venerable Boston bands — Gang Green, the Neighborhoods, Unnatural Axe and the Johnny Black Trio — teamed up to play the Dictators’ entire Bloodbrothers album for a local club’s tribute night. They called themselves Faster & Louder, and they rocked, as you can see with the above clip for “Stay With Me.”

They really need to do it again. A Dictators-starved nation looks to you, F&L.

Check out TheDictators.com’s report of the show here (posted 8/12/09).

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by | December 2, 2009 · 1:42 am

J.P.’s Record Release Party, Manitoba’s, 11/30/09

CJ, Gerry and J.P.

C.J. Scioscia, Gerry Griffin and J.P. Patterson

Paul Collins and J.P.

J.P. with Paul Collins of the Nerves and the Paul Collins Beat

J.P. poster Manitoba's

J.P. poster Manitoba's

CJ, J.P., Karen

C.J. Scioscia, J.P. Patterson, Karen Lanza

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by | November 28, 2009 · 1:48 pm

Unearthing a “Lost Classic”: MWK’s “…And You?”

And You? coverThe Hard Rock Hideout recently rediscovered the Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom “lost classic” …And You?:

“‘Haircut and Attitude’ almost sounds like a lost Beastie Boys song. ‘D.W.I.’ is so catchy, it almost sounds like a KISS tune. … I think I am getting more enjoyment out of this CD now than when it was originally released.”

More: http://hardrockhideout.com/2009/11/20/manitobas-wild-kingdom-and-you-1990/

…AND, for YOUr viewing pleasure, a video clip of MWK rocking the 2008 Joey Ramone Birthday Bash:

— DFFD123

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