Dog Fashion Disco
Encyclopedia
Dog Fashion Disco was an experimental metal band, from Rockville, Maryland
, that was active from 1996 to 2007.
.
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.
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.
. Polkadot Cadaver is managed by Derek J. Brewer, as well.
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 Dog Fashion Disco posted a blog entry on MySpace
stating that the band had decided to call it quits. 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
.
The event was recorded & then released on DVD (DFDVD II
) on October 28, 2008.
, which is stylistically similar to Dog Fashion Disco. The project features Todd Smith, Jasan Stepp and John Ensminger. The project's MySpace page has four songs and an album (Purgatory Dance Party
) which was released on the week of November 17, 2007 for pre-orders and had a street date of November 27, 2007.
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 MySpace page 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!
. On April 17, 2010, Dog Fashion Disco reunited once again with their side projects Polkadot Cadaver and Knives Out! opening at the Ottobar.
On June 25, 2011, at the second of two consecutive reunion shows, Dog Fashion Disco announced it will be releasing an acoustic album. This album will be released on their new record label, Razor To Wrist. Attendees of the reunion shows with VIP passes were provided with a code that allowed them to download an acoustic version of their song "Sweet Insanity." That concert series will also be released via DVD at a later date.
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
, that was active from 1996 to 2007.
Biography
Combining many different music styles (70's psychedelic, jazz, piano recital, heavy metal, 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. BungleMr. Bungle
Mr. Bungle was an experimental band from Northern California. The band was formed in 1985 while the members were still in high school and was named after a children's educational film. Mr. Bungle released four demo tapes in the mid to late 1980s before being signed to Warner Bros. Records and...
.
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
They recorded a track with System of a DownSystem of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
frontman, Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
called "Mushroom Cult" on the album Anarchists of Good Taste
Anarchists of Good Taste
Anarchists of Good Taste is Dog Fashion Disco's 4th album, but their major label debut, and as such, is often mistakenly referred to as Dog Fashion Disco's debut album. It contains the track "Mushroom Cult", a collaboration with System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian...
. 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 was managed by Maryland resident Derek J. Brewer, of Outerloop Records from 2000 until they disbanded. It was with this label that they released the album, The Embryo's in BloomThe Embryo's in Bloom
The track "A Corpse Is A Corpse" is omitted from the track listing, but is not omitted from the sleeve.-Credits:*Todd Smith - Vocals*Greg Combs - Guitars*Stephen Mears - Bass*Sennen Quigley - Keyboards, Guitar*John Ensminger - Drums*Tom Baker - Mastering...
. Polkadot Cadaver is managed by Derek J. Brewer, as well.
Adultery and end
On December 5, 2006 Dog Fashion Disco posted a blog entry on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
stating that the band had decided to call it quits. 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
Experiments in Alchemy
Experiments In Alchemy is the name of Dog Fashion Disco's second album originally released in 1998. It has since been rereleased. The album contains early versions of five songs that would be re-recorded for later albums...
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
Oddzar
Oddzar is an American Rock band formed in 1999 in Columbia, Maryland. Their original line-up consisted of high school friends Russ Eckell , David Nenner , Travis Lockhart , and Blake Silvea ....
.
The event was recorded & then released on DVD (DFDVD II
DFDVD II
DFDVD II is the final DVD release by Baltimore avant-garde metal band Dog Fashion Disco, and the sequel to the original DFDVD from 2005. The DVD mostly carries on where the DFD-Day DVD left off, consisting mostly of footage from after the band's deal with Artemis Records, but does include earlier...
) on October 28, 2008.
Post-disbandment
On April 17, 2007, a bulletin was posted on the Dog Fashion Disco MySpace page, announcing a new project, Polkadot CadaverPolkadot Cadaver
Polkadot Cadaver is a band formed by members of the now defunct Baltimore rock band Dog Fashion Disco. The band is stylistically similar to Dog Fashion Disco and inherited many of their fans.-History:...
