Washington DC 1978-83
In the spring of 1978 The Penetrators (guitarists George Dively and
Scott Logan, drummer Tommy Carr and Mike Crosson on bass) exploded on the DC
scene and - along with a handful of other young, raw bands.
In 2 brief years the Penetrators helped put DC on the global punk map
(opening for bands like The Cramps and Stooges guitarist Ronnie
Ashton's Destroy All Monsters) and before anyone caught up with them,
disintegrated. Fortunately, their part in the burgeoning music scene was noticed:
kilt-clad future Dischord Records co-founder Ian MacKaye (FUGAZI)
witnessed the on-stage implosion and took home part of a smashed guitar, a souvenir
of their final night...
In the fall of 1980, along with Makaio and Mash, Dively formed
The New Standard. The combination was musically exhilarating and destroyed
any preconceived ideas that one might have for the phrase "power trio." Makaio
(drums and vocals), Mash (bass and vocals) and George (guitar and vocals) gigged
every local club in the metropolitan Washington area, as well as CBGB
and others in NYC, blasting their brand of pop/punk songs to anyone who would
listen. The New Standard did shows with Black Market Baby, Iron Cross,
Scream, Tru Fax & the Insaniacs, Slickee Boys, the Insect
Surfers, Tiny Desk Unit, and most of the alternative, wave and punk
bands of the day.
In 1981, they released on Swell Records a 7-inch 45 single (Side A:In Their Hearts, Side B:Same As Me) that was distributed through area
music stores and played on regional commercial and college radio stations like
WHFS, now defunct WGTB and DC101 local music show. Press
interviews, articles, reviews and billings appeared in fanzines such as NY
Rocker, NME, Unicorn Times, Washington City Paper,
DIY as well as mainstream media like The Washington Post and a listing in the reference book Discography of the New Wave [1982 Edition].
The New Standard churned through 3 years of music-making at the beginning
of a new era, the effects of which are still felt today. This CD retrospective
exhumes their best tunes inspired from the ashes of The Ramones, Sex
Pistols, The Clash, and Generation X epoch.
FF to recent times...
Their retro CD, released in 2002, is solidly rooted in 60's and 70's rock, and rips
through 11 original cuts from their early days, PLUS five bonus tracks from
an unreleased EP recorded in 1982. When the boys were rehearsing their ancient material, the most heard comments were, "Why use one chord when ten will do?" or "How did those young lads play that fast?"
Three ways to get this collection from one of Washington, DC's most obscure punk bands. Contact us directly, click on the cdbaby link on this page, or buy and download select cuts from the music store above.
It's CHEAP... under ten bucks for the CD... and don't you want the liner notes??
“Wow, this CD brought back some great memories!†Ian MacKaye, FUGAZI
“Totally crankin’!†Pete Stahl, SCREAM
“Everybody knows George Dively drew me the blueprint for Black Market Baby... keep on rockin' gentlemen!†Boyd Farrell, BLACK MARKET BABY