A Rock and Roll family tree... →[More:] By now most of you are familiar with my near-fanatical devotion to New York proto-punkers The Dictators. What you may not be aware of is some of the stuff that came from the former Dics post breakup.

First off there was Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, put together by former Dictators Handsome Dick Manitoba on vocals, Andy Shernoff on bass, and Ross The Boss on guitar. The managed a minor rock radio hit with "The Party Starts Now." Manitoba also took a whack at a solo career with this one-off Brian Wilson tribute.

Guitar hero Ross The Boss found a modicum of sucess with loincloth-clad metal goofballs Manowar who created the underground metal anthem "Carry On." Bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza went on to multiplatinum success with Twisted Sister, so here's a gem from their pre-fame days called "Under The Blade."

The most interesting post-Dics career would be that off rhythm guitarist Scott 'Top Ten' Kempner who formed roots-punkers The Del-Lords, who put out some gems like "River Of Justice" (featuring Mojo Nixon), "Poem Of The River" and "The Cool & The Crazy."

Quite a fertile bed of talent there. Enjoy the tunes.