THE DICKIES

'The Dickies' are a punk rock group formed in Los Angeles, California in 1977.
They were amongst the first punk rock bands to emerge from Los Angeles, the first California punk band to appear on network television and the first California punk band to be signed to a major record label (instead of an independent label.)
The Dickies' style was campy and humorous with obvious influences from The Ramones (for whom they sometimes opened). They were popular in the UK, and had a Top 10 hit single with "Banana Splits (Tra La La Song)" in 1979. Many of their lyrics were about Southern California culture, rife with references and in-jokes that might be lost on those not familiar with the region: examples include songs like "Waterslide", "I'm A Chollo", "Manny, Moe and Jack", and "(I'm Stuck in a Pagoda with) Tricia Toyota", which is about a local TV news anchorwoman. They were also known for recording several fast-paced punk covers of classic rock songs including the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin", Black Sabbath's "Paranoid", and Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction".
Drug problems slowed them down considerably in the 1980s, but they have continued playing and recording sporadically to the present day. Guitarist / keyboardist / saxophonist Chuck Wagon (born Bob Davis) committed suicide after a break-up with his girlfriend in June 1981, and they have not used keyboards live since. In 1988 they wrote and performed the theme music for the movie ''Killer Klowns from Outer Space''.

Contents

Singles

Albums

Reference

Audio samples

External links

Singles

★ "Silent Night" (1978) - UK #47

★ "Eve Of Destruction" (1978)

★ "Give It Back" (1978)

★ "Banana Splits (Tra La La Song)" (1979) - UK #7

★ "Paranoid" (1979) - UK #45

★ "Nights In White Satin" (1979) - UK #39

★ "Manny, Moe And Jack" (1979)

★ "Fan Mail" (1980) - UK #57

★ "Gigantor" (1980) - UK #72

★ "Killer Klowns" (1986)

★ "Just Say Yes" (1994)

★ "Roadkill" (1994)

★ "Make It So" (1996)

★ "My Pop The Cop" (1998)

★ "Free Willy" (2001)

Albums

★ ''The Incredible Shrinking Dickies'' (1979)

★ ''Dawn of the Dickies'' (1979)

★ ''Stukas Over Disneyland'' (1983)

★ ''Killer Klowns From Outer Space'' (1988)

★ ''Great Dictations'' (1989) - Compilation

★ ''Second Coming'' (1989)

★ ''Locked 'N' Loaded Live In London'' (1991) - Live album

★ ''Idjit Savant'' (1994)

★ ''All This and Puppet Stew'' (2001)

Reference

★ Guinness Book of British Hit Singles 7th Edition - 1988

Audio samples

External links

★ The Dickies web site

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