Richard Manitoba

Last updated

Richard Manitoba
Handsome Dick Manitoba at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.jpg
Manitoba at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival
Background information
Birth nameRichard Blum
Also known asHandsome Dick Manitoba
Born (1954-01-29) January 29, 1954 (age 70)
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Genres Punk rock
Occupation(s)Singer, radio personality
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1974–present
Formerly of
Website handsomedickmanitoba.com

Richard Blum (born January 29, 1954), known by his stage name Handsome DickManitoba, is an American punk rock musician and radio personality. He was the singer of New York City-based band The Dictators from 1974 to 2008. With The Dictators, Manitoba sang on the albums The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! (1975), Manifest Destiny (1977), Bloodbrothers (1978) and D.F.F.D. (2005).

Contents

Manitoba also sang with a reunited version of MC5 from 2005 to 2012.

Background

Manitoba is Jewish, [1] and was raised in the Gun Hill Projects in the neighborhood of Williamsbridge, Bronx, New York City, following his 1954 birth. He spent his last three teenage years living in Co-op City, Bronx, New York City. Manitoba was childhood friends with future bandmate, Scott "Top Ten" Kempner, since the 4th grade.

The Dictators

Manitoba started out his singing career as a roadie for The Dictators. He made his official stage debut with The Dictators at Popeye's Spinach Factory in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, in 1975. [2]

The band's first major-label album, The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! (Epic Records, 1975), featured his picture on the cover and he was listed as the "Secret Weapon". [3] While he sang some lead and some background, he was still considered a "mascot" of the band. [2] He took on a larger singing role on The Dictators' second offering, Manifest Destiny , a 1977 release on the Asylum label. On Bloodbrothers , the third and final Dictators studio recording from the 1970s (also on Asylum, 1978), Manitoba sang lead vocals on most tracks. The Dictators disbanded in 1979. [3]

Manitoba's red-sequined wrestling jacket has been on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since its opening in 1995.[ citation needed ]

On January 24, 1986, The Dictators played a reunion show at The Ritz in New York City.

Manitoba's Wild Kingdom

In 1986, Manitoba, along with other former members of the Dictators, formed Wild Kingdom. In 1989, the band rebranded itself to Manitoba's Wild Kingdom and, in 1990, released an album ...And You? on MCA Records.

A re-formed Manitoba's Wild Kingdom played at the 2008 Joey Ramone Birthday Bash. [4]

Music career

Manitoba performing with MC5 in 2005 MC5 @ The Casbah.jpg
Manitoba performing with MC5 in 2005

Manitoba appeared in the 2004 documentary, Kiss Loves You . [5]

In 2005, Manitoba joined the reformed MC5 on vocals. The band split up after the death of bassist Michael Davis in 2012. [6]

In January 2012 the band Manitoba, featuring Manitoba, Ross the Boss, Dean Rispler (ex-Murphys Law), JP Paterson, and Daniel Rey, was formed to play the Light of the Day Festival in Asbury park, a benefit for medical charities. [7] After a handful of shows, the band toured Europe in September 2012. In April 2013, the band was rebranded as The Dictators NYC.

A single, "Supply and Demand", composed by Ross the Boss, Manitoba, and Manitoba's son Jake, was backed with a live version of MC5's "Kick Out the Jams" and released in November 2015.

In July 2017, it was announced that the band name would be changed back to Manitoba "due to legal threats by ex-bandmates, Andy Shernoff and Scott Kempner".

On February 23, 2022, Manitoba performed with Keith Hartel, Mike Fornatale, Alec Morton, CP Roth, Tish Bellomo, Snooky Bellomo, and Arno Hecht(The Uptown Horns) at The Bowery Electric in New York City.

On December 28, 2022, Manitoba performed a live multi-media performance with Keith Hartel and Mike Fornatale on guitars and vocals at Berlin in New York City. The opening act was Adam Realman, "King of the Coney Island Freakshow". The performance was produced and directed by the Tony Mann, the theatrical leader of the show.

Satellite Radio DJ Career

In 2004, Manitoba began hosting "The Handsome Dick Manitoba Radio Program" on Little Steven Van Zandt's Underground Garage channel on Sirius XM Radio. [8] In 2005, the Village Voice awarded Manitoba "Best Satellite Radio DJ". [9] Manitoba's show on Underground Garage continued for 14 years. After the program ended, Manitoba moved on to other projects. [10]

Writing career

In 2007, Manitoba co-authored The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists with Amy Wallace. [11]

Podcasts and YouTube

From February 2019 to November 2021, Manitoba produced a podcast, You Don’t Know Dick.

Manitoba has a YouTube channel, Handsome Dick Manitoba show, that was last updated in April 2023. It has 343 subscribers as of February 2024.

Solo discography

Studio


In 2004, Manitoba threatened to sue independent electronic musician Dan Snaith for using the band name "Manitoba". Snaith changed his musical name to Caribou. [12]

Manitoba pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, in New York State on May 3, 2018, after an incident with the mother of his child, Zoe Hansen. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lester Bangs</span> American music critic and journalist (1948–1982)

Leslie Conway "Lester" Bangs was an American music journalist. He wrote for Creem and Rolling Stone magazines, and was a leading influence in rock music criticism. The music critic Jim DeRogatis called him "America's greatest rock critic".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC5</span> American rock band

MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan, in 1963. The classic line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. MC5 were listed by Parade as one of the best rock bands of all time and by VH1 as one of the greatest hard rock artists of all time. The band's first three albums are regarded by many as staples of rock music, and their 1969 song "Kick Out the Jams" is widely covered.

