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Dicks (band)

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Dicks (band), available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 20253 sources
The Dicks
Company typePunk rock band
IndustryMusic
Founded1980 in Austin, Texas, United States
Defunct2016
Headquarters
Austin
,
United States
Area served
United States
Key people
Gary Floyd (lead vocals), Buxf Parrott, Pat Deason, Glen Taylor, Lynn Perko
ProductsPunk rock music, albums, singles

Dicks was a punk rock group originating from Austin, Texas, established in 1980 and disbanded by 1986. Following the breakup, vocalist Gary Floyd went on to create Sister Double Happiness with drummer Lynn Perko and later became the lead of Black Kali Ma. The band reunited in 2004 and continued performing until 2016.

During the 1980s, The Dicks experienced two principal lineups, which shifted after Floyd moved to San Francisco in 1983.[1] Renowned for their politically motivated Marxist lyrics during the Reagan Era, the band was no stranger to controversy. Floyd stood out as one of the few openly gay artists within the punk movement of the 1980s.[2]

Austin era lineup (1980–1983)

The Dicks were formed in Austin in 1980 by Gary Floyd alongside Buxf Parrott, Pat Deason, and Glen Taylor. They gained recognition with their debut single "Dicks Hate The Police," which has since become a staple of hardcore punk.[3] This track criticized law enforcement’s mistreatment of minority groups.

They regularly shared stages with fellow Texas hardcore acts such as MDC, The Offenders, and The Big Boys. Their first full-length release was a split album with The Big Boys entitled Live at Raul's Club. The Dicks were trailblazers in confronting issues of homophobia and sexual identity within punk through songs like "Saturday Night at the Bookstore" and "Off-Duty Sailor."[3]

San Francisco era lineup (1983–1986)

In 1983, Floyd relocated to San Francisco accompanied by Debbie Gordon, who managed the band and was regarded as an unofficial member. The new lineup included Tim Carroll, Sebastian Fuchs, and Lynn Perko (formerly part of the all-female group The Wrecks), forming a second incarnation of The Dicks. That year they released Kill From The Heart on SST Records, followed by These People in 1985 via Alternative Tentacles. Although the band dissolved in 1986, occasional reunion performances featuring the Austin lineup took place throughout the late 1980s and into the 1990s.

Disbandment and lasting legacy

Despite their breakup, The Dicks left a lasting mark on punk and underground music scenes. San Antonio’s Butthole Surfers paid homage to frontman Gary Floyd by naming a track "Gary Floyd" on their 1984 album Psychic... Powerless... Another Man's Sac. Their influence saw renewed interest during the grunge period when Seattle’s Mudhoney covered "Hate The Police" under Sub Pop Records. Additionally, Chicago noise rock band The Jesus Lizard, connected to Austin’s music scene, covered "Wheelchair Epidemic."

Afterward, Gary Floyd established Sister Double Happiness in San Francisco in 1986. He later focused mainly on performing across Europe with The Gary Floyd Band; a U.S. compilation titled "Backdoor Preacher Man" is available. In the late ’90s, Floyd participated in Black Kali Ma, releasing an album through Alternative Tentacles, then went on to form the Buddha Brothers. Meanwhile, Parrott and Deason joined Austin-based neo-bluegrass groups Shootin' Pains and Trouser Trout; Parrott and Taylor also performed with Pretty Mouth. Lynn Perko became a member of Imperial Teen.

Reunion, disbandment, and the passing of Gary Floyd (2004–2024)

Starting in 2004, Dicks began performing reunion shows regularly in Austin and other locations. The ensemble mainly consisted of original members, with the exception of Glen Taylor, who passed away in 1997; his position was taken over by Austin-based guitarists Mark Kenyon, Brian McGee, and Davy Jones. At the 2009 Austin Music Awards, David Yow of The Jesus Lizard joined them onstage for a rendition of "Wheelchair Epidemic," and that year Dicks were honored with induction into the Texas Music Hall of Fame.

The 2015 film The Dicks from Texas showcased both the band and the punk scene in Austin, accompanied by a tribute compilation featuring 27 bands covering 28 tracks originally by Dicks.

Dicks declared their farewell performance for October 30, 2016, held at Grizzly Hall in Austin; due to popular demand, an additional show was scheduled for the following day.

