---
title: "A Pioneer of the Punk Scene with Andy Shernoff of The Dictators"

description: "What's it like to invent a genre? To live in NYC in the 70s and 80s? To be one of the first bands to play the iconic CBGB? Andy (aka Adny) takes us through his career, from living with his influential band, to writing and producing with members of The Ramones, and his 2024 tour with The Damned. Turn up with Andy at AndyShernoff.com and TheDictators.com"

status: complete

date: 2024-08-06

kind: guest

guestSlugs:
  - andy-shernoff

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/A-Pioneer-of-the-Punk-Scene-with-Andy-Shernoff-of-The-Dictators-e2mqqto"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-pioneer-of-the-punk-scene/id1567355195?i=1000664455818&uo=4"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/6eWA8yueUZzJf2XyJ4HzJT"
youtubeUrl: "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGTB1ck3V2Q"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "New York"
  - "The history of rock"
  - "Collaboration"
  - "Andy Shernoff's origins in music"
  - "The NYC punk scene of the 70s"
  - "Forming The Dictators"
  - "Influence of CBGB"
  - "Writing for music magazines"
  - "Creating community through music"
  - "The evolution of punk music today"
  - "Lessons from a long music career"

hostNote: |
  In this episode of Love Music More, we welcome **Andy Shernoff**, a founding member of the iconic punk band The Dictators. Andy takes us on a vivid journey through the gritty and electrifying New York City punk scene of the 70s, a time when the music world was ripe for revolution. From his first encounter with the Ramones to the band's enduring legacy, this episode provides invaluable insights into the origins of punk rock and the spirit of creativity that thrived in an era of chaos and transformation.
  
  His stories of forming The Dictators and the camaraderie that fueled their creativity serve as a testament to the community spirit that defined this groundbreaking genre. Dive in to explore what it means to not just make music, but to live it.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Reflecting on NYC in the 70s"
    startSec: 221
    note: "Andy paints a picture of New York City as it was crumbling yet bursting with creativity, filled with cheap rents and an influx of artists and musicians."
  - label: "Forming The Dictators"
    startSec: 396
    note: "Andy narrates the beginnings of The Dictators—how he met Ross the Boss and the early influences that shaped their sound."
  - label: "Discovering punk music's potential"
    startSec: 478
    note: "He discusses how the urgent need for new music inspired their formation and how bands like MC5 influenced their direction."
  - label: "First experiences at CBGB"
    startSec: 1356
    note: "Andy shares his initial impressions of seeing the Ramones play at CBGB, highlighting the transformative nature of their performance."
  - label: "Connection with Joey Ramone"
    startSec: 1664
    note: "Andy explains his relationship with Joey Ramone and reflects on the significance of their friendship in shaping their musical journeys."
  - label: "The evolution of punk today"
    startSec: 2430
    note: "In a candid conversation, Andy muses on what punk music means today and mentions the Japanese punk band Otoboke Beaver."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "You have to remember, sex was safe and drugs were cool so it was a whole different style of living."
    startSec: 145
    reviewed: true
  - text: "A lot of ways it was a very difficult period, but it was certainly a super creative period."
    startSec: 222
    reviewed: true
  - text: "The raw three-minute song had been ignored for a few years. And it was time for a comeback."
    startSec: 1661
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: "What is Andy Shernoff known for?"
    answer: "Andy Shernoff is known for being a founding member of the punk band The Dictators, which played a significant role in the NYC punk scene of the 1970s."
  - question: "What was it like to play at CBGB?"
    answer: "Playing at CBGB was revolutionary for many bands, including The Dictators, as it became a staple venue for original music and helped foster a community of punk musicians."
  - question: "How did Andy Shernoff influence the punk genre?"
    answer: "Andy influenced the punk genre through his work with The Dictators, which combined hard rock influences with punk aesthetics, paving the way for many bands that followed."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---