The Dik Van Dykes
Encyclopedia
The Dik Van Dykes were a garage punk
sextet
based in Hamilton, Ontario
, Canada
who first formed in 1985 and folded in 1989.
They released two albums, Nobody Likes...The Dik Van Dykes, released 1987, and Waste Mor Vinyl, released 1989, on the Og Records label, preceded by a limited edition indie cassette
Live At the Gown and Gavel... and countless compilation records such as the It Came From Canada
series issued by OG Records (the Deja Voodoo
guys).
The Dik Van Dykes referred to themselves as "Hamilton's Ambassadors of Tackiness to the World" and dressed accordingly during their stage performances. Back up vocalists Sarah Hodgson and Renee Wetselaar often wore matching outfits and were referred to as the PopTarts. In one show, the sextet dressed as cereal boxes.
Most of The Dik Van Dykes' songs were humorous in nature, often satirizing local and Canadian
culture. Curling , Birthday Song and Adult Gumby were three fan favorites. The band received significant airplay on McMaster University
's CFMU-FM
93.3, Memorial University of Newfoundland
's (MUN) CHMR 93.5, and many other student-run radio stations.
Often compared to a cross between The Ramones / The Rezillos
/ The B-52's
. Others thought they were more like the Dead Milkmen
. In fact, their first LP "Nobody likes the Dik Van Dykes" was a nod to the Rezillos LP Can't Stand the Rezillos
. Opening for The Ramones
3 nights in 1988 and playing with other great bands of the era such as Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
, UIC, Wetspots, Heimlich Maneuver and Deja Voodoo (Canadian band)
.
In the 90's, Sarah asked Mike (Dik) to join her band Sinister Dude Ranch. Mike accepted, but with one condition... that the band change its name to I Love My Shih Tzu. I Love My Shih-Tzu's first song was actually a DVD's song- Too Much Like Fun, and the band broke up in the early 21st century.
Mike Johnson went on to play with the Coop Boys, and is a Lawyer.
Renee Wetselaar has been working in the arts and social justice sector since 1990 and is now Executive Director of the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre. While she doesn't make music right now, she still makes art and causes trouble.
Sarah Hodgson is working as a teacher.
Stu Smith was drumming for The Late Jimmy Marvelous and has also played with Toronto
area bands Ronin and the Mummers. He is employed as a Post Production Manager at Alliance Atlantis
.
Steve Hoy... whereabouts unknown. May have played drums for Zappacosta
Frank Viola... whereabouts unknown.
Garage punk
Garage punk is a fusion of garage rock and punk rock. It is fast-paced lo-fi music characterized by a dirty, choppy guitar sound—usually played by bands who are on independent record labels or who are unsigned...
sextet
Sextet
A sextet is a formation containing exactly six members. It is commonly associated with vocal or musical instrument groups, but can be applied to any situation where six similar or related objects are considered a single unit....
based in Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
who first formed in 1985 and folded in 1989.
They released two albums, Nobody Likes...The Dik Van Dykes, released 1987, and Waste Mor Vinyl, released 1989, on the Og Records label, preceded by a limited edition indie cassette
Compact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
Live At the Gown and Gavel... and countless compilation records such as the It Came From Canada
It Came from Canada
It Came from Canada was a series of compilation albums, released on Og Music in the 1980s, which featured music by independent, alternative and punk bands from Canada....
series issued by OG Records (the Deja Voodoo
Deja Voodoo (Canadian band)
Déjà Voodoo was formed by Gerard van Herk and his friend Tony Dewald . Combining 1950s horror imagery with rockabilly and country musical influences they created a sound which gained them a unique standing amongst Canadian artists...
guys).
The Dik Van Dykes referred to themselves as "Hamilton's Ambassadors of Tackiness to the World" and dressed accordingly during their stage performances. Back up vocalists Sarah Hodgson and Renee Wetselaar often wore matching outfits and were referred to as the PopTarts. In one show, the sextet dressed as cereal boxes.
