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April 2018




  

“Mein Trumpf”
The New Triumph For MDC.
An Interview With Dave Dictor
Interview By: Danil Volohov



Creative crisis - this phrase is often used in relation to the music industry. Periodically, critics write reviews for albums of well-known groups where such phrases slip through. But at the same time, what do we mean by the meaning of this phrase? The band, which after a long break with recording couldn't reach the result, similar to all well-known albums. For the most part, such a comparison will seem insulting, because you can't consider each individual work as a continuation of something ... But anyway, we can say that such things happen.

Returning after a long break in recording, MDC just showed a similar result - a group that at the time of their first shows, managed to masterfully mix satire, criticizing the society of that time and the government. Along with this, the band seemed able to beat their own record. The phrase is twofold, but at the same time the concerts of MDC, over the years have become only more exciting and memorable, like their new album. "Mein Trumpf" is not so much work as a real political manifest. It doesn't look like a slap in the face of the state - far from it. The musicians were able to show quite subtle enough the policies of the current US president, in a very characteristic way.




Talking with Dave Dictor, I don’t feel embarrassed by my lack of knowledge in American politics. I've never been interested in them, but it doesn't matter. When I said that I was born in Russia, Dave wasn't confused. He willingly tells me about his attitude towards Solzhenitsyn and Tolstoy, about the first (and the last at the moment) tour in Russia. And I, along with this, just listen to him carefully, absorbing every word. After all, this is the person who has something to tell...

Punk Globe: Recently I observed a tendency – of creative people of your generation who are telling people about their experiences and events that have happened in their lives. Literally a couple of months ago, Jack Grisham and I discussed this topic. But now I'm interested to discuss this with you…Can you tell me whether your autobiography is "nostalgia" or "a desire to tell about those days"?

Dave: Well, you know, I thought about it a lot. I really wanted to tell people about my background and why I got into alternative music which eventually became punk. And as I was influenced by different events of my live it has such an political character. The first thing about my childhood I remember – when I was 6-7 year old child, was the murder of John F.Kennedy. And it affected me! My mom was a supporter of him. She believed in his vision of politics and believed in all the things that Kennedy stood for. But he was murdered! And no one just has a quick-eye, the real explanation of it! And in this way it affected me. All these things and processes that took place of that time – they rein on down on our society. And I just looked around asking myself “What is this place ?!“ And all these cliché like John Wayne, “We won the World War II, we save the world from fascism, we are a good guys”. And a little part of the story but interesting part – My thoughts about Obama, Hiroshima…And how a lot of Americans financed the Nazism in Germany. And how we were NOT given the right story. I kept finding myself becoming of a person filled of skepticism. So as I grow up and being a teenager who watched all this things and processes like Vietnam War. So when we get Jimmy Carter which was changed by Ronald Reagan. It was the time of my early 20’s. And America was going backwards. Reagan stated different political processes and with it, it was the ending of middle class. But at that time I was affected in a very political way, in a very punk-way. At that time John Lennon was assassinated – the beginning of 1980 And it all shaped, what was becoming punk rock. And personally to me – it was shaped by that. And with it I can to speak with Joey Ramone, who felt like that, Richard Hell and all the other people who felt like that. But at that time not all the people were as political as I am. It just didn’t affected a lot. But however – that’s my background! And I wanted, by running my book to show that’s vision and self-possession of being punk-rock. It wasn’t just…such an abstract art-project it was a very deep-felt feeling, deep-held beliefs that something’s wrong with our system.

Punk Globe: As a fellow-writer I wanted to ask you - how difficult it was to write about all this things? Were there any moments where you needed to overcome yourself as a musician and write from the position of an ordinary person?

Dave: Well, In this case I’m trying to be the ordinary person. In this case I never tried to be an extraordinary person. In my childhood. I went to a summer camp – my mother was a single woman. And in the USA at that time it was fairly unique. It was the early 60's and I was sent to a Camp for wayward boys. Just because of my appearance – for the way I was built, for the way I thought about such things like a religion and discipline. It wasn’t a political thing. For me it was more shocking things!

