*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.
"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
