SPILL BOOK REVIEW: LEONARD GRAVES PHILLIPS – THE DICKIES AND ME – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LEONARD GRAVES PHILLIPS

LEONARD GRAVES PHILLIPS – THE DICKIES AND ME – THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LEONARD GRAVES PHILLIPS

CLEOPATRA RECORDS

BOOK REVIEW BY AARON BADGLEY

Try to imagine, it is 1978, punk is at full force, and for the most part, a serious and angry form of music. Springing up in the punk movement was a band from San Francisco. Not only were they brilliant musicians, but they were downright amusing. They released a two-minute version of Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” as their debut single. It was a short, sharp shock, with a great deal of humour. Leonard Graves Phillips, a founding member of the band, has written his memoir, The Dickies And Me – The Life Of Leonard Graves Phillips. The book is set up like a Dickies album. Keeping in mind that The Dickies seldom went over three minutes, there are 50 chapters in a 232-page book. Funny stuff.

But the short chapters work. It is as if Phillips is in a hurry to tell his story from his own birth to the birth of the band. It is interesting that he notes how The Beatles were a huge influence on him, and the impact they had on his music. Quite the opposite from The Clash and Sex Pistols. But again, The Dickies were their own brand of punk. Like their music, this book makes one smile, and it is a very quick and enjoyable read.

He writes extremely well, in a very concise manner. And he is an excellent storyteller, as one reads this it does feel like Phillips telling his story. Not in a stream of thought way, but in a very linear, well thought out manner. It is a joy to read, and he connects all the dots. How did The Dickies come to record “Nights in White Satin?” It all makes sense reading this book. His love of music and the band (and his) ability to take these songs and make them something they were never intended to be, but it worked!

It is a very honest account of never-ending exciting life. The photo of Joey Ramone wearing a Dickies shirt is a wonderful highlight for Phillips and the reader. His account of the band being on Don Rickles’ television show, CPO Skarkey.  But he goes into detail about college and change of careers, and the impact of such decisions. The Dickies were a band that took their music seriously but had some serious fun. And that comes across in his writing. He is having fun with this book, but it also is a well written account.

There is a lot in the short(ish) book, The Dickies And Me – The Life Of Leonard Graves Phillips. There is a reason The Dickies is one of the longest running punk bands in history, and part of the answer can be found in the pages of this book. It is a fun read with a great deal to say. Like their records, there is much more here than meets the eye. It is a brilliant memoir and history of an influential band.

ISBN 10: 1735676896
ISBN 13: 978-1735676890

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