Punk Globe: But if we’re talking about the difference between being an ordinary person and a musician. For example you’re walking in the street hearing some melody and you as a musician could understand it’s inner structure and the fact of the evolution in its creating…However, in your book you wrote about such an interesting case - that "My Family is A Weird" was written when you were 16 in the "pretty young age, before punk rock". So, did you feel like a poet or was it some kind of initial craving for music?

Dave: Yes, very much so. At that time in America… The 60’s was an incredible time! Such a great mix of musical temptations. Soul, rhythm and blues, The Beatles,The Stones. It basically changed everything. It was really wonderful. And I knew, at the 7 that I wanted to be the pitcher for the Mets or I want to be in a rock-n-roll band. And you know – I got one! ( laughts ).So it was very good for me, to talk of about my experiences and personal background, how these goals with all came together. For me to be able to spend my life making rock-n-roll music.

Punk Globe: And talking about punk rock in general. You said that in 60's in The USA there was a universal mix of music, with what I can absolutely agree! But still, talking about punk-rock…just at example of one song like “My Family is a Weird” which we spoke about already. When you heard your original punk version did you feel that "everything did fall into place"?

Dave: The culture during that time, there was lots of artists who made the basis of underground movement. Andy Warhol, The Velvet Underground, Jackson Pollock. Along with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, art-culture. And all the usual things – were in the process of the evolution. Which were normal for 60’s. And I fit into the music world! Not perfectly but I was grooving up in time of great musical icons: David Bowie, Lou Reed. And I was lucky to have them! There was also the questions about of my sexuality but later I released that I was just more of a rocker than a jock.




Punk Globe: It is always interesting to talk about Ronald Reagan - the then-president, the main inspiration for so much great music... You know, I somehow had that idea. The fact that punk as a kind needs an inspirations for "ridicule" – for Sex Pistols it was the Queen. For The Exploited - Margaret Thatcher. It seems that without Reagan there would not be hardcore?

Dave: Yes, I think that’s very true! But when the political content came to punk rock, I wasn’t really in hardcore at that time. Actually we were much slower and amd inspired by bands like Ramones and The Dead Boys. And then… something happened when Reagan got elected. Everything picked up! This year was point of entry for Black Flag, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Circle Jerks. And we were right behind them – more medium and having our own kind of feeling of punk-rock. I got my old friend Al who played drums, he was a jazz-drummer. influenced by Billy Cobham, Buddy Rich. He used to go to the shows, and we were friends since we were teenagers. And he was such a cool person…He always was…It was like looking at a young Charlie Watts of Rolling Stones. And when Al joined our band and everything sped up! (laughs) And it was just the right time, when hardcore took off. And it was the time of those first hardcore bands I’ve spoke about…so we were right there, with them. Of course at that time we wer a local band – playing in Austin. It was small/ medium sized scene. But with that, we were in the thick of it. In the thick of the first wave of hardcore. And truly, a lot of thanks to Al (Al Schvitz – the drummer of MDC and one of the original members of the band ). And on our last album “Mein Trumpf” we both got together working on all of these songs – from hardcore to almost dramatic and operatic, referring to Broadway music hall. And in this case, of course Trump as the person is inspiring us and our politically charged music. So – yes, very much in the way that Ronald Reagan inspired it in the 80's. Actually before Ronald Reagan was a president. I was growing up, seeing John Wayne’s movies. And at that time in America there were only three TV-stations ( laughs ). And there was Elvis or John Wayne, all the time!...So in general there was a big propaganda. And to this day many people continuing join the military. And even though I have a relatives who revealed in 911 back in 2001 when the World Trade Center was bowing up, join the military right away…And talking about my family – we have a big background of such a people – someone worked as policemen, someone worked as fireman, someone was a teacher, someone worked as top drivers. And in my family I was the only one who chose going into music. Sadly that some of my relatives had post-traumatic stress. The ones who who played a football in a high-school and then you opened that they’re joined the military and the next thing – their life is a wreck. And a lot of other boys in the country did the same thing. I’m kind of sad about it. Because all this macho attitude, money and blood…this was shocking…They spent trillions and trillions of dollars for a war instead of searching for a vaccine for cancer. And what happened ? Did we save the Middle East? No…Obama didn’t trying to win. All of the other Presidents were just trying to hold off. Such politics like that makes people feel and express their radicalism. Because all that money was just spent on war. It’s not the thing the planet really needs to make in for all the human race. So that is why punk rock is even more important. People can tell you what they want. As there is so much bogus BS – So I’m going to sing about it!

