The Dictators have been around and cranking out punk music as long as I have been alive. Their latest album is a live album entitled Viva Dictators. I got a chance to talk to their famous guitarist Ross The Boss.
Check out the official site for The Dictators
Daniel Robert Epstein: What are you up to today?
Ross The Boss: Im not doing anything.
DRE: Are you at home?
RTB: Im at home finally.
DRE: Have you guys been on tour?
RTB: Yeah.
DRE: How did that go?
RTB: Unbelievable. We played in the south and the Midwest.
DRE: What kind of people are showing up?
RTB: Everybody, older, musicians, wannabes.
DRE: [laughs] Any real punks?
RTB: Yes. Theyre just jumping up and down a lot and drinking and getting a lot of tattoos and the girls are getting tattoos and theyre going to regret it when theyre like 65. These girls that are tattooing themselves up. Its so unbelievable, its not even funny.
DRE: You got any tattoos?
RTB: Yeah, I got a few. I got one in 1980 and I got one for my son when he was born in 1991.
DRE: Everyones got a tattoo now.
RTB: Yeah, everyones just going crazy with that.
DRE: I spoke to someone the other day who says that if back in the 80s, someone got a tattoo, they were considered somewhat dubious.
RTB: It is much different now. Everybody and his mother is getting one. They arent cool anymore. Actually if theyre good, theyre good. Any good art is good.
DRE: What are your tattoos of?
RTB: I got an eagle on my left arm and my sons name on my right arm.
DRE: Whats your son like?
RTB: Hes a baseball player. He just got recruited to go play high school. Were getting money for it.
DRE: Oh my god.
RTB: I know.
DRE: Is he making more money than you?
RTB: No not yet. But I hope he will so one day so I can retire. But hes a switch hitter and the trainers say hes stronger than a man now, most men in the gym.
DRE: Holy shit.
RTB: Hes quite an athlete. I dont know where the hell it came from.
DRE: What kind of music does he like?
RTB: He likes Manowar, The Dictators and hip-hop. But he doesnt think that there are any real good rock bands now. Thats his problem.
DRE: When did you first play your music for him?
RTB: As soon as he could stand.
DRE: [laughs] As soon as he could stand the music or as soon as he could stand up?
RTB: As soon as he was a baby I started playing it for him.
DRE: What do you think of him not playing music?
RTB: Its fine.
DRE: How are The Dictators getting along?
RTB: Things are fine. We have our problems, like everybody else.
DRE: When you guys argue, whats it about? Stupid stuff?
RTB: Its all stupid. Everything is stupid. Just to be around this long, to be survivors, to be iconicized by some is a great honor. Its a blessing to be able to play.
DRE: When did you guys realize that The Dictators was going to be around forever?
RTB: Probably around 1986 when we sold out The Ritz and we hadnt played for a while. Our legend grows in our absence. Just like the White Castle chain.
DRE: Is it still as much fun?
RTB: Its more fun than ever. You go onstage and you play a song that youve played in 1975 and people know the lyrics.
DRE: How was putting together Viva Dictators?
RTB: We recorded a lot of shows back a few years ago and now its a live album.
DRE: Have you tried to metal-up The Dictators lately because of Manowar?
RTB: No. I play the same way I play in any band.
DRE: Whats going on with Manowar?
RTB: Theyre huge. I just played a couple months ago in Germany to 28,000 people. We headlined a festival. All my records are gold in Germany, thats 250,000.
DRE: Holy cow, when did that happen?
RTB: It happened when I left in 1988, they exploded. Im like a most beloved figure.
DRE: Whats pissing you off right now?
RTB: The Mets. Theyre just hovering. Theyre doing good, but they could do a little better. Put it this way, they win three, lose one. They just cant get rolling.
DRE: Are people always pressing demos in your hands?
RTB: Everybody gives me CDs and demos. You wouldnt believe what I come home with. Its not even funny.
DRE: Do you want to produce anybody elses music?
RTB: Id like to. I dont know if I can stand it anymore. Id have to get a lot more money than I was getting. I enjoyed it like when I produced the first Anthrax single back in the day.
DRE: Are you still married?
RTB: Yeah, for now.
DRE: Hows that going?
RTB: Not good.
DRE: No?
RTB: Not really.
DRE: Why? Whats going on?
RTB: Thats my business.
DRE: Thats your business. [laughs] I agree, but you started talking about it.
RTB: Rock and roll. It just doesnt go for some people. They sign on for it, but theyre not into it. Instead of the great rock and roll guitar player, they want Donald Trump or John D. Rockefeller.
