The Dictators

The Dictators are a proto-punk band from New York City. In 1975, they released their first album, The Dictators Go Girl Crazy, making them the first NYC punk band to release an album on a major label. They are considered, to this da

The Dictators are a proto-punk band from New York City. In 1975, they released their first album, The Dictators Go Girl Crazy, making them the first NYC punk band to release an album on a major label. They are considered, to this day, a very influential punk band. The Dictators are represented in the "Punk Wing" of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, in Cleveland, Ohio. Steven Van Zandt called them,"The connective tissue between the eras of The MC5, Stooges, NY Dolls, and the punk explosion, of the mid to late 70's".

The original recording lineup consisted of bassist/vocalist Andy (aka "Adny") Shernoff, lead guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman (aka Ross Funicello), rhythm guitarist Scott "Top Ten" Kempner, and drummer Stu Boy King (who was, in fact, the band's fourth drummer since forming in 1973). It was this lineup - along with roadie/occasional vocalist Handsome Dick Manitoba (real name: Richard Blum) - which recorded the band's 1975 debut album, The Dictators Go Girl Crazy for Epic Records, produced by Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman (best known for their work with Blue Öyster Cult). Although the album sold poorly at the time, today it's considered one of the most important albums ever recorded by a New York punk band of the period, and still stands as one of the funniest records ever made. Much of this was due to the album's songs, written by Shernoff, who had previously published a music fanzine called "Teenage Wasteland Gazette," and was a gifted - and hilarious - observer of pop culture. Shortly after the album's release, King was replaced by drummer/vocalist Ritchie Teeter.