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Dog Fashion Disco was an experimental band that originated out of Rockville, Maryland, from 1996–2007.

[edit] Biography

Notable for combining many different music styles (70's psychedelic, jazz, piano recital, 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. Bungle.^[1]

They are often referred to as DFD and were originally called Hug the Retard^[2], 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.

[edit] Collaborations

Also of note is the fact that they recorded a track with System of a Down 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.^[3]

[edit] Management

Dog Fashion Disco has been managed by Maryland resident Derek J. Brewer, of Outerloop Records, since 2000. It was with this label that they released the album, The Embryo's in Bloom.^[4]

[edit] Adultery / The final chapter

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 made a blog post on MySpace stating that the band had decided to call it quits.^[5] 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^[6].

The event was recorded & then released on DVD (DFDVD II) on October 28, 2008.

Guitarist Jasan Stepp in the foreground performing with DFD at Fletchers Bar in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dog Fashion Disco taking their final bow in the early morning hours of January 14, 2007.

The members of Dog Fashion Disco hugging after performing their final song.

[edit] Post-Disbandment

On April 17, 2007, Dog Fashion Disco's MySpace posted a bulletin announcing a new project, Polkadot Cadaver, 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 a street date of November 27, 2007

Its not a DFD song but it's the closest thing that you are ever going to get again. Todd and I have been putting in quite a bit of time working on material for all of you kiddies. We are excited about the direction of this project and we are looking forward hearing what you think. Click on the banner above to check it out.

—Jasan Stepp on "A Wolf in Jesus Skin", via a Dog Fashion Disco MySpace Bulletin

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!.

[edit] Members

[edit] Final Lineup

DFD performing at Fletchers Bar in Baltimore, Maryland in April 2006.

• Todd Smith - vocals
• Jasan Stepp - guitars
• Brian "Wendy" White - bass guitar
• John Ensminger - drums
• Jeff Siegel - keyboards
• Matt Rippetoe - horns

[edit] 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
• Serj Tankian - vocals

[edit] Discography

[edit] Compilations

Dog Fashion Disco has appeared on several compillation albums.

• Sounds from the Trenches Vol II – "Baby Satan"
• Feoh 2004: Summer Dying Fast – "Rat on a Sinking Ship"
• Kerrang! 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 Melvins – "Anaconda"

[edit] DVDs

• DFDVD (June 15, 2004)
• DFD-Day (Bonus DVD packaged with The City is Alive Tonight...Live in Baltimore (August 25, 2005))
• DFDVD II (September 12, 2008)

[edit] See also

• The Alter Boys
• Polkadot Cadaver

[edit] References

Knives Out!, El-Creepo!, Polkadot Cadaver, The Alter Boys

[edit] External links

• Official forum
• Dog Fashion Disco at MySpace
• Rotten Records Website
• Unstable Ground (DFD video/DVD producers)
• Working Class Rock Star (documentary inspired by DFD)