Still Got Live, Even If You Don't Want It

Biography

*Originally released as a ROIR cassette-only in 1986 as "We Aren't The World" 25 TRACKS - ALMOST 60 MINUTES!!! Like an earthquake, an explosion of underground counter-culture youth bands erupted in Los Angeles during the summer of 1977. Seemingly from out of nowhere, L.A. became the epicenter for arrogant, anti-industry, full of attitude rock bands like the Zero's, the Dils, the Germs, the Dickies, the Weirdos, the Plugs, the Flesh Eaters and X. It was the birth of a scene that captured the at...

*Originally released as a ROIR cassette-only in 1986 as "We Aren't The World" 25 TRACKS - ALMOST 60 MINUTES!!! Like an earthquake, an explosion of underground counter-culture youth bands erupted in Los Angeles during the summer of 1977. Seemingly from out of nowhere, L.A. became the epicenter for arrogant, anti-industry, full of attitude rock bands like the Zero's, the Dils, the Germs, the Dickies, the Weirdos, the Plugs, the Flesh Eaters and X. It was the birth of a scene that captured the attention of both the international media and young aspiring rockers worldwide. L.A. New Wave! Twenty-two years later, what had started out as a joke cover band, the Dickies, are still together touring and putting out records! In fact, this May and June they are in Europe on a thirty-two city tour, non-stop. I met Stan Lee, guitarist and "de facto" spokesman for the Dickies, in 1985 in the Men's Room at Irving Plaza, a night club here in NYC, where they were headlining. Actually, I spotted him going in and thought that was as good a place as any to hit him with the potential of a one-off deal with ROIR, then a cassette-only company. Both of us facing South, I introduced myself - thankfully Stan knew about ROIR and we agreed to agree for a ROIR Dickies cassette-only. I was delighted, as the Dickies were one of my favorite bands. The result was the 1986 release of "We Aren't the World", which became one of ROIR's best-sellers, released as a cassette-only. Now it has been renamed by the band and digitally remastered for CD release. The exclusive material they put together included their earliest studio 4 track demo of 4 songs that landed them their major deal with A&M and choice live material recorded in England in 1978 and early 80's airchecks from broadcasted live gigs. All choice stuff and all in keeping with the Dickies unmistakable and unique sound and attitude --- humorous punk, based on images of cult b-movies, junk culture, phallic humor and all played at twice the speed of light!!! Indeed they are the "West Coast Ramones" - but bathed in the L.A. and San Fernando Valley mind set. Press "This is one hell of a good time." - Jeff Tamarkin, CMJ "A thorough survey of this long standing joke-punk groups' work. The Dickies are really stupid, bogus, shallow, you name it - but this is a great document: recommended for punk historians and fans of this sort of schlock-rock." - Low Life "One of the most popular of the original L.A. punk bands. Their original material often took it's cue from b-movies, similar in style and attitude to NY's Ramones." - Guinness Who's Who of Rock "A Mad Magazine punk self-parody. 21 doses of live Dickiesdom recorded between 1978 and 1985 plus the raw '77 four song demo that got them signed to A&M. A potent dose for fans of chaotic smart-assitude." - Trouser Press Record Guide "Exhaustive collection. Proves they haven't changed much over the years. The most interesting thing about the cassette is the presence of their four song 1977 demo which is the crudest and most scintillating rock and roll they ever captured on tape." - All Music Guide to Rock "Sounds like they take their caffeine intravenously. The manic renditions have made them fans favorite." - Third Party Press "This collection is the pure and unadulterated insanity the band is famous for. This band combines satirical nostalgic pop, and ragged hardcore thrash, balancing each song stabily on a beam of delight." - Op "When mayhem and mischief are your prime motivation, then this ROIR tape is just for you." - Boston Rock "Their raw electrical energy, wit and phallic humor are all on this tape. Go get it now." - Cassette Review "Wonderful, foolish, fast and funny. Here's a band weaned on junk culture, Twinkies, cartoons, AM radio and turning to punk rock, they spit it out in cartoon like fashion. Buy!" - Suburban Youth "Leonard vs. Audience banter definitely captures the essence of the live show as well as presenting the band in their crankin' live form - an edge they never quite captured on vinyl." - Maximum Rock n' Roll "The Dickies are the band that was the missing link between NY's Ramones and London's Damned. This tape begins with four songs recorded in a rehearsal room in the Valley back in late '77 - a tape which led to their eventual major label deal with A&M. Wonder about the quirks, mysteries and miracles of the music biz?" - Music Connection L.A. "The Dickies were never ever anything but party animals and proud of it. These Californians took the Ramones -and raised the stupidity ante to break the bank." - Sweet Potato "It has all their greatest stuff, including 7 never before released songs, among them their earliest '77 demo." -Carol Schutzbank "L.A.'s first D-U-M-B punkers pogo into infinity." - Lab 36 "This cassette tells the whole sordid story of how hardcore thrash was born (playing songs louder and faster than they were supposed to be played) starting with 4 track demos from '77 right thru a summer '85 show at CBGB's. Dickies fans should be thrilled that so many of these songs are finally available again, given the collector's market that's developed for the band's early singles." - Jersey Beat Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.