DFFD has a blog

The Dictators have a blog happening. Thanks to LIndsay Hutton for the tip.

You can track them on Twitter, too, if that's your thing. Follow here.

While there's not much occurring on the live front, 'Tators members have all sorts of projects on the boil. Top of the heap is JP Patterson's new album "The LP{ Is Dead" which we'll be reviewing at the Bar very soon.

These are some of Handsome Dick's favourite things

For those who only read Playboy online for the articles, here's the King of Men, Handsome Dick Manitoba, delivering what amounts to a string of endorsements for some of his favourite NYC places and things. Fine by me.

For anyone who doesn't know who we're talking about, see below. Yes, the Dictators are still playing but sadly it appears only in Spain.

The Party Starts Now - Manitoba's Wild Kingdom

For the hell of it.

Being the Dictators spin-off signed to MCA.

"We knocked 'em dead in Dallas..."

"They didn't know we were Jews."

If you know where that lyric comes form you'll want to read this.

Now, this is clever...

How do you put together a flimclip for Hoodoo Guru Dave Faulkner playing with The Master Plan (whose pedigree is the Fleshtones via the Dictators) when the principals are spread around the world? Like this:

Thanks to Lindsay Hutton of The Next Big Thing for being ahead of the pack with the heads-up, as usual.

"Search & Destroy" - The Dictators

Recent Spain tourists and this is a reminder of their greatness. You never know your luck and they might just turn up on your doorstep.

Will Guitar Hero save rock and roll?

Has it really come to this? Hey, take help wherever you can find it. At least we still have the Dictators, who've broken their hiatus to play Spain. Here's an old-ish clip.

Hey Hey Let's Go with Tish and Snooky

That's haberdasherers to the punk rock stars, Tish and Snooky (aka the Sic Fucks), paying tribute at the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash in NYC in May. Cheetah Chrome is on guitar. Andy Shernoff and J.P. Patterson of the Dictators were the house band engine room and played a set with Manitoba's Wild Kingdom too.

Diner chain gets down with rock 'n' roll

Anyone from anywhere outside the USA who's spent any time in the States will be familiar with the Denny's chain of 24-hour diners. They also might cringe at the quality, if not quantity, of what's served up there.

It seems Denny's is not seen as a hip and happening place anymore.

USA Today reports: "From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., alternative rock will replace the middle-of-the-road music now piped in. Instead of black pants and collared shirts, wait staff will wear jeans and T-shirts during these hours.

"The chain also is launching two late-night-only menus. One is a value menu with items such as nacho cheese fries for $3.99. The other is a "shareable" menu, with seasoned kettle chips, mini-burgers and $7 Sweet Ride Nachos — tortilla chips in cinnamon sugar, fruit, hot fudge and whipped cream. It's even hired alternative-rock bands to help create late-night items".

Tortilla chips in cinnamon sugar, hot fudge and whipped cream, FFS?

Exactly what 'alternative-rock band' with severe munchies created that one?

Ever since the Dictators hooked into White Castle burgers, Mama Cass made an art form of ham sandwiches and Elvis fried up his first peanut butter sandwiches, clogged arteries have been so rock and roll.

Makes the Australian road band meal of choice ("It's a long way to the shop/If you want a Chiko roll") seem positively healthy by comparison: