The Dictators

The hardest rocking band of New York's burgeoning punk scene, The Dictators formed in 1972 around Ross Friedman and Scott Kempner (guitars), Andy Shernoff (bass, vocals) and Stu Boy King (drums), welcoming singer Richard Manitoba for a landmark debut album, Go Girl Crazy! released on Epic Records in 1975. Sharing manager Sandy Pearlman with Blue Öyster Cult, the band became a CBGB club staple, distinguishing themselves by the humor of their lyrics, rather than rebellion. Signed to Asylum Records, they recorded the albums Manifest Destiny (1977) and Bloodbrothers (1978), despite a few changes in musicians. Following the departure of new bassist Mark Mendoza to Twisted Sister, the band, in search of greater success, eventually split up. Friedman founded Manowar in 1982 and produced Anthrax, Shernoff moved into production and Manitoba became a cab driver, when the ROIR label released a live album from 1981. Shernoff's 1990 production of Friedman and Manitoba's new band album, Wild Kingdom, led to the 1995 reformation of The Dictators and a new studio album, D.F.F.D., released in 2001. Friedman, Shernoff and Kempner, who continue to play together through various projects, recruit singer/guitarist Keith Ross and drummer Albert Bouchard (ex-Blue Öyster Cult) for the sessions on the new The Dictators album, released in 2024. Kempner died on November 29, 2023, due to the illness that had forced him to give up his duties with the band.

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