{"id":15072,"date":"2021-04-21T20:04:45","date_gmt":"2021-04-21T20:04:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skylight.gr\/?p=15072"},"modified":"2021-04-21T20:04:48","modified_gmt":"2021-04-21T20:04:48","slug":"legendary-punk-rockers-the-dictators-reassemble-issue-new-singles-lets-get-the-band-back-together-and-god-damn-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skylight.gr\/index.php\/2021\/04\/21\/legendary-punk-rockers-the-dictators-reassemble-issue-new-singles-lets-get-the-band-back-together-and-god-damn-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"LEGENDARY PUNK ROCKERS THE DICTATORS REASSEMBLE + ISSUE NEW SINGLES, \u2018LET\u2019S GET THE BAND BACK TOGETHER\u2019 AND \u2018GOD DAMN NEW YORK\u2019!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The three founding members of legendary New York hard rock\/proto-punk rockers \u2013 singer\/bassist\/songwriter Andy Shernoff, rhythm guitarist Scott Kempner, and lead guitarist\/Manowar icon Ross the Boss \u2013 are back, with legendary Blue Oyster Cult drummer Albert Bouchard on board! New single \u201cGod Damn New York\u201d out now!

Called by critic John Dougan as “one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth.\u201d the Dictators are releasing their first new music in 20 years. The groups\u2019 three founding members, Andy Shernoff, Ross Friedman and Scott Kempner are joined on drums by founding Blue \u00d6yster Cult member Albert Bouchard, the man who played the infamous cowbell on \u201dDon\u2019t Fear The Reaper\u201d. The Dictators and the Blue \u00d6yster Cult have known each other since the early days when they both shared the patronage of producer\/manager Sandy Pearlman.

\u201cScott and I had lost touch with Ross but we were brought together by some Dictators business\u201d, explains Andy. \u201cOnce it was settled, Ross suggested we play together again. It was literally the last thing on my mind, but Scott was enthusiastic, so I sat on it and eventually said ok and damn, I am so glad I did as it’s kept me busy during the pandemic\u201d.

\u201cI wrote \u2018God Damn New York\u2019 with my wife before we got married for a video that never got made. When I was presenting new song ideas to everybody, this one got a thumbs up. So I changed the key, re-wrote the lyrics to give it some Dictators swagger, and voila, the first new Dictators song in 20 years. It\u2019s sort of a love\/hate letter to New York City\u201d.

And the band\u2019s next single will be released on April 21st (with a music video for the track here:https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/bdk789bs<\/a>. \u201cMy buddy Jesse Bates had a song called \u2018Let\u2019s Get The Band Back Together.\u2019 I thought it was really clever and funny so I asked him if I could fool around with it and put my spin on it.  He said go for it, so I made few changes and recorded it on my own a few years ago but it was just so perfect for the Dictators that we couldn\u2019t resist.\u201d

\u201cFor me, \u2018Let\u2019s Get the Band Back Together\u2019 has the same exuberance and joy \u2018Go Girl Crazy\u2019 has!\u201d adds Ross.  Stream the song here:https:\/\/tinyurl.com\/y4z3wzzw<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known for their sarcastic lyrics and aggressive sound, The Dictators released what Uncut Magazine called \u201cthe first punk rock album\u201d,\u00a0The Dictators Go Girl Crazy, in 1975 \u2013 a full year before The Ramones. Having played shows early on with the Stooges and New York Dolls, they became regulars at CBGB\u2019s, while influencing bands around the world.

The Dictators released 2 more records\u00a0(Manifest Destiny\u00a0and\u00a0Bloodbrothers) in the 70\u2019s before breaking up. Ross went on to found heavy metal overlords Manowar, while Scott started roots rock pioneers The Del Lords. Andy worked as a producer and songwriter while also performing with Joey Ramone and The Fleshtones.

An early \u201880s get-together produced the classic live album\u00a0Fuck \u2018em If They Can\u2019t Take a Joke,\u00a0and the band performed sporadically until 1995 when, realizing the extent of its fan base and influence, once again reformed full time. Numerous international tours culminated in 2001\u2019s D.F.F.D., the band\u2019s last studio album. After playing the final weekend of CBGB\u2019s in 2006, they once again went their separate ways.

It took a worldwide pandemic to once again unite the band. After a socially distanced recording session, the band finished the new recordings by trading files over the internet. The first release is \u201cGod Damn New York\u201d \u2013 a love\/hate song to the band\u2019s home town. The reunited Dictators\u2019 second single release, \u201cLet\u2019s Get The Band back Together\u201d, had its\u00a0debut on Little Steven\u2019s Underground Garage Radio show\u00a0on April 12. More music will come out later in 2021 and the band looks forward to touring in 2022!\u00a0

\u201cWe have a song ready to be released in July and a special seasonal song about the holidays set up for December. We hope to record 4 more tracks in June and just keep on releasing cool new tunes and videos, until things are completely open.\u201d
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