Handsome Dick Manitoba
By All Music Guide
By All Music Guide
ew wave, the King of Men replied, We aint no
ew wave, Jack. Were the tidal wave. Manitoba, born Richard Blum, was born in the Bronx, spent time in the Catskills, and started out as roadie and cook for the Dictators. When he destroyed too much equipment setting up gigs, the Dics decided it was cheaper and safer to keep him onstage. This led to unforgettable antics like the Handsome One driving the Dics van through the front of a building, assaulting Geddy Lee fans with fast food while opening for Rush, and a knock-down drag-out fight with Wayne/Jayne County.
The groups seminal debut, The Dictators Go Girl Crazy, appeared in 1975, with Manitoba decked out in wrestling regalia on the front, and spouting songs about TV, beer, cars, and girls inside. Appropriately credited as a secret weapon, Manitoba was the full-time vocalist by the time of the delayed follow-up, Manifest Destiny. Another excellent platter, Bloodbrothers, dropped in 1978, but the Dictators finally disbanded in 1981. Manitoba and guitarist Scott Top Ten Kempner began working with another New York group, Del-Lords, in the early 80s, while the Dics legend lived on through a posthumous live release. Ten years later, Manitobas Wild Kingdom popped up on MTV. Comprised of, naturally, Manitoba and two other Dics, bassist Andy Shernoff and mega-guitarist Ross the Boss (also a member of the monolithic Manowar), Manitobas Wild Kingdom released one record, And You? As the 90s progressed, the Handsome Ones N.Y.C. bar became a local institution and the Dictators reunited for several regional shows. A new studio album, DFFD (Dictators Forever Forever Dictators), appeared in 2001, yet another timeless blow to the head from Handsome Dick Manitoba.
