A pioneering New York Punk Garage Metal act, THE DICTATORS have influenced many in their wake. The band was created in 1974 by guitarists Ross Funicello and Scott 'Top Ten' Kempner, bassist Adny (real name Andy) Shernoff and drummer Stu Boy King. Shortly after their inception 'Handsome' Dick Manitoba (a.k.a. Richard Blum) took the lead vocal role. THE DICTATORS signed to Epic Records in 1975 issuing the surprizingly tame 'Go Girl Crazy' the same year. Epic soon dropped the band who then signed to Asylum Records.

The follow up 'Manifest Destiny', which suitably included a cover of THE STOOGES 'Search And Destroy', proved a far stronger effort. By now the band had new drummer Ritchie Teeter in tow. Mark 'The Animal' Mendoza later took over bass duties from Adny but left for TWISTED SISTER prior to 1978's 'Blood Brothers' album..

Kempner later teamed up as a songwriter with the DEL-LORDS. Besides TWISTED SISTER, Mendoza later figured in Southern Rockers BLACKFOOT. Funicello joined SHAKIN' STREET before forming the muscle bound MANOWAR under the stagename Ross The Boss. Manitoba formed MANITOBA'S WILD KINGDOM.

THE DICTATORS reformed in 1994 with Funicello, Manitoba, Kempner, Shernoff and drummer Frank Funaro. New Jersey Punk band ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN covered 'Borneo Jimmy' on their 1997 album 'Spare Parts'. Manitoba guested on Swedish Punks THE NOMADS 2000 single 'The King Of Night Train'.

After a world tour which took THE DICTATORS to Europe, Australia and New Zealand in September of 2002 guitarist Scott Top Ten' Kempner left the band to pursue a new venture in league with PAT BENATAR's husband and guitarist Neil Giraldo. THE DICTATORS, citing a line up of original members vocalist 'Handsome' Dick Manitoba, bassist Andy Shernoff and guitarist Ross The Boss along with drummer J.P. Patterson, were still active on the New York club scene in September of 2003. The following month THE DICTATORS cut a new version of '16 Forever' for inclusion on a disc paying homage to Swedish rockers THE NOMADS.

In 2004 Manitoba formed an alliance with founding MC5 members guitarist Wayne Kramer, bassist Michael David and drummer Dennis Thompson in a new band billed DKT / MC5. The following year this band added erstwhile GUNS N' ROSES guitarist GILBY CLARKE. A 2005 union of erstwhile members of THE DICTATORS, guitarist 'Ross the Boss' and drummer .P. "Thunderbolt" Patterson resulted in the project THUNDERBOLT PATTERSON WITH ROSS THE BOSS. An album, simply entitled 'Thunderbolt Patterson with Ross The Boss' was recorded at Le Chateau Bow Wow Studios in Watchung, New Jersey. Featured on session guitar, bass and keyboards would be C.J. Scioscia.