Punk Globe: On your last album, you clearly make Donald Trump the object of ridicule. Tell me if you think I am correct . Do you think that Trump's presidency has become the new "dawn" of hardcore for this era?

Dave: (Laughs) I can’t to take this! I know from me…it’s releases my emmotions and I’m staying out there. In this case it’s necessary to say that art it’s all over the place. I don’t naturally tribute it just to hardcore. As lots of hardcore bands and artists became apolitical. Especially in New York, Germany and Belgium, where we’ve played on hardcore bills. But these people will wake up and start to write political songs – I don’t know.. As it was in the 80’s – not everyone was political . Hardcore as a movement . But what I learned, is that Bad Brains didn’t think like Misfits, or someone else didn’t think like The Cro-Mags.

Punk Globe: Speaking about Russia, for example: because of the Iron Curtain there was basically only one hardcore band…maybe a few more. But even now, for Russia nowadays the hardcore scene is small . As it all was a part of a deep-underground movement.

Dave: We’re very adventurous…and we went to Russia! And I saw what’s going on in 1992. And we played in TaMTam club in St.Petersburg, we happened to visit Russian MTV. And we saw…the kids going crazy. The Union guys and communist party…Upset. But we knew that there is going to be a lots of crazy changes. The kids we saw…so wanted to feel the music. It was really an incredible period of time for Russia. And we could also feel it playing in all this cities – Moscow, St.Petersburg, Kaliningrad and Minsk.

( MDC playing a show in St.Petersburg )

Punk Globe: I have always wanted to know more about MDC (laughs). Of course, it's hard to remember every concert of yours, but in the 90s - then the Iron Curtain had already fallen, and various cult performers like Rollins Band, The Smashing Pumpkins, Faith No More and many others have come to Russia. In particular, you visited Russia and played a few concerts, as you just said. Unfortunately I was unable to see any of those shows. But I am interested to know - what you recall the experience?

Dave: It was really an incredible tour. As things worked out. But for the Russian people…it happened what happened. Yeltsin came in becoming a very contradictory figure…and with this there were lots of political changes. But at that time it was very exciting to see it and sadly but lots of politically-oriented bands were hassled a lot by legions and nationalists. And couple of times we has a tour nearly over there but each time we said “Oh, time is not come”. But the last summer we played in Bulgaria, in Sofia. And as it was explained to us, there were lots of nationally oriented people. And people were afraid of walking on the streets. Not to be attacked. And all the time we were over there we kept an eye on all the things. And as for me all this situation was very sad…Everyone looked like they eat a bad cupcake. Everyone looked like they had a bad trip. But I don’t really know how Bulgaria compares to Soviet Union except all the events connected with falling of Iron Curtain. And there was a backlash. I was a considered socialist and I know that having been in Serbia as well. We played there the last year – it wasn’t our first time in Belgrade. We played there before. And at that time there were a certain fights, street disorders. So it gave to our fans and us a hard time. But continuing the topic of our concert in Bulgaria. I certainly was the most important show of the last year tour. We played for disabled kids on a diplo warehouse, lesbian\gay freedom night. Everyone was scared…but everyone come together. And we off to stage after an hour and people just shouted “Please, more! Please, more!” – then we started playing cover songs. Whatever came to our head, our friend’s songs. And if you could see this people…this was a big night for them. At such a moments music stops becoming purely entertainment, and becoming something that builds peoples souls. I’m happy and proud of being part of that…These people taking all the risks…because, I was there only one night, and that day there were a fascists march smashed. Something like 7, 000 fascists, in Sofia.

