Formed in 1977 by guitarist Stan Lee and bassist Billy Club, and made their debut performance at the Whiskey a Go Go later that September. The band became the first punk rock band to sign with major record label, A&M Records, and in 1979 the band released their first studio album entitled “The Incredible Shrinking Dickies,” followed very closely by “Dawn of The Dickies.”
The Dickies became known for their campy and humerous live performances, which fit with their influences like The Ramones, who they opened with several times; in fact, they would open for The Ramones for various gigs.
The Dickies released a third album in 1983 entitled “Stukas Over Disneyland,” which includes a cover of The Quick's "Pretty Please Me" and Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown."
In 1988, the Dickies wrote and performed the theme music for the horror film Killer Klowns from Outer Space. The following year they released “Second Coming,” and in 1990 they wrote the theme song for the comedy film, “Spirit of 76” by Lucas Reiner. Unfortunately some members of the band struggled with drug problems in the 1980s, but were still able to perform live; in fact, they released their first live album in 1991. In 1995 they released “Idjit Savant” followed by “Dogs From the Hare that Bit Us.”
Even for a punk band, The Dickies have always been a bit left-of centre. Starting in 1977 as one of the first punk bands to come out of LA, The Dickies immediately drew attention for their unusually catchy melodies and use of humour in their songs. Hitting all the early hallmarks of punk, they opened for the Ramones and played at CBGBs but their unusual style gave them the label of ‘Bubblegum Punk’ and it’s just unique style that has probably led to their still booming fanbase, even today when many punk bands have died out.
Today their live show is just as tight and thick as ever. Walls of guitars scream over the crashing drums all propelled forward with a neck-snapping punk energy. Frontman Leonard Graves Phillips still kicks and throws shapes, not showing a hint of age as he dominates the room with his presence, snarling through the tunes. The Dickies are proof that if you do something a bit differently, you will often be rewarded and now over 40 years into their careers they are still rewarding the crowds with their shows.