R.I.P. Ross "The Boss" Friedman, 1954-2026

Sadly guitar ripper Ross "The Boss" Friedman – who co-founded The Dictators – has passed away after a battle with ALS. He'll be greatly missed. 

Watch The Dictators rock out at CBGBs in 1977

This CBGBs promo clip is only 13 minutes long but it's some of the best colour footage of The Dictators in action you'll ever see.  

Daily Bread Food Bank Benefit w/ Handsome Dick Manitoba @ The Horseshoe, Sunday

Handsome Dick Manitoba makes a rare Toronto appearance at The Horseshoe tonight to help out the Daily Bread Food Bank. 

Legendary Dictators front man Handsome Dick Manitoba is coming to Toronto to help out Bob Muck's benefit bash for The Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank. HDM is like a Punk Rock Santa!!!

From Bob Muck:

"Great things usually start in small ways; a friendly hello, a fun chat and then, suddenly, a new friendship. That's what happened with Handsome Dick Manitoba and me. Before we knew it we were talking about Dick coming to Toronto for a Christmas visit. It made sense that we put on a show for his many Toronto fans.

"Maybe it was the spirit of Christmas that convinced us a charity show to help the many who are struggling in Toronto was best. Dick agreed and a plan was set in motion.

"What happened next was truly incredible. Great people like the good folks at The Horseshoe Tavern, Gerry Finn of The Killer Dwarfs, Stacy Stray of The Intergalactic Rock Stars, Dave McMillan and Chuck Keeping of Big Wreck, A Bunchoffuckinggoofs and SAF all stepped up to pitch in. My wife Nancy and I are blown away by their generosity and kindness. We can't thank them enough!

"The show will be on the 22nd of December at The Horseshoe (doors at 7:30 pm). The cost of admission will be a cash contribution to The Daily Bread Foodbank. Their amazing team will be there to accept your donation and to thank you on behalf of those who need help at a time of year that can be very trying for many.

"We look forward to seeing you all there!"

Check out Handsome Dick Manitoba's performance of "Search & Destroy" along with a video for "Eve Of Destruction"

JD McPherson with Kate Clover @ The Concert Hall, Tuesday

JD McPherson will be playing songs from his new Nite Owls album with Kate Clover opening at 8 pm. Get tickets right here.

Not to be outdone by Pere Ubu, The Dictators also cover The Osmonds' "Crazy Horses"

Check out The Dictators version of "Crazy Horses" by The Osmonds followed by Pere Ubu's recent update of the same tune. 

Wouldn't it be amazing if Donny Osmond had Pere Ubu open his Cleveland show and say, The Dictators in Red Bank? 

Enjoy your annual Festivus celebration with The Dictators

After airing your grievances, join Albert, Andy and Ross The Boss in singing The Dictators' new holiday classic, "Festivus"

New York's Dictators rock The Horseshoe, Thursday

New York's legendary Dictators make a rare Toronto appearance with Craig Daniels' Night Finger tonight. Check the clips.

The Dictators are on their way home after a successful swing through Southern Ontario.    Photo: Rob Sweeney

The Dictators share new song "God Damn New York"

Andy Shernoff, Ross The Boss and Scott Kempner are back with drummer Albert Bouchard – check out "God Damn New York"

Faster & Louder Manitoba @ Horseshoe tonight