Most of The Dik Van Dykes' songs were humorous in nature, often satirizing local and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
culture. Curling , Birthday Song and Adult Gumby were three fan favorites. The band received significant airplay on McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
's CFMU-FM
CFMU-FM
CFMU-FM is a Canadian radio station, broadcasting at 93.3 FM in Hamilton, Ontario. It is a campus/community radio station owned and operated by the McMaster Students Union at McMaster University....
93.3, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
's (MUN) CHMR 93.5, and many other student-run radio stations.
Often compared to a cross between The Ramones / The Rezillos
The Rezillos
The Rezillos are a punk/new wave band, who formed in Edinburgh in 1976 and still play gigs around the world in a re-formed line-up. Although frequently aligned with the punk movement, the Rezillos' irreverent glam rock image and affection for campy girl-group iconography, set them distinctly apart...
/ The B-52's
The B-52's
The B-52's are an American rock band, formed in Athens, Georgia in 1976. The original line-up consisted of Fred Schneider , Kate Pierson , Cindy Wilson , Ricky Wilson , and Keith Strickland . Following Ricky Wilson's death in 1985 Strickland switched to guitar...
. Others thought they were more like the Dead Milkmen
Dead Milkmen
The Dead Milkmen is an American satirical punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman , guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro , bassist Dave Schulthise and drummer Dean Sabatino .Beginning within the local underground...
. In fact, their first LP "Nobody likes the Dik Van Dykes" was a nod to the Rezillos LP Can't Stand the Rezillos
Can't Stand The Rezillos
Can't Stand The Rezillos was The Rezillos' first album, released in 1978 and including the UK hit, "Top of the Pops", part of which was used as a jingle on BBC Radio 1....
. Opening for The Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
3 nights in 1988 and playing with other great bands of the era such as Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet
Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet were a Juno Award-winning Canadian instrumental rock band, formed in 1984. They remain best-known for the track "Having an Average Weekend," which was used as the theme to the Canadian sketch comedy TV show The Kids in the Hall...
, UIC, Wetspots, Heimlich Maneuver and Deja Voodoo (Canadian band)
Deja Voodoo (Canadian band)
Déjà Voodoo was formed by Gerard van Herk and his friend Tony Dewald . Combining 1950s horror imagery with rockabilly and country musical influences they created a sound which gained them a unique standing amongst Canadian artists...
.
In the 90's, Sarah asked Mike (Dik) to join her band Sinister Dude Ranch. Mike accepted, but with one condition... that the band change its name to I Love My Shih Tzu. I Love My Shih-Tzu's first song was actually a DVD's song- Too Much Like Fun, and the band broke up in the early 21st century.
Mike Johnson went on to play with the Coop Boys, and is a Lawyer.
Renee Wetselaar has been working in the arts and social justice sector since 1990 and is now Executive Director of the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre. While she doesn't make music right now, she still makes art and causes trouble.
Sarah Hodgson is working as a teacher.
Stu Smith was drumming for The Late Jimmy Marvelous and has also played with Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
area bands Ronin and the Mummers. He is employed as a Post Production Manager at Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. was a Toronto-based media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada. Alliance Atlantis also had offices in Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Shannon and Sydney.Alliance Atlantis was acquired by Canwest...
.
Steve Hoy... whereabouts unknown. May have played drums for Zappacosta
Zappacosta
Zappacosta also known as Alfie Zappacosta is a Canadian singer/songwriter.-Career:...
Frank Viola... whereabouts unknown.
External links
- The Unofficial Dik Van Dykes website
- Punk History Canada
- Jeff Nielsen's music blog Music Ruined My Life
- Feral Martian's favorite records
- The Dik Van Dykes - 6 Foot Square (live)
- The Dik Van Dykes - Road Warrior (live)
- The Dik Van Dykes - Pteradactyl (live)
- The Dik Van Dykes - Adult Gumby (live)
- "Nobody likes the Dyke Van Dykes" was a #1 Album on CHRW 94.7 charts in 1988