Punk Globe: Actually I know the city…It’s a real surprise. But with this is the meter of politics…And now you just reminded me of the fact that..the supporting band from your Russian tour – НАИВ. their vocalist would like to run office in the elections in Russia. But of course it’s such a joke. And in this case I’m practically apolitical…but he’s a good candidate.

Dave: But you know. The fact of your being interested in the culture or music makes you political, If you want it or not . In this case you absolutely a part of Pussy Riot, want it or not. You just reviewing it, looking at it, you interviewing it. And political things…in my opinion. But of course I’m not trying to put labels on you! We just played in Japan and played with “Flipout A.A.” band. And I heard the guy doing an interview – Naoki, who is the singer and the bass-player of the band, said that “We’re apolitical band”. I heard it and said to him “Hey, man. The way you’re jumping on stare is political. People think you got answers in your hands! Especially when they’re watching at your reacting, your flipping out.” – It’s all because of the things happening in the culture. Even walking silently and thinking about something, when you’re walking. And as they say, being of a good German as they said during World War II. That is political! And the Germans who said that they were non political. But they were playing jazz in the 30s in nazi-Germany. And that was a political thing, if they liked it or not.

Punk Globe: But talking about this tour. I mean you Japanese concerts. What was the most memorable for you ?

Dave: We’ve been playing 11 shows…and there were lots of different things that have affected us. For example our going to Hiroshima. I mention the fact of it’s bombing in history books, also talking with my father. But I didn’t like the bomb being dropped because we didn’t have to fight Japan. That was an era, and used by “true men” who talked about rationalization of using the bombs. I look at it now…and I don’t quite buy that story. But take going to this place where 60 000 citizens were liquidated to a better world. In one flash. And nowadays there is just one single building that survived…with a couple of miles radius. And the only survived right where the bomb was dropped. In these place you see rocks, you see walls, and people…just melting off the walls. It’s very intense. And seeing all these things you just feel only regret because of these things were ever used. Usually of course we’re visiting different places. But this thing affected us a lot. Of course we visited different historical places like Nagoya castle and many others. Of course all these things were more recreational and historical. But Hiroshima…it was like a bad dream, and you reminded it of. It’s just not a place or a history book in which you’re watching, looking at all these pictures and then go over and see photos of people from this city and their daily lives around there, the pictures of people who died at that day. There are babies with their mommies, doctors, newspaper boys, a lot of people who were a part of Emperors palace…all who take their price…for the war. It’s just shocking. But it is what it is. But it’s something you need to see in your lifetime when you get a chance to visit Japan, where you go in robot boxing…or visit Hiroshima to see what’s going on…we did both.

Punk Globe: Of course MDC as a band that adheres to the basic traditions of hardcore is associated with politics. But talking about the music - last year your mew album was released. It came out after a long break of not recording. Was it difficult for MDC to record again?

Dave: It wasn’t hard. I felt like it was very important thing to do. I was watching Trump on TV last five years and – of course there were some things behind the curtain. But now this figure became serious in our culture. He has this right wing politics. Not much had been said about his conservatism …So I felt like it was important thing to write about it. If seeing and hearing Donald Trump makes you feel like you want to write a song – I think you need to go for it. But for myself – I live in a modern world and I still think that there is racism and sexism in America. And now Donald Trump has gotten elected increasing hate crimes, increasing hate-groups. A lot of bad stuff in the for democracy in America that I know. And Trump is kind of like that crazy old demented uncle, that shoots from the hip, is a rapist, makes a little kids sit in a school where 96% white. And it’s just horrible…because he wants to have mind control over people. And I don’t want this to happen. More suicide attempts, more bombs in schools. I think citizens should communicate and talk about it. And in my case – to write a song about it.