, which is stylistically similar to Dog Fashion Disco. The project features Todd Smith, Jasan Stepp and John Ensminger. The project's MySpace page has four songs and an album (Purgatory Dance Party
Purgatory Dance Party
Purgatory Dance Party is the debut album by Polkadot Cadaver released via internet pre-sales on November 17, 2007, with a street date of November 27, 2007. The cover art is a reference to the John Travolta film Saturday Night Fever...
) which was released on the week of November 17, 2007 for pre-orders and had a street date of November 27, 2007.
Brian White is currently involved in a project named Phantom Communique, with another Baltimore native, Brandon Thomas
Brandon Thomas (musician)
Brandon Thomas aka Brandon Fogle is a bicoastal musician.-Biography:Brandon grew up in the Parkville suburb of Baltimore. He was the lead vocalist in Baltimore metal band Margret Heater from 1998-2003...
. 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
The Alter Boys
The Alter Boys are an American band from Ohio. The band includes members of the bands Dog Fashion Disco, Polkadot Cadaver, Unified Culture, Mudfoot, Original Pranksta, and Mushroomhead. Also featured in the band was Ryan Dunn of the television series Jackass. They play in various musical styles,...
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 MySpace page 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
DFDVD II
DFDVD II is the final DVD release by Baltimore avant-garde metal band Dog Fashion Disco, and the sequel to the original DFDVD from 2005. The DVD mostly carries on where the DFD-Day DVD left off, consisting mostly of footage from after the band's deal with Artemis Records, but does include earlier...
and a rarities compilation, entitled Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again
Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again
Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again is a retrospective compilation album released by Baltimore avant-garde metal band Dog Fashion Disco in 2008, two years after their final album, Adultery, and a year after their disbandment...
.
In late 2008, Todd Smith and Jasan Stepp teamed up with members of Nothingface
Nothingface
Nothingface was a four-piece metal band from Washington, D.C. noted for having graphic lyrics and occasionally using political themes in their later works, as well as polyrhythmic songs.-First Run:...
as well Hellyeah
Hellyeah
Hellyeah is an American heavy metal supergroup, consisting of Mudvayne vocalist Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett, Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell, Damageplan bassist Bob Zilla, and former Pantera and Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul. The idea to form a supergroup originated in 2001 on the...
to form Knives Out!
Knives Out!
Knives Out! is a metal band consisting of members of Hellyeah, Nothingface, Dog Fashion Disco and Polkadot Cadaver. Stylistically, they are heavier and more conventional Heavy Metal than front man Todd Smith and guitarist Jasan Stepp's other band Polkadot Cadaver.-History:Knives Out! formed in 2008...
. On April 17, 2010, Dog Fashion Disco reunited once again with their side projects Polkadot Cadaver and Knives Out! opening at the Ottobar.
On June 25, 2011, at the second of two consecutive reunion shows, Dog Fashion Disco announced it will be releasing an acoustic album. This album will be released on their new record label, Razor To Wrist. Attendees of the reunion shows with VIP passes were provided with a code that allowed them to download an acoustic version of their song "Sweet Insanity." That concert series will also be released via DVD at a later date.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erotic Massage | Self-released | ||
| Experiments in Alchemy Experiments in Alchemy Experiments In Alchemy is the name of Dog Fashion Disco's second album originally released in 1998. It has since been rereleased. The album contains early versions of five songs that would be re-recorded for later albums... |
Self-released | ||
| The Embryo's in Bloom The Embryo's in Bloom The track "A Corpse Is A Corpse" is omitted from the track listing, but is not omitted from the sleeve.-Credits:*Todd Smith - Vocals*Greg Combs - Guitars*Stephen Mears - Bass*Sennen Quigley - Keyboards, Guitar*John Ensminger - Drums*Tom Baker - Mastering... |
Outerloop Records | ||
