Today we talk to the legendary frontman of Texas' most Political Punk Band, MDC! Since they have an upcoming tour, what better time to sit down with none other than Dave Dictor!?
Not only that MDC was also the first show date(or anything for that matter) posted on Tx Punk!
So, let's get started! There's an interview by Tx Punk, and a short one by "someone close to the band" courtesy of MDC.
Not only that MDC was also the first show date(or anything for that matter) posted on Tx Punk!
So, let's get started! There's an interview by Tx Punk, and a short one by "someone close to the band" courtesy of MDC.
Dave Dictor 2008 Europe Tour at La Fourmi in Limoges, France by Murielle
Tx Punk: You did a song with a punk band out of Puna, Hi called Old Habits Die Hard... How did that come about?
Dave: I met a gang of punks in Oahu 3 years ago when we played with FFOR. And been hanging with them in Puna, Big Isle in Hawaii since...
I go to Hawaii a lot. I have family there.... OHDH are cool fellows who rock. The two brothers Lundy and Adam are special people and are great together. We did a Northwest set of shows in 2009 in the Northwest. Hopefully a split is in the works.
Tx Punk: I saw an Interview with you in a film “Chronicles of The Zero Hour” at the Let Them Know premiere last october.
You mentioned that you got into Punk because you got fed up with stadium Rock bands after seeing The Who from a seat in the back, and were unable to see that Pete Townshend played with a cast .
How do you think your life would have turned out without Punk Rock?
Dave: Been a lot different ...Maybe I would have been in some jug band somewhere... We were lucky to be at the right time of history and prepared to create political hardcore. Luck has been called when ... oppurtunity meets preparation.... Still I'm pretty shore I'd have tried to play a lot of music... All the members of the original lineup predated being a punk by being a musician first ... we are old as dirt.
Dave: I met a gang of punks in Oahu 3 years ago when we played with FFOR. And been hanging with them in Puna, Big Isle in Hawaii since...
I go to Hawaii a lot. I have family there.... OHDH are cool fellows who rock. The two brothers Lundy and Adam are special people and are great together. We did a Northwest set of shows in 2009 in the Northwest. Hopefully a split is in the works.
Tx Punk: I saw an Interview with you in a film “Chronicles of The Zero Hour” at the Let Them Know premiere last october.
You mentioned that you got into Punk because you got fed up with stadium Rock bands after seeing The Who from a seat in the back, and were unable to see that Pete Townshend played with a cast .
How do you think your life would have turned out without Punk Rock?
Dave: Been a lot different ...Maybe I would have been in some jug band somewhere... We were lucky to be at the right time of history and prepared to create political hardcore. Luck has been called when ... oppurtunity meets preparation.... Still I'm pretty shore I'd have tried to play a lot of music... All the members of the original lineup predated being a punk by being a musician first ... we are old as dirt.
MDC at Joe's Garage mid 80's by my own dad!
Tx Punk: Do you feel that living in Texas, being around people like The Dicks, and The Big Boys, on top of dealing with it’s harsh political stances helped your songwriting?
Dave: I was very influenced by both those two great Texas bands. It was so much fun to be in the 78/79/80 punk scene. And the Dicks and Big Boys were one of a kind type of band. ...I wouldn't trade my Austin roots for anywhere else
Tx Punk: What do you think about “The Vatican’s Top 10 Rock Albums”?
Dave: Hey I loved the Beatles big fricking time .... They nourished me and help raise me. . Life pre- Beatles was a very very different world. Life in the fifties was jar heads and Father Know's Best clones, Opie and Mayberry and Lawrence Welk..... Really a different world. ....I was raised and lived in those sixties and seventies ..... IT seems so quaint from today's perspective but it was so ahead of it's time/ anti Vietnam etc etc ....To me Sgt. Peppers and the White Album were so so good. I mean I know you lads were raised on Metallica and you think there God but they ain't. .. The 60's was great for music. Otis Reading, Yardbirds, Creme, Velvet Underground, Little Stevie Wonder,. yes and Pink Floyd too.
