It’s 50 years since punk rock first arose from the streets of London to mortify great swathes of polite British society. 50 years since the Sex Pistols released their debut single, “Anarchy In The UK,” in November 1976. And almost 50 years since The Dickies blasted out of the San Fernando Valley with just one apparent goal. They wanted to make The Ramones sound like sloths.
Leonard Graves Philips, the band’s founder, called the nascent band’s music “autism rock” – probably not the most inviting introduction, but that was before he heard The Ramones. By the end of 1977, the Dickies weren’t simply one of the first Los Angeles bands, they were one of the finest, as well. They even scored a major label deal, something none of their local contemporaries had yet been able to manage. Better than that, though, they followed through with what was, and remains, one of themes significant debut albums of the entire era, The Incredible Shrinking Dickies.
They tossed out new singles like a newborn spits out puréed brussel sprouts, ultra-sonic speedball demolitions of the theme from television’s Banana Splits, Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid,” the Moody Blues’ “Nights In White Satin,” Barry McGuire’s “Eve of Destruction” and for Christmas, a “Silent Night” that was anything but silent.
This month, Cleopatra celebrate the 50th birthday of punk with a live look at the early Dickies – What Once Was, described by Leonard Graves das their best concert recording ever, and a rare glimpse into the sonic showmanship of the original Dickies line-up, with Graves joined by Chuck Wagon, Steve Hufsteter, Karlos Kaballero and Stan Lee.
Recorded live at Euphoria Tavern, Portland, on March 13, 1980, What Once Was captures the band tearing through highlights from their first two albums, The Incredible Shrinking Dickies and Dawn of the Dickies, released on A&M in 1979.
CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=the+dickies+what+once+was
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/thedickies_whatoncewas
It’s as breakneck a performance as you could imagine, with The Dickies powering through uniquely manic versions of favorites “Give It Back,” “You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla)” and “Hideous,” plus of course :Gigantor,” and all wrapped up in an original cover painting from pop-surrealist master KRK Ryden, who has also designed artwork for Michael Jackson, Aerosmith, Tyler The Creator and others!
“If anyone asks me about a Dickies live record,” says Leonard, “This is the one I recommend.”
There’s more, as well. Head on over to cleorecs.com and feast your eyes on a shelf load of further Dickies goodies, from limited edition 45s, classic album reissues, a few more live shows… there’s even a really cool cashmere-blend sweater, so you can wear your allegiance on your chest.
The real biggie, though, is The Dickies And Me: The Life and Times of Leonard Graves Philllips , the King Dickie’s long-awaited autobiography, chock full of candid stories told with Leonard’s signature quirky sense of humor, hundreds of photos, awesome illustrations by KRK Ryden, and a 7″ vinyl single.
Inviting you to step into an exceptionally warped, wild, and weird world, this isn’t your typical rock memoir. It’s a raw, funny, and deeply personal journey through Leonard’s life – from a turbulent childhood to the crazed early days of punk in L.A., through the drug-fueled darkness of the ’90s and into the strange digital wilderness of the modern era. Publishing on August 21, it promises to be one of the reads of the year.
Pre-orders: https://cleorecs.com/collections/pre-orders
Meanwhile, punk’s 50 year celebration charges on, and Cleopatra Records joins the party with a catalog brimming with first wave punk rock giants.
From The Damned to Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, and ex-Runaway Cherie Currie to the Dead Boys (whose own latest release, the live Time Warp Baby is released on June 12); from Eater and The Vibrators to 999, and The Skids, brilliant new releases and precious archive treasures alike have lit up the shelves, and every month through 2026, Cleopatra Records will be spotlighting a fresh classic from the catalog.
Last time around it was Sid Vicious’s last ever UK concert at the Electric Ballroom in London. Next month… hmm. Wait and see. But this month, we fall to our knees before the all-conquering Dickies – because they’re still out there, you know, and they can’t wait to see you at one of their shows..
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