Dog Fashion Disco

Dog Fashion Disco
Dog Fashion Disco publicity photo for the 2006 album "Adultery".
Background information
Origin	Rockville, Maryland, United States
Genre(s)	Metal - Alternative - Jazz
Years active	1996–2007
Label(s)	Rotten Records Artemis Records Spitfire Records Outerloop Records
Associated acts	The Alter Boys Phantom Communique Polkadot Cadaver Ideamen
Website	http://www.dogfashiondisco.com/
Members
Todd Smith Jasan Stepp Brian "Wendy" White Jeff Siegel John Ensminger Matt Rippetoe
Former members
Sennen Quigley Tim Swanson Greg Combs Mark Ammen Stephen Mears aka "Grand Master Super Eagle Sultan" John Ensminger Mike "Ollie" Oliver Geoff Stewart Kristen Ensminger
Notable instrument(s)
ESP Guitars

Dog Fashion Disco was a band that originated out of Rockville, Maryland, from 1996 - 2007.

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 a 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 infamous California genre-defying act, Mr. Bungle.

They are often referred to as DFD and were originally called Hug the Retard, but changed their name to Dog Fashion Disco before releasing any material, as they felt the name Hug The Retard was too politically incorrect and might cost them fans. 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.

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.

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.^[1]

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.

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

On December 5, 2006 Todd Smith sent out a bulletin on MySpace stating that Dog Fashion Disco have called it quits.^[2] 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 event was recorded for an expected DVD release for later this year.^{[citation needed]}

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.

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) is planned for release near the end of November 2007. On October 3, the tracklisting was announced, and the CD made available for preorder.

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 foward 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.

Members

Final Lineup

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

• Todd Smith - Vocals
• Jasan Stepp - Guitars
• Brian "Wendy" White - Bass
• John Ensminger - Drums
• Jeff Siegel - Keyboards
• Matt Rippetoe - Horns

Previous members

• Greg Combs - Guitars
• Sennen Quigley - Guitars, Keyboards
• Mark Ammen - Bass
• Stephen Mears aka "Grand Master Super Eagle Sultan" - Bass
• Mike "Ollie" Oliver - Drums
• Tim Swanson - Keyboards
• Kristen Ensminger - Trumpet
• Geoff Stewart - Saxophone
• Jason Stevens - Guitar

Discography

Album Cover	Date of Release	Title	Label	US sales
	1997	Erotic Massage	Self-released
	1998	Experiments in Alchemy	Self-released
	2000	The Embryo's in Bloom	Outerloop Records
	March 6 2001	Anarchists of Good Taste	Spitfire Records
	September 3 2001	Mutilated Genitals (EP)	Spitfire Records
	May 6 2003	Committed to a Bright Future	Spitfire Records
	June 2004	Day of the Dead	Self-released
	January 25 2005	The City is Alive Tonight...Live in Baltimore	Artemis Records
	April 4 2006	Adultery	Rotten Records

Compilations

Dog Fashion Disco has appeared on several compillation albums.

• Sounds from the Trenches Vol II – "Baby Satan"
• – "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"
• – "Anaconda"

DVDs

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

See also

• The Alter Boys

References

External websites

• Official Homepage
• Offical Dog Fashion Disco Message Board
• Dog Fashion Disco on MySpace
• Rotten Records Website
• DFD Lyrics on DarkLyrics.com
• Unstable Ground (DFD video/DVD producers)

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