Punk Globe: Can you tell us, did you have any problems with the release of the album? For example, a label that refused to release it because of political backlash...

Dave: The album was made in Netherlands. And it just came out here. Some punk bands do things like dress in costumes and wear masks with the face of Donald Trump. Mocking Trump. And then we came and I’m singing the song “No Trump, No KKK,No Fascist USA”, but of course those people have another aspect and I’m not feeling it at this point. But as an artists we’re speaking about these things so I must be careful with deals. There are lots of crazy people out there so you should think about all the things you discuss talking that something is wrong. There are lots of people watching different things on TV or something other and just got crazy, so it’s my own fear about mind controlling techniques. As it was with the guy who got sick of on the march over there, when a nazi jumped in the car and killed lots of people. Where is this guy from ? Of course talking about America which is very diverse. And with 5 to 10 percent of people in our country very isolated and have very little authoritaristic feelings.

Punk Globe: Talking honestly, “Born to Die ( No Trump, No KKK,No Fascist USA)” is one of my favorite songs. And it was nice to hear it again on your last album. After a many years it’s still a very factual! Very thought provoking and strong – like it always was.

Dave: Well, we wrote this song 30-years ago. And it’s being sang now in 2018 . I’m glad you like it, I’m glad it’s being sang. I’m glad it’s amazing as the song that a song you wrote 30-years ago having so much attention in the current political community. It’s actually was on an episode of American Horror Story. It it was the part of a story line that makes you feel incredible! Especially when you have seen some 60 year old American woman shouting “No war, No KKK, No fascist USA”. Sometimes I’m shocked with those situations ( laughs). And it’s just a part of the things we’re do! Because someone just needed to listen to “Strangers in the Night”, “I wanna hold your hand”, but I guess “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA” makes someone just saw “I don’t believe in your racism. I don’t believe in what you’re suggesting”.

Punk Globe: Talking about hardcore: I would like to think that the hardcore has evolved. Maybe it's because I wasn't around during that time, but at the same time we can still talk about how it was then - when the shows were house parties and or in the cellars. Bands taped up the posters themselves. Now, thinking about the music industry, do you think it's possible to be a DIY band nowadays ?

Dave: I think music touches the soul. And tells different things to different people. Hardcore as a genre was pretty much overlooked at that time. Dead Kennedys who are considered to be the contenders of early hardcore. I lived in San-Francisco Bay-Area in 1982-1995 years. I was buying Bay-Area music magazines – Most ignored punk rock and hardcore. It was taboo they didn’t want to write about. One more Jefferson Starship album, one more Jerry Garcia album. I really didn't understand the people writing for those magazines – they have big money on their mind, they wanted to write about music that is safe and acceptable for as long as they could. And some were open for something new. And we did the brilliant job to hold what we had and have now – I’m really proud of what we did. It’s our music and create something that was new. It wasn’t Buddy Rich over and over again, Buddy Holly, I should say or it wasn’t like the Beach Boys over and over again. We haven’t got a nostalgia. We were creating something fresh. And we’re still are creating something fresh. That’s the thing you think about creating something – you wanna be fresh ( laughs).

Punk Globe: And talking about the evolution of hardcore. Just talking on the example of your debut album – I’m a fan of that record, actually. It was the albums I listened to in my college years and at the first course at the University. Of course I can say that I like all of your albums ( laughs ). But talking about it… Geza X produced your debut work. As a producer - he did not have many releases. But all of them are definitely a cult recordings of that time. Can you tell our readers, was he the person who helped you with your sound?