DRE: Yeah, thats not happening.
RTB: Never said it would.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official site for The Dictators
Daniel Robert Epstein: What are you up to today?
Ross The Boss: Im not doing anything.
DRE: Are you at home?
RTB: Im at home finally.
DRE: Have you guys been on tour?
RTB: Yeah.
DRE: How did that go?
RTB: Unbelievable. We played in the south and the Midwest.
DRE: What kind of people are showing up?
RTB: Everybody, older, musicians, wannabes.
DRE: [laughs] Any real punks?
RTB: Yes. Theyre just jumping up and down a lot and drinking and getting a lot of tattoos and the girls are getting tattoos and theyre going to regret it when theyre like 65. These girls that are tattooing themselves up. Its so unbelievable, its not even funny.
DRE: You got any tattoos?
RTB: Yeah, I got a few. I got one in 1980 and I got one for my son when he was born in 1991.
DRE: Everyones got a tattoo now.
RTB: Yeah, everyones just going crazy with that.
DRE: I spoke to someone the other day who says that if back in the 80s, someone got a tattoo, they were considered somewhat dubious.
RTB: It is much different now. Everybody and his mother is getting one. They arent cool anymore. Actually if theyre good, theyre good. Any good art is good.
DRE: What are your tattoos of?
RTB: I got an eagle on my left arm and my sons name on my right arm.
DRE: Whats your son like?
RTB: Hes a baseball player. He just got recruited to go play high school. Were getting money for it.
DRE: Oh my god.
RTB: I know.
DRE: Is he making more money than you?
RTB: No not yet. But I hope he will so one day so I can retire. But hes a switch hitter and the trainers say hes stronger than a man now, most men in the gym.
DRE: Holy shit.
RTB: Hes quite an athlete. I dont know where the hell it came from.
DRE: What kind of music does he like?
RTB: He likes Manowar, The Dictators and hip-hop. But he doesnt think that there are any real good rock bands now. Thats his problem.
DRE: When did you first play your music for him?
RTB: As soon as he could stand.
DRE: [laughs] As soon as he could stand the music or as soon as he could stand up?
RTB: As soon as he was a baby I started playing it for him.
DRE: What do you think of him not playing music?
RTB: Its fine.
DRE: How are The Dictators getting along?
RTB: Things are fine. We have our problems, like everybody else.
DRE: When you guys argue, whats it about? Stupid stuff?
RTB: Its all stupid. Everything is stupid. Just to be around this long, to be survivors, to be iconicized by some is a great honor. Its a blessing to be able to play.
DRE: When did you guys realize that The Dictators was going to be around forever?
RTB: Probably around 1986 when we sold out The Ritz and we hadnt played for a while. Our legend grows in our absence. Just like the White Castle chain.
DRE: Is it still as much fun?
RTB: Its more fun than ever. You go onstage and you play a song that youve played in 1975 and people know the lyrics.
DRE: How was putting together Viva Dictators?
RTB: We recorded a lot of shows back a few years ago and now its a live album.
DRE: Have you tried to metal-up The Dictators lately because of Manowar?
RTB: No. I play the same way I play in any band.
DRE: Whats going on with Manowar?
RTB: Theyre huge. I just played a couple months ago in Germany to 28,000 people. We headlined a festival. All my records are gold in Germany, thats 250,000.
DRE: Holy cow, when did that happen?
RTB: It happened when I left in 1988, they exploded. Im like a most beloved figure.
DRE: Whats pissing you off right now?
RTB: The Mets. Theyre just hovering. Theyre doing good, but they could do a little better. Put it this way, they win three, lose one. They just cant get rolling.
DRE: Are people always pressing demos in your hands?
RTB: Everybody gives me CDs and demos. You wouldnt believe what I come home with. Its not even funny.
DRE: Do you want to produce anybody elses music?
RTB: Id like to. I dont know if I can stand it anymore. Id have to get a lot more money than I was getting. I enjoyed it like when I produced the first Anthrax single back in the day.
DRE: Are you still married?
RTB: Yeah, for now.
DRE: Hows that going?
RTB: Not good.
DRE: No?
RTB: Not really.
DRE: Why? Whats going on?
RTB: Thats my business.
DRE: Thats your business. [laughs] I agree, but you started talking about it.
RTB: Rock and roll. It just doesnt go for some people. They sign on for it, but theyre not into it. Instead of the great rock and roll guitar player, they want Donald Trump or John D. Rockefeller.
DRE: Yeah, thats not happening.
RTB: Never said it would.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
Their legend does continue to grow!