The Dictators - No Tomorrow

Formed in 1974, N.Y.C.'s Dictators were one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth. Alternately reveling in and satirizing the wanton excesses of a rock & roll lifestyle and lowbrow culture (e.g., wrestling, TV, fast food), the Dictators, whose worldview was defined by bassist/keyboardist and former fanzine publisher (Teenage Wasteland Gazette) Andy (occasionally Adny) Shernoff and renegade rock critic/theorist Richard Meltzer, played loud, fast rock & roll fueled by a love of '60s American garage rock, British Invasion pop, and the sonic onslaught of the Who. Driven by the guitar barrage of Scott "Top Ten" Kempner and Ross "the Boss" Funichello and fronted by indefatigable ex-roadie and wrestler Handsome Dick Manitoba (aka Richard Blum), it seemed that nothing stood in the way of the Dictators and mega-popularity. But that's not what happened. There were complications with record companies, personnel changes (one-time bassist Mark Mendoza left for Twisted Sister; original drummer Stu Boy King was replaced by Richie Teeter), radio hated them, critical response was lukewarm, and lots of audiences didn't get the jokes; supporters remained loyal and vociferous (especially Meltzer), but it didn't turn into anything tangible. Ironically, what didn't help at all was the rise of the New York punk scene, which only diverted attention away from them and onto bands they influenced (e.g., the Ramones). They did manage to release three fine albums, but after 1978's Bloodbrothers was greeted with public apathy, the group's members began moving in different directions.

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Music

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• Dictators
• No
• Tomorrow
• Bloodbrothers
• original
• studio
• version
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• video
• high
• quality

[technologic21]

THE FUCKING BEST

[ZLUGGO]

Well, what can I say, eh? Great band! Great tune! Yeah, that just about sums it up.

[highwaymaintainer]

opened for ac/dc and thin lizzy at the aragon in chicago in 1978, loved these guys

[johnnydelrey]

great description. I was there. I love this band. The live shows were incredible!

[Shashan1977]

Too melodic for this fu ckin punk.

[LTp465g]

Too beautiful for words.... From 1:54 minutes onwards completely blew my head off! For every kid that ever had to endure all the b.s. of growing up and got back up on their feet again....

[sf02b]

My favorite Dictators song. Epic guitar solo. Thanks for the upload.