Dave: There is one interesting person who influenced with that album. The man who was recording it – Dan Yaney from Vampire Studio in Austin. I’ve never seen him again since 1981. And we drove to Austin – we’ve been driving for three hours. And I don’t really have any idea what we’re going sound like! (laughs) And at that time there wasn’t really hardcore…I mean you couldn’t tell to an engineer “Oh, make a sound a hardcore!”. We weren't trying to copy anyone. All was fresh! And he was a fan of ZZ Top and Deep Purple. I remember him telling to us “I got an idea for your music!” – and he puts on vocal strength and loud. Then he put the reverb on it, in such a way that we just had a really-really-really great sound! And it was someone whom I’ve never seen again since 1981…I don’t really know is he alive or dead. At that time he looked like 30-40 years old hippie, at that time so he’s probably 10 or 15 years older than me. And I think he should be 70 or 75 years old. And I wondered…I hope to talk with his son or daughter one day and tell them that “Your father is unique and wonderful! He gave us a sound! And put us in the category of new hardcore bands of 1982-1982 and Dan Yaney is responsible for that.” He became the our “sixth Beatle”. But he’s not really celebrating anywhere. He was just an old hippie from Houston.




Punk Globe: Now you really reminded me about another famous legend Frank Zappa coming to the USSR. In one of such a day he was sitting in the café with his Soviet friend and a composer - Alfred Schnittke. And Schnitke who became the really important for classical music’s world composer was asking Frank about such a things like how to record the bass in a right way, how to place the piano in the studio and record it in a right way. And Frank’s friend was translating the questions and answers being interpreter for these two genius.

Dave: As for me, Frank Zappa is incredibly unique! I’ve seen him live a few times. Actually we were just listening to him in Japan on tour ( MDC played 11 shows during the Japanese tour of 2018 ).Our guitar played - Barry brought some of his albums. So we were listening to them…very unique! And Captain Beefheart which also plays and experiments with sounds. They are really incredible artists! God bless Frank Zappa! He’s always very inspiring. He influenced me. personally me, while I was grooving up, in my high school-days. While people were listening to Eagles or something like it…And Frank Zappa was very revolutionary kind of musician. And I think all the people know it – you know it, I know it but however it’s amazing that people have missed him. They are watching MTV and have decided that Britney Spears is the greatest musician of the XXI century. (laughs) Not Louie Armstrong or any other incredible musicians but Britney Spears(laughs). And there are just lots of things, some of them are well known. Other – just never been explored. There was Igor Stravinsky that played “Right of Spring” in Russia and nobody liked it. (laughs) And then he came back the next season and played it again and everyone loved it. Sometimes such things like this happens. Sometimes something sounds so new and extraordinary. And it’s just shocking to people! And Frank Zappa said one of my favorite quotes: What’s the thing about music journals – interviewing people who can’t speak for those who can’t read. (laughs) Of course I’m not criticizing anyone. It’s just a funny thing he said in accordance to pop culture. Like when someone interviewing people and ask them “What’s your favorite color ?”. But again, of course in 60’s everything was a kind of pop rock – The Beatles with their “I wanna hold your hand”. It changed a lot of in a way of how the music is interpreted. It became so extraordinary for that time, for the 60’s. And I’m a Beatles fan.

Punk Globe: The last question: If you could change something in the album "Mein Trumpf", what would it be?

Dave: Just thinking about it…when I was on tour. There was a woman there. We started singing a song together and I really liked the way we did it! She sings a line, I sing a line. It’s something very strong for me about it. Singing with an extraordinary voice, woman’s voice. It’s something ticking over fancy. So now it’s one of the things I wanna do. It doesn’t mean that I want to change anything but I want to add. Sometimes…not with “Mein Trumpf” but you always living it by time, energy and money. And sometimes here on the experiments. And of course sometimes you’re always looking at to clock. And I wish I didn’t have to look at the clock. But sometimes I have to. You must to be in a beautiful days…like Brian Wilson was doing in “Pet Sounds” and he was going to this radical edge and he was able to make his vision come alive. And I’m a Brian Wilson fan as well. But with this I’m very lucky to be able to making a music.











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