Dog Fashion Disco
was an experimental band that originated out of Rockville, Maryland, from 1996–2007.
|
DOG FASHION DISCO TICKETS
|
Biography
Notable for combining many different music styles (70's psychedelic, jazz, piano recital, circus music and vocals, among others) Dog Fashion Disco was primarily considered an
avant-garde metal band. The band's lyrical content is often highly esoteric and satirical, with constant tongue-in-cheek references to the occult, drug use, and mutilation. A major influence on the band's sound was the California genre-defying act,
Mr. Bungle.
They are often referred to as
DFD
and were originally called
Hug the Retard
, but changed their name to Dog Fashion Disco before releasing any material, as they felt the name Hug The Retard was too offensive and might cost them fans. Since establishing themselves as DFD, the band's sound has essentially remained the same despite the revolving door of various band members throughout the past decade.
Collaborations
Also of note is the fact that they recorded a track with
System of a Down frontman,
Serj Tankian called "Mushroom Cult" on the album
Anarchists of Good Taste
. This song is often wrongly attributed to System of a Down, even though Serj Tankian was the only member to perform on the track.
Management
Dog Fashion Disco has been managed by Maryland resident Derek J. Brewer, of Outerloop Records, since 2000. It was with this label that they released the album,
The Embryo's in Bloom
.
[1]
Adultery
/ The final chapter
They were signed to
Rotten Records and completed their sixth studio album,
Adultery
, early in 2006. It was released on April 4, 2006. The band toured in support for the release of Adultery during the summer of 2006
On December 5, 2006
Todd Smith sent out a bulletin on
MySpace stating that Dog Fashion Disco have called it quits.
[2] They performed their final show together at the Sonar Lounge in Baltimore, Maryland on January 13, 2007 to a capacity crowd. Fans came as far away as the United Kingdom for the final show. The band played a marathon 25+ song set, ending with the hit "Albino Rhino" from the 1998,
Experiments in Alchemy
album (this was a common concert-closer), and played the song "Sweet Insanity" from their newest album,
Adultery
, for an encore song. Other past band members turned up to show their support for their former musical family such as Sennan Quigley and Mike "Ollie" Oliver. The show was opened by the band
Oddzar [3].
The event was recorded & then released on DVD (
DFDVD II
) on
October 28 2008.
Singer,
Todd Smith, is sometimes known by an alias; Mr. Smiff. Though this isn't far from his real name, he finds it humorous and rather enjoyable.
Post-Disbandment
On April 17, 2007, Dog Fashion Disco's MySpace posted a bulletin announcing a new project,
Polkadot Cadaver, which is stylistically similar to Dog Fashion Disco. The project features Todd Smith, Jasan Stepp and John Ensminger. The project's has four songs and an album (
Purgatory Dance Party
) which was released on the week of November 17, 2007 for pre-orders and a street date of November 27, 2007
Its not a DFD song but it's the closest thing that you are ever going to get again. Todd and I have been putting in quite a bit of time working on material for all of you kiddies. We are excited about the direction of this project and we are looking forward hearing what you think. Click on the banner above to check it out.
—Jasan Stepp on "A Wolf in Jesus Skin", via a Dog Fashion Disco MySpace Bulletin
Brian White is currently involved in a project named
Phantom Communique, with another Baltimore native,
Brandon Thomas. He joined the new band in September 2006 and the band played their first show in Baltimore on November 13, 2006. Todd Smith, Matt Rippetoe and Jeff Siegel are members of
The Alter Boys since 2005, but it is unknown whether they will release another album. Tim Swanson has returned to his older band,
Ideamen.
All four bands are advertised on the Dog Fashion Disco and in bulletins.
Dog Fashion Disco have reunited on a handful of occasions, most recently on
September 12 2008, in support of the release of
DFDVD II
and a rarities compilation, entitled
Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again
.
In late 2008, Todd Smith and Jasan Stepp teamed up with members of
Nothingface as well
Hellyeah to form
Knives Out!.
Members
Final Lineup
- Todd Smith - vocals
- Jasan Stepp - guitars
- Brian "Wendy" White - bass guitar
- John Ensminger - drums
- Jeff Siegel - keyboards
- Matt Rippetoe - horns
Previous members
- Greg Combs - guitars
- Sennen Quigley - guitars, keyboards
- Mark Ammen - bass guitar
- Stephen Mears aka "Grand Master Super Eagle Sultan" - bass guitar
- Mike "Ollie" Oliver - drums
- Tim Swanson - keyboards
- Kristen Ensminger - trumpet
- Geoff Stewart - saxophone
- Jason Stevens - guitar
Discography
Date of Release
| Title
| Label
| US sales
|
1997
| Erotic Massage
| Self-released
|
|
1998
| Experiments in Alchemy
| Self-released
|
|
2000
| The Embryo's in Bloom
| Outerloop Records
|
|
March 6, 2001
| Anarchists of Good Taste
| Spitfire Records
|
|
September 3, 2001
| Mutilated Genitals
(EP)
| Spitfire Records
|
|
May 6, 2003
| Committed to a Bright Future
| Spitfire Records
|
|
June 2004
| Day of the Dead
| Self-released
|
|
January 25, 2005
| The City is Alive Tonight...Live in Baltimore
| Artemis Records
|
|
April 4, 2006
| Adultery
| Rotten Records
|
|
October 28, 2008
| Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again
| Rotten Records
|
|
Compilations
Dog Fashion Disco has appeared on several compillation albums.
- Sounds from the Trenches Vol II
– "Baby Satan"
- Feoh 2004: Summer Dying Fast
– "Rat on a Sinking Ship"
- Kerrang! Magazine's The Best of 2001
– "Mushroom Cult"
- The Devil's Music - Volume 3
– "Leper Friend"
- JägerMusic Rarities 2004
– "G. Eye Joe"
- We Reach: The Music of the Melvins
– "Anaconda"
DVDs
- DFDVD
(June 15, 2004)
- DFD-Day
(Bonus DVD packaged with The City is Alive Tonight...Live in Baltimore'' (August 25, 2005))
- DFDVD II
(September 12, 2008)
See also
- The Alter Boys
- Polkadot Cadaver
References
- Management of Dog Fashion Disco
- Announcing the End of an Era
- Oddzar