Active until 1980 Genres Punk, Christian/gospel | Active from 1977 | |
Members Chip Kinman, Tony Kinman, Pat Garrett Albums Class War, Dils Dils Dils, God Is In Control, Faith Similar Rank and File, The Weirdos, Black Randy and the Metro, The Alley Cats, Germs | ||
The dils you re not blank
The Dils was an American punk rock band of the late 1970s, originally from Carlsbad, California, and fronted by brothers Chip Kinman and Tony Kinman. They appeared as the second act in the "battle of the bands" sequence in Cheech and Chong's film, Up In Smoke, where they can be heard before being seen performing "You're Not Blank" (which ends with drummer Andre Algovar complaining that he could not hear anything without stage monitors). After Recording the ' What? ' Records 45 Single ' I Hate the Rich / You're not Blank ' 1977, Andre decided to go to college; & so Pat Garret (aka Rand McNally) from Oklahoma took his place; who also Produced the 2nd 45 Single on DangerHouse Records ' Class War / Mr. Big ' after several mos. together. After he was jettisoned for adding a 3rd harmony vocal to the Closeout of ' Class War ' unbeknownst to the Kinman Bros. John Silvers was brought in; & the Band relocated to San Francisco in February 1978.
Contents
The dils red rockers 1979
History
Soon after forming in 1977 the band relocated to San Francisco, where they would have a significant influence on that city's embryonic punk scene (bassist Tony Kinman would play very briefly with San Francisco punk band The Avengers during 1977), and then Los Angeles, becoming one of the major bands in the early Los Angeles punk scene too. They were known for their conspicuous radical left politics, and for a strong melodic sense that earned them the nickname "punk rock Everly Brothers".
Their debut single was "I Hate The Rich" / "You're Not Blank" (the latter most famously covered by Minneapolis punk band Dillinger Four), on Los Angeles-based label What? Records (also home to the Germs, amongst others), originally released in 1977 in what collectors refer to as the "Oils" sleeve - the lettering chosen for the band's logo looking more like "The Oils" than "The Dils" at first glance. This was later reissued by the same label in a more easy-to-decipher font. Their next record was their critical high-point, 1977's "Class War" / "Mr.Big" (the former most famously covered by Canadian punks D.O.A., issued on L.A.'s groundbreaking Dangerhouse label, in a pressing of 1500 copies entitled "198 Seconds Of The Dils". The last contemporary release was a three-sided double-7", "Made In Canada", which showed a gathering roots rock orientation. The Dils broke up in 1980.
Music from the Dils (including material unreleased during the band's lifetime) remains available.
Post-breakup
The Kinmans would continue to follow the roots rock direction in the cowpunk band Rank and File in the 1980s along with Alejandro Escovedo, and Cowboy Nation in the 1990s. Other stops on the Kinmans' musical trail included a rock guitar and drum-machine project, Blackbird.
Discography
- "I Hate The Rich"
- "You're Not Blank"
- "Class War"
- "Mr.Big"
- "Sound Of The Rain"
- "Red Rockers"
- "It's Not Worth It."
Songs
I Hate the RichClass War · 2012
You're Not BlankClass War · 2012
Class WarClass War · 2012