| Anarchists of Good Taste Anarchists of Good Taste Anarchists of Good Taste is Dog Fashion Disco's 4th album, but their major label debut, and as such, is often mistakenly referred to as Dog Fashion Disco's debut album. It contains the track "Mushroom Cult", a collaboration with System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian... |
Spitfire Records Spitfire Records Spitfire Records was a subdivision of Eagle Rock Entertainment located in New York, United States.In September 1998, Paul Bibeau founded, launched and rapidly developed Spitfire Records Inc. from a two-man operation located in his home bedroom in suburban Long Island, New York, to one of the... |
||
| Mutilated Genitals Mutilated Genitals Mutilated Genitals is the title of an EP by Dog Fashion Disco released in 2001. It has since been deleted and is quite rare, but not as rare as Erotic Massage. The title comes from an infamous quote from the song "Valley Girl Ventriloquist", "Don't fall asleep or we'll mutilate your... (EP Extended play An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact... ) |
Spitfire Records Spitfire Records Spitfire Records was a subdivision of Eagle Rock Entertainment located in New York, United States.In September 1998, Paul Bibeau founded, launched and rapidly developed Spitfire Records Inc. from a two-man operation located in his home bedroom in suburban Long Island, New York, to one of the... |
||
| Committed to a Bright Future Committed to a Bright Future Committed to a Bright Future is the name of Dog Fashion Disco's 5th studio album released in 2003. Music videos were made for the songs "The Acid Memoirs" and "Grease".-Track listing:... |
Spitfire Records Spitfire Records Spitfire Records was a subdivision of Eagle Rock Entertainment located in New York, United States.In September 1998, Paul Bibeau founded, launched and rapidly developed Spitfire Records Inc. from a two-man operation located in his home bedroom in suburban Long Island, New York, to one of the... |
||
| Day of the Dead Day of the Dead (EP) -Credits:*Todd Smith - Vocals*Jasan Stepp - Guitar*Jeff Siegel - Keyboards*Brian "Wendy" White - Bass*Mike "Ollie" Oliver - Drums*Matt Rippetoe - Saxophone & Flute... (EP) |
Self-released | ||
| The City is Alive Tonight...Live in Baltimore The City is Alive Tonight...Live in Baltimore The City Is Alive Tonight...Live In Baltimore is a live album by Dog Fashion Disco released on January 25, 2005. It was recorded at Fletcher's, a club in Baltimore, MD, on June 14, 2004. It also contains the bonus DVD, DFD-Day, a recording of the day of the show, the show itself, the party... (Live) |
Artemis Records | ||
| Adultery | Rotten Records | ||
| Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again Beating a Dead Horse to Death... Again is a retrospective compilation album released by Baltimore avant-garde metal band Dog Fashion Disco in 2008, two years after their final album, Adultery, and a year after their disbandment... (Compilation) |
Rotten Records |
Compilations
Dog Fashion Disco has appeared on several compilation albums.- Sounds from the Trenches Vol II — "Baby Satan"
- Feoh 2004: Summer Dying Fast — "Rat on a Sinking Ship"
- Kerrang!Kerrang!Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
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 MelvinsWe Reach: The Music of the MelvinsWe Reach: The Music of The Melvins is a 2005 tribute album to the Melvins.-Track listing:...
— "Anaconda"
DVDs
- DFDVDDFDVDDFDVD is a DVD by Dog Fashion Disco released in July, 2004. It includes 2 hours of footage following the band and their exploits on the road through various steps of their career, from early lineups to current. Also included are all their music videos, an entire live set shot in Toronto, Canada, a...
(June 15, 2004) - DFD-Day (Bonus DVD packaged with The City is Alive Tonight...Live in BaltimoreThe City is Alive Tonight...Live in BaltimoreThe City Is Alive Tonight...Live In Baltimore is a live album by Dog Fashion Disco released on January 25, 2005. It was recorded at Fletcher's, a club in Baltimore, MD, on June 14, 2004. It also contains the bonus DVD, DFD-Day, a recording of the day of the show, the show itself, the party...
(August 25, 2005)) - DFDVD IIDFDVD IIDFDVD II is the final DVD release by Baltimore avant-garde metal band Dog Fashion Disco, and the sequel to the original DFDVD from 2005. The DVD mostly carries on where the DFD-Day DVD left off, consisting mostly of footage from after the band's deal with Artemis Records, but does include earlier...
(September 12, 2008)