I remember reading about this band in Michael Azerrad's "Come as You Are" book when I was in high school. It said that Kurt Cobain was arrested some time in the late 80s for spray-painting "Homosex rules" on a wall and the cops found a beer can, a guitar pick, and a tape of Millions of Dead Cops in his jacket. Great story, huh? Anyway, what's the scoop on this band and what should I check out, if anything? I heard their song "John Wayne was a Nazi" not too long ago, and it was okay. Standard early 80s punk stuff.
― King Kobra (King Kobra), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 18:03 (twenty years ago) link
I had more or less the same experience, reading that book, noting the name, and then discovering the band.
They are actually something of a sentimental favorite for me, having aquired their second LP 'Smoke Signal's when I was 14 and spending a lot of time pouring over the lyrics and artwork. Their stuff is hard to find, though, so of the full-length albums I only have that and the first (other stuff: a recent compilation, a live 45).
And yes, the first album--coupled on CD with some EP and single tracks--is classic. It's probably my favorite hardcore LP. "John Wayne" is one of the highlights, a real whirling dervish of a song. It's hardcore, but with a damn good guitarist, humour, and striking politics.
After that, they pretty much were all over the map. 'Smoke Signals' is almost as good, but it's about half-hardcore, and has a country tune, a "Tutti Frutti" remake of sorts, and disco song. Later they did rap, etc.
A good website, where you can find tour dates (the singer remains after a million line-up chances, along with a bunch of youngsters, but they play well and--when I saw them a few years ago--they play everything even faster than on record):
http://free.freespeech.org/deadcops/
― John 2, Tuesday, 1 July 2003 20:44 (twenty years ago) link
...I should add that I met Dave Dictor, the singer, and--despite him seeming pretty fucked up (from drugs?)--he was a REALLY REALLY cool nice fuckin' guy. Tried to take a few bucks off the t-shirt price, but I wouldn't let him. Mind you: he's a crazyman on stage...
(And I also have their live album, which my friend has at his house, so I can't vouche for it)
― John 2, Tuesday, 1 July 2003 20:48 (twenty years ago) link
http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drc700/c743/c74399ae95a.jpg"Corporate Deathburger," "Born to Die", "Business on Parade," "Dead Cops/America's So Straight", "Corporate Deathburger" and, of course, "John Wayne Was a Nazi" are absolutely ESSENTIAL. If you haven't heard them -- you haven't heard American Hardcore played fuckin' properly. They're right up there with vintage Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, the DK's and Minor Threat.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 July 2003 22:52 (twenty years ago) link
twelve years pass...
As timely today as ever. "No War, No KKK, No Fascist USA..."
― Alex in NYC, Sunday, 6 March 2016 17:10 (eight years ago) link
four years pass...