Dave: I was very influenced by both those two great Texas bands. It was so much fun to be in the 78/79/80 punk scene. And the Dicks and Big Boys were one of a kind type of band. ...I wouldn't trade my Austin roots for anywhere else
Tx Punk: What do you think about “The Vatican’s Top 10 Rock Albums”?
Dave: Hey I loved the Beatles big fricking time .... They nourished me and help raise me. . Life pre- Beatles was a very very different world. Life in the fifties was jar heads and Father Know's Best clones, Opie and Mayberry and Lawrence Welk..... Really a different world. ....I was raised and lived in those sixties and seventies ..... IT seems so quaint from today's perspective but it was so ahead of it's time/ anti Vietnam etc etc ....To me Sgt. Peppers and the White Album were so so good. I mean I know you lads were raised on Metallica and you think there God but they ain't. .. The 60's was great for music. Otis Reading, Yardbirds, Creme, Velvet Underground, Little Stevie Wonder,. yes and Pink Floyd too.
Dave Dictor at CBGB by Alex Stram
Dave Dictor Interview by "Someone close to the band"
What's the favorite show you've ever played?
Well there have been many fave's...MDC in 1983 at the Rock Against Reagan (RAR) in Washington in front of the Lincoln Memorial with the Dead Kennedy's was very exciting. In San Francisco at Dolores Park at another RAR show with the DK's again was great. Whoopie Goldberg was the MC host and the Contractions played as well. Playing with Minor Threat in NYC back in 1982 were special shows. We were apart of the Holidays In The Sun in the earlier part of this decade. It was a fun old party with lots of old and new friends. Last year we played with The Subhumans in LA and in San Diego ... and they are great old friends. We played together with the Dead Kennedys in the UK back in 1982.Actually both these shows were very GREAT! It seems really nice when we share events with dear friends from old bands.
What's your favorite MDC song or album?
I really love Chicken Squawk cause it's got that appeal to consider vegetarianism in a sweet, fun way. You may not be able to stop a war or racism but you can certainly stop eating meat. If I wasn't doing what I was doing I might be working for PETA or something. I really believe humankind will have a hard time finding it's soul and ever have peace on earth till we start truly considering our fellow earthlings.
Future of MDC?
The future is now and we got tour plans for Japan and Asia in the works and a real thorough European tour idea for 2010. I want to play the Baltic States and deep into Eastern Europe ... Portugal and Greece as well. Also l believe in videos and their continuing proliferation. I think there is gonna be 500 TV stations and available to 10's of millions of hungry viewers world wide on a small almost pirate level.I want to be there with our art. See you around everybody and be well.
Well there have been many fave's...MDC in 1983 at the Rock Against Reagan (RAR) in Washington in front of the Lincoln Memorial with the Dead Kennedy's was very exciting. In San Francisco at Dolores Park at another RAR show with the DK's again was great. Whoopie Goldberg was the MC host and the Contractions played as well. Playing with Minor Threat in NYC back in 1982 were special shows. We were apart of the Holidays In The Sun in the earlier part of this decade. It was a fun old party with lots of old and new friends. Last year we played with The Subhumans in LA and in San Diego ... and they are great old friends. We played together with the Dead Kennedys in the UK back in 1982.Actually both these shows were very GREAT! It seems really nice when we share events with dear friends from old bands.
What's your favorite MDC song or album?
I really love Chicken Squawk cause it's got that appeal to consider vegetarianism in a sweet, fun way. You may not be able to stop a war or racism but you can certainly stop eating meat. If I wasn't doing what I was doing I might be working for PETA or something. I really believe humankind will have a hard time finding it's soul and ever have peace on earth till we start truly considering our fellow earthlings.
Future of MDC?
The future is now and we got tour plans for Japan and Asia in the works and a real thorough European tour idea for 2010. I want to play the Baltic States and deep into Eastern Europe ... Portugal and Greece as well. Also l believe in videos and their continuing proliferation. I think there is gonna be 500 TV stations and available to 10's of millions of hungry viewers world wide on a small almost pirate level.I want to be there with our art. See you around everybody and be well.
