Dave Dictor
Encyclopedia
Dave Dictor is the lead singer for the hardcore punk
band MDC
.
Dictor was raised on Long Island and dropped out of Boston University
in the 1970s. He taught public school in New York for five years. He spent a period of time living in Montana
before moving to Austin, Texas
, where he formed a band called the Stains that later evolved into MDC. Dictor and MDC later relocated to San Francisco, California
and finally to Portland, Oregon
.
Dictor still performs with MDC around the world. He recently toured the U.S. with Citizen Fish
.
Dictor also recently appeared in the film American Hardcore
, the film based upon the book of the same name. The song "I Remember" also appears in the film and on the soundtrack. Previously he has appeared in the short experimental film, Bruce and Pepper Wayne Gacy's Home Movies
, by Bruce LaBruce
and Candy Parker.
MDC had lyrics decrying homophobia, for instance in the song " America So Straight?"
Dictor also had a confrontation with Bad Brains over their homophobia directed at Randy Turner
of Big Boys
, which resulted in the MDC song Pay to Come Along.
However Dictor stated in a 2007 interview that, although he has "answered yes or ambiguously when asked for years" he is not gay, but has been "a transvestite of sorts." He has also said he is a "man in a lesbian's body."
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...
band MDC
MDC (band)
MDC is an American hardcore punk band formed in Austin, Texas in 1979. The band were subsequently based in San Francisco, California, and are currently based in Portland, Oregon. MDC originally formed as The Stains before changing their name...
.
Dictor was raised on Long Island and dropped out of Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
in the 1970s. He taught public school in New York for five years. He spent a period of time living in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
before moving to Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, where he formed a band called the Stains that later evolved into MDC. Dictor and MDC later relocated to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and finally to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
Dictor still performs with MDC around the world. He recently toured the U.S. with Citizen Fish
Citizen Fish
Citizen Fish is a ska punk band that has been together since 1990. The band often makes strong social and political statements, dealing with themes such as anti-consumerism, vegetarianism, questioning the status quo, and encouraging people to get along with one another...
.
Dictor also recently appeared in the film American Hardcore
American Hardcore (film)
American Hardcore is a documentary directed by Paul Rachman and written by Steven Blush. It is based on the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History also written by Blush. It was released on September 22, 2006 on a limited basis...
, the film based upon the book of the same name. The song "I Remember" also appears in the film and on the soundtrack. Previously he has appeared in the short experimental film, Bruce and Pepper Wayne Gacy's Home Movies
Bruce and Pepper Wayne Gacy's Home Movies
Bruce and Pepper Wayne Gacy's Home Movies also known as Home Movies is a short experimental film by Bruce LaBruce and Candy Parker.Made in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1988, it is filmed in colour and black and white on Super 8mm film and is 12 minutes long.The conceptual premise of the film is that...
, by Bruce LaBruce
Bruce LaBruce
Bruce LaBruce is a Canadian writer, filmmaker, photographer and underground gay porn director based in Toronto, Ontario.-Biography:...
and Candy Parker.
MDC had lyrics decrying homophobia, for instance in the song " America So Straight?"
Dictor also had a confrontation with Bad Brains over their homophobia directed at Randy Turner
Randy Turner
Randy J. "Biscuit" Turner was an American punk singer and artist. He was born in Gladewater, Texas. He was the lead singer for the seminal hardcore punk band Big Boys, formed in Austin in the 1970s....
of Big Boys
Big Boys (band)
The Big Boys were a pioneering band who are credited with helping introduce the new style of hardcore punk that became popular in the 1980s.-History:...
, which resulted in the MDC song Pay to Come Along.
However Dictor stated in a 2007 interview that, although he has "answered yes or ambiguously when asked for years" he is not gay, but has been "a transvestite of sorts." He has also said he is a "man in a lesbian's body."
Films
- King of PunkKing of PunkThe King of Punk documentary is directed and produced by Kenneth van Schooten and Julie van Schooten.The documentary film includes interviews with members of bands involved in the Punk scene between 1976 and 1982 including Ramones, Adicts, Exploited, Avengers, Dead Boys, UK Subs, Zeros, Wayne...
, Kenneth van Schooten (2007) - American HardcoreAmerican HardcoreAmerican Hardcore is the only L.A. Guns album to feature singer Chris Van Dahl and the first to feature bass guitarist Johnny Crypt. This album continues the increase in heaviness by the band started on their previous album Vicious Circle....
, Paul RachmanPaul RachmanPaul Rachman is an American film director who directed the highly praised 2006 documentary on punk music American Hardcore which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released by Sony Pictures Classics. He is also one of the founders of the Slamdance Film Festival...
(2006) - Bruce and Pepper Wayne Gacy's Home MoviesBruce and Pepper Wayne Gacy's Home MoviesBruce and Pepper Wayne Gacy's Home Movies also known as Home Movies is a short experimental film by Bruce LaBruce and Candy Parker.Made in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1988, it is filmed in colour and black and white on Super 8mm film and is 12 minutes long.The conceptual premise of the film is that...
, Bruce LaBruceBruce LaBruceBruce LaBruce is a Canadian writer, filmmaker, photographer and underground gay porn director based in Toronto, Ontario.-Biography:...
and Candy Parker (1988)