On May 2, 2024, Gary Floyd passed away at age 71 after battling health complications; he is survived by his husband.

Members

  • Gary Floyd – lead vocals (1980–1986, 2004–2016); deceased 2024
  • Buxf Parrott – bass, guitar, vocals (1980–1983, 2004–2016)
  • Pat Deason – drums (1980–1983, 2004–2016)
  • Glen Taylor – guitar, bass (1980–1983); deceased 1997
  • Debbie Gordon – manager (1982–1986)
  • Tim Carroll – guitar (1983–1986)
  • Lynn Perko – drums (1983–1986)
  • Sebastian Fuchs – bass, vocals (1983–1986)
  • Mark Kenyon – guitar (2004–2016)
  • Brian Magee – guitar (2004–2005, 2016)
  • Davy Jones – guitar (2005–2015); deceased 2015

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 id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals
 id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar
 id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
 id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
 id:Manager value:yellow legend:Manager
 id:Album value:black legend:Studio albums

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 bar:Carroll text:"Tim Carroll"
 bar:Kenyon text:"Mark Kenyon"
 bar:Magee text:"Brian Magee"
 bar:Jones text:"Davy Jones"
 bar:Parrott text:"Buxf Parrott"
 bar:Fuchs text:"Sebastian Fuchs"
 bar:Deason text:"Pat Deason"
 bar:Perko text:"Lynn Perko"
 bar:Gordon text:"Debbie Gordon"

PlotData= 

width:11
bar:Floyd from:01/01/1980 till:12/31/1986 color:Vocals
bar:Floyd from:01/01/2004 till:12/31/2016 color:Vocals 
bar:Taylor from:01/01/1980 till:06/01/1983 color:Guitar
bar:Taylor from:01/01/1980 till:06/01/1983 color:Bass width:3
bar:Carroll from:06/01/1983 till:12/31/1986 color:Guitar
bar:Kenyon from:01/01/2004 till:12/31/2016 color:Guitar
bar:Magee from:01/01/2004 till:06/01/2005 color:Guitar
bar:Magee from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2016 color:Guitar
bar:Jones from:06/01/2005 till:09/01/2015 color:Guitar
bar:Parrott from:01/01/1980 till:06/01/1983 color:Guitar width:7
bar:Parrott from:01/01/1980 till:06/01/1983 color:Bass
bar:Parrott from:01/01/1980 till:06/01/1983 color:Vocals width:3
bar:Parrott from:01/01/2004 till:12/31/2016 color:Bass
bar:Parrott from:01/01/2004 till:12/31/2016 color:Vocals width:3
bar:Fuchs from:06/01/1983 till:12/31/1986 color:Bass
bar:Fuchs from:06/01/1983 till:12/31/1986 color:Vocals width:3
bar:Deason from:01/01/1980 till:06/01/1983 color:Drums
bar:Deason from:01/01/2004 till:12/31/2016 color:Drums
bar:Perko from:06/01/1983 till:12/31/1986 color:Drums
bar:Gordon from:06/01/1982 till:12/31/1986 color:Manager

</timeline>

Albums

10" Releases

  • Ten Inches 10-inch vinyl (2006), issued by Delta Pop Music

Live Recordings

  • Live at Raul's Club LP (1980), Rat Race – shared release with The Big Boys
  • Dicks Live! Hungry Butt (2006), distributed by Hot Box Review

Singles and EPs

  • "Hate the Police" 7-inch single (1980), R Radical Records
  • Peace? 7-inch EP (1984), R Radical Records featuring: "No Fuckin' War"/"I Hope You Get Drafted"/"Nobody Asked Me"
  • Live at Raul's double 7-inch (1992), Selfless Records – split release with The Big Boys
  • Hog 7-inch single (2006), Delta Pop Music

Compilation Albums

  • 1980–1986 CD compilation (1997), Alternative Tentacles – collection of previously unavailable tracks

Appearances on Compilations

  • "Gilbeau" featured on Cottage Cheese from the Lips of Death (1983), Ward 9 Records
  • "I Hope You Get Drafted" included on the International P.E.A.C.E. Benefit Compilation (1984), R Radical Records
  • "Legacy of Man" featured on Rat Music for Rat People Vol. 2 (1984), CD Presents, Ltd

See also

References

External links

  1. ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named windy city
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named True

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