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~ the Dictators Discography a songwriter to come up with "a good riff and catchy chorus." With Shernoffback on bass in 1978, the Dictators recorded Bloodbrothers, a last-ditch effort to catch the wave they had helped create N1975, a year before the Ramones Beatles, his role as bassist differed greatly from only three short years before. They broke up defined the punk genre, another New York Paul McCartney's: he was there solely to push soon thereafter, with the 1981 live album Fuck Iband, the Dictators, released the testos- the band. ''I'm an AC/DC-type 'Em If They Can't Take a Joke (later re- terone-infused proto-punk classic The Dictators player," he says. released as New York, New York) serv- GoGirl Crazy!, whose standout cuts-''(I Live "Youdon't listen ing as an epitaph of sorts. But in 1991, for) Cars and Girls," "Weekend," and an absurd to AC/DC and say, the original Dictators reformed and cover of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe"- 'Wow, this rhythm began periodically touring. Adecade simultaneously embraced and lampooned the section is great.' You later, they released a new studio shameless self-indulgence of rock 'n' roll junk say, 'Wow, this band album, D.F.F.D. With rousing num- culture. As singer, bassist, keyboardist, and is kickin'-and it's bers like "Who Will Save Rock and songsmith Andy (sometimes spelled "Adny") kickin' because the Roll?," the album received positive Shernoff later commented in Legs McNeil's bass player and drum- reviews from critics; it would seem 1996 oral history of punk, Please Kill Me, "You mer are great.''' that Shernoff the songsmith was were supposed to have a sense of humor about Shernoff's song- finally getting some long-overdue it, but it wasn't supposed to be a joke." writing skill may be his respect. Unfortunately, the band's riotous blend of greatest contribution to Today, Shernoff is still using hubris and self-mockery worked against them, the Dictators' sound, but the first bass he ever bought-a and Girl Crazy! failed to generate much inter- that skill is matched by white 1968 Fender Precision Bass est. While their counterparts Patti Smith, Tele- his dedication to the art with its original pickups. For ses- vision, and the Ramones were staking claims of bass. "There are a hun- sion work, he primarily uses an ESPPrecision- to New York's Lower East Side, the Dictators dred variations to downstroking," he says with style bass with EMGpickups. "Ibought the white were being dumped by Epic Records. In the the enthusiasm of a scientist revealing his latest Precision because Brian Wilson played one," he ensuing years, they were besieged by person- discovery. "I've been getting into the minutiae says, noting his early obsession with the Beach nel changes, a mastering faux pas, and record- of how to use a pick-it's like how the Eskimos Boys'bassist and chief songwriter, "but the ESP company instability, thwarting any hope of have a hundred different words for snow!" has more muscle live."A true audiophile, Sher- sharing in the mega-popularity enjoyed by Shernoffbelieves that the bass is by nature a noffhas been fine-tuning his tone over the years; peers such as Blondie and Talking Heads. muscular instrument, and that "the sound is he long ago switched to a bi-amp system. "When Today, however, without a single hit song mostly in your fingers, whether you're using a I started using the ADAB500B power amp and or album to their credit, the Dictators are pick or not. It's only going to sound good if your separate Tech 21 SansAmp RBIbass preamp," he recognized as arguably the most influential fingers know how to hold the instrument." says, "I was really able to finesse my sound and proto-punk band to emerge from New York, In 1977, the year of the punk explosion, the fit it into the overall mix." For cabinets, he uses and Girl Crazy! is revered as the template for Dictators released their second album, Manifest a Marshall 1540 4xlO and Marshall 1525 2x15, dozens of bands that followed the Dictators' Destiny. Despite the presence of Shernoff- both with Celestion speakers. lead. With much of the original lineup still penned classics like "Science Gone Too Far!" In 2005, 30 years after their debut, the intact and touring, the group has finally, by and "Steppin' Out," the quality of the recording Dictators released iViva Dictators!, a live way of sheer endurance, earned a place in the was damaged in the mastering process, render- disc showcasing 15 of the band's proto-punk classics. "The CD is sort of our 'greatest hits,' annals of punk history. ing it somewhat ineffectual upon its release. Shernoff assembled the Dictators in The album featured Shernoff on keyboards in the Dictators' world," says Shernoff. "We the Bronx in 1974 and honed his satirical and future Twisted Sister Mark Mendoza on never had a hit single, and we never got the worldview with the help of rock theorist and bass, but that lineup was short-lived, "a minor big money, but the fact is people are still inter- critic Richard Meltzer. Musically, he sought episode in the history of the band," as Sher- ested in the band, so I can't complain. When to emulate the catchy, riff-oriented guitar noff puts it. Despite having switched to keys, I was young, I wanted that hit. At this point, rock of songwriters like Ray Davies and Pete Shernoff says he remained "a bass player first just to be able to keep going is a blessing." Townshend. And though Shernoff loved the and foremost," while continuing his quest as - FREDDY VILLANO ......................................................................................................................................................................... THE DICTATORS DISCOGRAPHY THE J)lc:TATODS UVI \.' :~.~ •....... ~t \ .- / . , ~ NI(W TOfU( NEW YORK D.F.F.D. (Dictators iViva Dictators! The Dictators Go Girl Manifest Destiny Bloodbrothers New York, New York Multimedia, 2001) (Escapi Music, 2005) Crazy! (Epic, 1975) (Wounded Bird, 1977) (Dictators [Live] (ROIR, 1998) Multimedia, 1978) BASS GUITAR 29.
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