The Dicks

Infobox Musical artist
Name = The Dicks


Img_capt = The Dicks performing in Austin, Texas, in 2005
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Origin = Austin, Texas, United States
Instrument =
Voice_type =
Years_active =
Label = R Radical Records, SST Records, Alternative Tentacles
Associated_acts =
URL =
Current_members = Gary Floyd
Buxf Parrot
Pat Deason
Glen Taylor
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

The Dicks are an American punk rock band considered influential in introducing the sound of hardcore punk, particularly in their home state of Texas, and later incorporating blues music influences into their sound.

Formed in Austin in 1980, the members were Gary Floyd, Buxf Parrot, Pat Deason and Glen Taylor. Their first single "Dicks Hate The Police", released in 1980, brought them much attention (it was later covered by Mudhoney) and is now regarded as a classic hardcore record. In the song Gary Floyd portrays a policeman who abuses his power by going after minorities and taking his anger out on civilians. The B-side, "Lifetime Problems," was even more influential for its speed and ferocity; in fact, San Francisco's Flipper gave it the sincerest form of flattery with their next single, "Ha Ha Ha." The Dicks often played with fellow Texans Big Boys and in 1981 released a split album entitled "Live at Raul's Club" with them (outtakes from the same recording session were released as a limited edition double-7" set more than 10 years later). They also played with MDC, independent record label R Radical Records released some of their later recordings. As a style of music, hardcore punk seemed to spring up in various cities at the same time, and it is these three bands which are credited with its conception in Texas. After a few years Floyd relocated to San Francisco and, with new members Tim Carroll, Sebastian Fuchs, and Lynn Perko (formerly of all-women band The Wrecks), a second version of The Dicks began recording and playing. The LP "Kill From The Heart" was released in 1983 on SST Records and "These People" followed in 1985 on Alternative Tentacles.

They released their debut album, a recording of a concert performance at Raul's In Austin ( they split the album with the fellow Austin punks Big Boys) and soon began regular touring. In 1983 they signed with the popular indie label SST Records and released their debut studio album that year and continued until roughly the late 80s though a few reunion concerts have seen the light of day. Glen Taylor lost his life in 1997, Brian Magee played guitar in his place.

As a politically radical band with Marxist lyrics they did not shy from controversy. Singer Gary Floyd was one of a handful of openly gaycitation |url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=3405 |title=Gay Dinosaurs and Others |first=Gregg |last=Shapiro |date=2003-06-18 |accessdate=2008-08-12 |periodical=Windy City Times ] musicians in the hardcore scene, as well as fellow punk Randy 'Biscuit' Turner of Big Boys. His songs "Saturday Night at the Bookstore" and "Off Duty Sailor" address issues of homophobia and sexual identity. The Queercore band Limp Wrist pays homage to Floyd and Randy Turner from the Big Boys, as well as Joshua Plague of Mukilteo Fairies and Behead the Prophet, No Lord Shall Live, as pioneers in this respect on their 2004 song "Ode".

Austin's legendary Butthole Surfers even wrote a song about The Dicks bandleader called "Gary Floyd", which ended their "Psychic... Powerless... Another Man's Sac" LP (1984, Touch and Go Records).

Gary Floyd later started the hard blues rock band Sister Double Happiness in San Francisco in the late 1980s. After that band ended he formed and primarily played in Europe with The Gary Floyd Band; an overview of this material, "Backdoor Preacher Man", is available in the United States. Toward the late 1990s, Floyd played in Black Kali Ma, who released an album on Alternative Tentacles Records. Floyd is now in a band called the Buddha Brothers. Buxf Parrot and Pat Deason, of the original Dicks, play in the Austin, TX neo-bluegrass band Shootin' Pains.

In 2004 and 2005, the Dicks played a series of reunion concerts in Austin and beyond. The lineup for the shows consisted of the original Dicks, with the exception of Glen Taylor, who had died in 1997. His role was filled by Brian Magee. At the Austin show, the band was joined in singing "Wheelchair Epidemic" by David Yow, whose band the Jesus Lizard had covered the song on multiple records and who made the song a staple of their live act.

Discography

*"Hate The Police" 7" - Radical Records, 1980
*"Live at Raul's Club" Lp (Split with The Big Boys) - Rat Race Records, 1980
*"Kill From The Heart" Lp - SST Records, 1983
*"Gilbeau" - Cottage Cheese from the Lips of Death Compilation- Ward 9 Records, 1983
*"Peace?" 7" - R Radical Records, 1984
*"I Hope You Get Drafted" - P.E.A.C.E. compilation - R Radical Records, 1984
*"Legacy of Man" - Rat Music for Rat People Compilation Vol. 2 - CD Presents, Ltd, 1984
*"These People" Lp - Alternative Tentacles, 1985
*"Live At Raul's" 2x7" (Split With The Big Boys) - Selfless Records, 1992
*"1980-1986" CD - Alternative Tentacles, 1997 (compilation of out of print material)
*"Hog" 7" - Delta Pop Music, 2006
*"Ten Inches" 10" - Delta Pop Music, 2006
*"Dicks Live CD "Hungry Butt" - The HotBox Review Label, 2006

Compilation

*"Rat Music for Rat People, Vol. 2" (CD Presents, 1984)

ee also

*List of hardcore punk bands

References

* Art Black / Ira Robbins. " [http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=dicks DICKS] ". "Trouser Press Guide". Retrieved February 15, 2006.

External links

* [http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/usa/dicks_main.html A biography of THE DICKS at Kill From the Heart]
* [http://www.operationphoenixrecords.com/suburbanvoicegaryfloyd.html Suburban Voice Interview] - Gary Floyd interview from 1998
* [http://www.newyorknighttrain.com/zine/liverecs/200607/0726.html Piece on the cultural importance of the Dicks] from NewYorkNightTrain.com