The Dictators are an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross the Boss</span> American guitarist

Ross Friedman, also known as Ross the Boss, is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of both the punk band the Dictators and the heavy metal band Manowar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Snaith</span> Canadian musician (born 1978)

Daniel Victor Snaith is a Canadian composer, musician, and recording artist. He has released 10 studio albums since 2000 and has recorded and performed under the stage names Caribou, Manitoba, and Daphni. His Caribou album Swim (2010) was a shortlisted nominee for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize and was named the Best Album of 2010 by Resident Advisor. His follow-up Our Love (2014) was also shortlisted for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize and was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilby Clarke</span> American guitarist

Gilbert J.Clarke is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He had a three-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour, and also featured on "The Spaghetti Incident?" (1993). Following this, Clarke went on to forge a solo career as well playing guitar with Slash's Snakepit, Kat Men, Heart, Nancy Sinatra, Kathy Valentine, MC5 and forming his own group Rock Star Supernova with members of Metallica and Mötley Crüe.

Manitoba is a province of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Leaf Label</span> British independent record label

The Leaf Label is a British independent record label based in Yorkshire, England. Initially an electronic music label, releasing mainly instrumental music, the company's approach now features artists spanning jazz and post-punk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Underground Garage</span> Sirius XM satellite radio channel

Underground Garage is the name shared by two related, but different radio outlets that present Rock 'n' Roll and Garage Rock on radio: a syndicated show and a satellite radio station. Steven Van Zandt, best known as a guitarist in Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, is the founder and supervisor of both outlets. Both play a mixture of past and current Garage Rock, and feature one song as "The Coolest Song in the World This Week.’’

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Shernoff</span> American rock musician

Andy Shernoff is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He is a founding member of The Dictators, one of the original New York punk bands, in which he wrote nearly all of the songs, played bass guitar and keyboards, and sang backing vocals and occasional leads. He has been involved with a variety of other musical projects, most notably the heavily Dictators-populated Manitoba's Wild Kingdom and Joey Ramone's first studio album, Don't Worry About Me. He additionally co-wrote four Ramones songs with Joey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Davis (bassist)</span> American musician

Michael Davis was an American bass guitarist, singer, songwriter and music producer, best known as a member of the MC5.

Daniel Rey is an American musician, record producer and songwriter from New York City, best known for his work with the punk rock band Ramones.

<i>The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!</i> 1975 studio album by The Dictators

The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! is the debut album by American punk rock band The Dictators. It was released in March 1975 and is considered one of the first examples of punk rock.

Scott "Top Ten" Kempner was an American rock musician who was the rhythm guitarist of The Dictators. He was also a founding member of The Del-Lords and later a member of The Brandos.

<i>Manifest Destiny</i> (The Dictators album) 1977 studio album by the Dictators

Manifest Destiny is the second album by the Dictators and their first after switching to the Asylum label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Nomads (Swedish band)</span> Swedish garage punk band

The Nomads are a Swedish garage punk band founded in 1981 by Hans Östlund, Nick Vahlberg, Joakim Tärnström, and Ed Johnson. Today, Östlund and Vahlberg are the only members left of the original line-up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suspiria Franklyn</span> Portuguese singer

Suspiria Franklyn is a Portuguese singer. She works in different areas, such as music, plastic arts, photography, journalism, poetry writing, production & management, cinema and photographic modelling.

Manitoba's Wild Kingdom were an American heavy metal and punk rock band based in New York City. They were formed in 1986, and most recently performed in 2008.

<i>Bloodbrothers</i> (album) 1978 studio album by the Dictators

Bloodbrothers is the third album by the Dictators, and their second after switching to the Asylum label. "Faster and Louder" features an uncredited guest appearance from Bruce Springsteen.

Helen Wheels was an American singer and songwriter. She was from a Jewish family. During the 1970s she was involved with punk in New York and got the name Helen Wheels from Handsome Dick Manitoba of The Dictators. She was lead singer of the Helen Wheels Band, and also wrote several lyrics for songs by Blue Öyster Cult. In 1981 she became a bodybuilder. Robert Crumb was a friend of hers and drew the album cover for her 1998 compilation album "Archetype". She died in 2000 at the age of 50, after developing an infection following back surgery.

References

  1. Ralph Blumenthal (June 12, 2009). "Punk, and Jewish: Rockers Explore Identity" . The New York Times.
  2. 1 2 "About 'Richard Manitoba'". Manitobas. January 29, 1954. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Doug Stone. "Handsome Dick Manitoba". AllMusic . Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  4. "Manitoba's Wild Kingdom at Joey Ramone's Birthday Bash 2008". October 3, 2008. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2013 via YouTube.
  5. "Dee Snider & Handsome Dick Manitoba (KISS Loves You Outtake)". November 14, 2008. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2013 via YouTube.
  6. "MC5 Bassist Michael Davis Dead at 68". Guitar World . February 19, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  7. Rainone, Phil (January 2012). "Asbury Lanes Lights Up For January: Two Nights of Light Of Day Benefits". Jersey Beat . Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  8. Regis Behe (July 18, 2004). "Handsome Dick Manitoba Steps Behind a Different Mike". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . Archived from the original on June 13, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  9. "New York Best Satellite Radio DJ – Handsome Dick Manitoba – Best of New York". The Village Voice . June 30, 2008. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  10. Manitoba, Richard. "The End: The Handsome Dick Manitoba Radio Program on Sirius XM Satellite Radio Gets Murdered!". Handsome Dick Manitoba. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  11. The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists – Amy Wallace, Handsome Dick Manitoba – Google Boeken. November 1, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  12. "Manitoba Changes Name Fearing Lawsuit From Some Dick". October 7, 2004. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. Jacobs, Shayna (May 3, 2018). "Punk legend Handsome Dick Manitoba pleads guilty to violation, feels 'ecstatic' about going home". New York Daily News . Retrieved September 19, 2020.