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MDC are a punk band formed in Austin, Texas in 1979. =Overview= Playing fast, anarchist punk has earned the band close association with Jello Biafra and the Dead Kennedys, as well as numerous other US punk bands of the early eighties. The band were also unique in frequently changing their name to a different acronym of MDC with every new record released. Incarnations include Millions of Dead Cops, More Dead Cops, Millions of Dead Children, Multi Death Corporations, Millions of Damn Christians and Missile Destroyed Civilization.
The bands original members were:
- Dave Diktor, Vocals
- Ron Posner, Guitar
- Franco Mares, Bass
- Al Schvitz, Drums
The band (as of 2004) tours with the following line-up:
- Dave Diktor, Vocals
- Eric Mucho, Guitar
- Matt Van Curra, Bass
- John Soldo, Drums
Biography
Formed in 1979 and playing their first gig in April 1980 they were one of the three bands in Austin, Texas, who pioneered hardcore punk in the early '80s alongside The Dicks and Big Boys , they were known prior to 1982 as The Stains. These bands frequently played together and established the hardcore scene in their hometown. They self produced one single under the name of the Stains in 1981, a slower version of future MDC song "John Wayne Was A Nazi" backed with "Born to Die"; both later released as MDC on their debut album.
By 1982 the band had relocated to San Francisco, California, a city and state with very vibrant music scenes, and renamed themselves as MDC. By this point the band were active participants in the growing hardcore scene, and released their debut LP Millions of Dead Cops on the band's own label, R Radical, and Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles who helped with distribution. The album is now widely considered a punk classic, and features songs such as "John Wayne Was A Nazi", "Dick For Brains" and the harsh criticism of the police, "I Remember". As well as the police, capitalism ("Corporate Death Burger"), homophobia and American culture ("Violent Rednecks") were all criticized, without irony, by the band.
During the summer of 1982 they became involved in the Rock Against Reagan Tour, during which time they fell out with the band Bad Brains over accusations of homophobia due to Bad Brains' new found Rastafarian religion. 1982 ended with a tour of Europe with the Dead Kennedys which brought the band greater exposure in the punk scene outside of the USA, especially in the UK.
Their involvement in the Rock Against Reagan activities continued through 1983 and they returned to recording with the EP "Multi-Death Corporations" which was distributed in the UK by British Anarcho Punk label Crass Records and R Radical in the US. The EP broke new ground by addressing, in the lengthy liner notes and artwork, the growth of corporations and the violent suppression of Communism in Central America. In 1984 they released another EP, "Chicken Sqwuak", this time dealing with Vegetarian and Vegan issues via a country hick punk tune.
Smoke Signals was released in 1986, their sophomore effort featuring a more diverse style than previously, with a foray into 70's Rock with the song "South Africa is Free". The Album also saw Gordon Fraser's first apperance as main guitarist. Their third album, "This Blood's for You" followed in 1987 and saw them returning to a more orthodox hardcore punk style with themes again including intervention in Central America and criticism of the Reagan Administration. MDC toured Europe in 1988, where the live album "Elvis-In The Rhineland" was recorded. As the '80s drew to a close the band released the album "Metal devil Cokes" in 1989.
A number of line-up changes christened the 90's, swiftly followed by the 1991 album "Hey Cop! If I Had A Face Like Yours...", featuring Bill Collins on guitar and Matt Freeman (of Operation Ivy) on bass. The acclaimed "Shades of Brown" album was released in 1993, published by 'Red Archive' in the US and 'We Bite' in Europe. The album featured the Hip-Hop vegetarian song "Real Food, Real People, Real Bullets". The band marked the album with a tour of former-USSR but it began a lull in the bands activity. The lack of new recorded material and live performances after 1993, plus personal problems of band members, points to an informal break-up of the band. Problems were made worse by the conviction of original member Al Schvitz for possesion of Amphetamine in 1995.
MDC's singer, Dave Dictor, returned with an entirely new backing line-up in 2000, and MDC released a new album ("Magnus Dominus Corpus") in 2004. Recently they took part in a 25th anniversary world tour in 2005, with an all-original lineup.
Side Projects
In 1997 Dave Dictor, along with Tom "Pig Champion" Roberts of Poison Idea, released "An Anvil Will Wear Out Many A Hammer" with their band The Submissives.
Trivia
- Boxcar Dave was an acoustic version of MDC featuring Dave Dictor and Ron Posner. They now go under the name MDC Unplugged
- In 1986 the rock band They Might Be Giants made reference to MDC in a song called "Rhythm Section Want-Ad".
- Tim Armstrong of the band Rancid served as a roadie for the bands 1993 tour.
Selected discography
- Stains- "John Wayne was a Nazi" 7", R Radical Records, 1980
- Millions of Dead Cops- "John Wayne was a Nazi" 7", R Radical Records, 1981
- Millions of Dead Cops- Millions of Dead Cops LP, R Radical Records, 1982
- Multi-Death Corporations- "Multi-Death Corporations" EP, Crass Records, 1983
- Millions of Dead Children- "Chicken Squawk" EP, R Radical Records, 1984
- Smoke Signals LP - R Radical Records, 1986
- Millions of Damn Christians- This Blood's for You LP, R Radical Records, 1987
- Millions of Dead Cops- More Dead Cops LP, 1988 (Compilation of EPs)
- MDC- Elvis In The Rheinland: Live In Berlin LP, R Radical Records, 1989
- Metal Devil Cokes- Metal Devil Cokes: It's The Real Thing LP, Boner Records, 1989
- Millions of Dead Cops- Hey Cop, If I Had A Face Like Yours: Millions Of Dead Cops II LP, R Radical Records, 1991
- Shades of Brown LP, New Red Archives Records, 1993
- Millions of Dead Cops- Now More Than Ever LP, 2002 (Best Of Compilation)
- Magnus Dominus Corpus CD-LP (18 songs), Sudden Death Records, 2004
External links
Anarcho-punk | hardcore punk groups | Later punk groups
MDC | MDC (band) | MDC
"MDC (band)"