The Devil Dogs

I just need to write something about one of my favourite, and probably one of the most under-rated bands ever, The Devil Dogs.  If you have any interest in garage punk rock you need to check these guys out.  I regret never having got to see them in person but their legacy is there for you to find on vinyl and cd - and good luck finding some of it! 

Formally known as The Rat Bastards, they existed  between '89 - '94 and recorded several full lengths and 7", every one a gem.  I first heard them on the first Cheapo Crpyt Sampler cd in about 1993, along with many other great garage bands I'd not heard before - Gories, Oblivians, Pagans and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.  So I then managed to get hold of Big Beef Bonanza and Saturday Night Fever - both essential listening in my opinion.  You can get Big Beef on the 30 Sizzling Slabs CD, also including We Three Kings and their debut self titled LP.  But you gotta be careful which release you get of Saturday Night Fever because there's one on Crypt, and one with some bonus tracks on Sympathy For The Record Industry.  Either way you need this bad boy...

The Rockin' Crypt version 

Smokin' Sympathy version

The Devil Dogs used to get some shit for their, ahem, admittedly sometime sexist lyrics, but I think tongues are firmly in cheeks - I mean take at look at those covers for fucks sake! Do they look serious?  Anyway, along with these you should look out for any of their slew of 7" releases, namely LBMF e.p., thats Laid Back Mother Fuckers to you, a play on The Heartbreakers LAMF lp, who the DDs are clearly influenced by, along with The Ramones, The Dictators and some Phil Spector in the mix.  The split 7" with the New Bomb Turks is hard to find but well worth it - DDs do NBTs Tattooed Apathetic Boys and Turks do a DDs Medley.  The Choad Blast ep are some a few tracks that didn't make it onto Saturday Night - but that don't mean they still ain't great! Then there's the Get Down On Your Knees 7" and  Blue Moon Of Kentucky 7". There's also quite a few comp only tracks to find, and a respectable live lp No Requests Tonight.  And who could forget......Stereodrive!  Get up for rock'n'roll!

You should buy everything you can get your hands on, but you can sample it here. If anyone knows where I can get a Devil Dogs T-shirt, I'd love to know!