DC3 (band)
Encyclopedia
DC3 was an American
rock and roll
band formed by singer, songwriter and guitarist Dez Cadena
in 1983 and active until 1988.
Cadena had been a member of California based punk rock
group Black Flag
from about 1980 to 1983, first as singer, then as rhythm guitarist.
1982 was the beginning of a record distribution problem that severely curtailed Black Flag's activities. During this hiatus, Cadena formed DC3 with keyboardist Paul Roessler
(formerly of LA's infamous Screamers
), and drummer Jeff Dahl. Paul's younger sister, Kira
, also practiced with the band early on before joining Black Flag.
Their debut album, This Is The Dream, was released in 1985 on SST Records
and featured a major Black Sabbath
influence with very little of the hardcore
or punk stylings of Black Flag. The album is particularly notable for the songs "I Believe It" and "Ain't No Time Here Now", which were originally written and played live by Black Flag
and are also present on that band's The Complete 1982 Demos Plus More as "Yes I Know" (identical lyrics to the DC3 version) and "What Can You Believe"(different lyrics than the DC3 version, but nearly identical music).
Later albums found DC3 reducing the Black Sabbath influence, but there was still a prominent '70's hard rock
sound, with the band doing a cover song of the Jack Bruce
/Mountain
song "Theme for an Imaginary Western
" for an SST compilation.
Despite the name "DC3", the band was only a trio for their first LP. Bassist Ceasar Viscarra and drummer Louie Dufau (both formerly of The Stains) joined Cadena and Roessler after the release of the first album and the band remained a quartet for the until their break-up.
DC3 split in 1988. Vida (1989), a collection of live recordings, was DC3's last album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
band formed by singer, songwriter and guitarist Dez Cadena
Dez Cadena
Dez Paul Cadena is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag. Since 2001 Cadena has played guitar with the Misfits...
in 1983 and active until 1988.
Cadena had been a member of California based punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
group Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
from about 1980 to 1983, first as singer, then as rhythm guitarist.
1982 was the beginning of a record distribution problem that severely curtailed Black Flag's activities. During this hiatus, Cadena formed DC3 with keyboardist Paul Roessler
Paul Roessler
Paul Roessler was a prominent member of the L.A. punk scene during the late 1970s and '80s. He played keyboards in bands such as The Screamers, Twisted Roots, 45 Grave, Nervous Gender, SAUPG, Geza X and the Mommymen, Mike Watt and the Secondmen, Nina Hagen and The Deadbeats...
(formerly of LA's infamous Screamers
The Screamers
The Screamers were a punk rock group active in the Los Angeles, California area in the late 1970s. The Screamers were pioneers of a genre now known as "synthpunk," and can also be classified as art punk....
), and drummer Jeff Dahl. Paul's younger sister, Kira
Kira Roessler
Kira Roessler is an American bass guitarist, singer and Emmy award-winning dialogue editor. She is best known for her membership in the punk rock group Black Flag.-Biography:...
, also practiced with the band early on before joining Black Flag.
Their debut album, This Is The Dream, was released in 1985 on SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
and featured a major Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
influence with very little of the hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
or punk stylings of Black Flag. The album is particularly notable for the songs "I Believe It" and "Ain't No Time Here Now", which were originally written and played live by Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
and are also present on that band's The Complete 1982 Demos Plus More as "Yes I Know" (identical lyrics to the DC3 version) and "What Can You Believe"(different lyrics than the DC3 version, but nearly identical music).
Later albums found DC3 reducing the Black Sabbath influence, but there was still a prominent '70's hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
sound, with the band doing a cover song of the Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce is a Scottish musician and songwriter, respected as a founding member of the British psychedelic rock power trio, Cream, for a solo career that spans several decades, and for his participation in several well-known musical ensembles...
/Mountain
Mountain (band)
Mountain is an American hard rock band that formed in Long Island, New York in 1969. Originally comprising vocalist and guitarist Leslie West, bassist Felix Pappalardi and drummer N. D. Smart, the band broke up in 1972 before reuniting in 1974 and remaining active until today...
song "Theme for an Imaginary Western
Theme for an Imaginary Western
"Theme for an Imaginary Western" is a song written by Jack Bruce and Pete Brown. The song is sometimes referred to as "Theme from an Imaginary Western." It has been performed by many artists, including Jack Bruce, Mountain, Leslie West, Colosseum, Greenslade and DC3.The song originally appeared on...
" for an SST compilation.
Despite the name "DC3", the band was only a trio for their first LP. Bassist Ceasar Viscarra and drummer Louie Dufau (both formerly of The Stains) joined Cadena and Roessler after the release of the first album and the band remained a quartet for the until their break-up.
DC3 split in 1988. Vida (1989), a collection of live recordings, was DC3's last album.
Discography
- This Is The Dream LP (SST RecordsSST RecordsSST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
, 1985) - The Good Hex LP (SST Records, 1986)
- You're Only As Blind As Your Mind Can Be LP (SST Records, 1986)
- Vida 2xLP/CD (SST Records, 1989)
Final line-up
- Dez CadenaDez CadenaDez Paul Cadena is an American punk rock singer and guitarist. He was the third vocalist and later rhythm guitarist for hardcore punk band Black Flag. Since 2001 Cadena has played guitar with the Misfits...
- Vocals, Guitar - Paul RoesslerPaul RoesslerPaul Roessler was a prominent member of the L.A. punk scene during the late 1970s and '80s. He played keyboards in bands such as The Screamers, Twisted Roots, 45 Grave, Nervous Gender, SAUPG, Geza X and the Mommymen, Mike Watt and the Secondmen, Nina Hagen and The Deadbeats...
- Keyboards, Vocals - Ceasar Viscarra - Bass
- Louie Dufau - Drums
Previous members
- Kurt Markham - Drums on This Is The Dream
- Jeff DahlJeff DahlJeff Dahl is an American musician. Born in Stuttgart, Germany in 1955, but in 1960 the Dahl family relocated to Hawaii. Jeff recorded his first single, Rock N Roll Critic, in 1977 and it was released on the Doodley Squat label...
- Drums (early practices) - Kira RoesslerKira RoesslerKira Roessler is an American bass guitarist, singer and Emmy award-winning dialogue editor. She is best known for her membership in the punk rock group Black Flag.-Biography:...
- Bass (early practices)
External links
- DC3 @ TrouserPress
- [ DC3 @ AMG Allmusic]