...The band soon to be known as the Dickies forms in San Fernando Valley, California (Search CDs).

...After returning from England clutching the latest punk releases, Billy hooks up with school friend Stan, who has been playing guitar for three months and wants to form a punk band.

...After numerous unsuccesful line-ups, Karlos is recruited from a David Bowie cover band, named Kixs, which also featured Rembrandts singer Danny Wilde on guitar/vocals, and Chuck Wagon on bass.

...The search for a front man takes Stan through a bunch of classified ads, and word of mouth enquiries. He is finally introduced to Leonard through a mutual friend - the Quick's guitarist Steve Hufsteter. Steve had also given Stan his first guitar lessons.

...Leonard (who is still recovering after a nervous breakdown and believes that being in a band will get him out of the house) attends his first audition in Billy's parent's family room and proceeds to wrap Stan in his own guitar lead, wrap everyone else up in Bugs Bunny 8mm film, cut up his own sweater into a Dickie and run out without singing a note! Stan dismisses him as an idiot and continues his search.

...Steve asks Stan to reconsider and another rehearsal is set up. Leonard gets to sing this time and brings along his stage props.

...The Dickies have their man.

...Leonard now brings in his friend Chuck Wagon to complete the line up.

...The line up now consists of Leonard Graves Phillips on vocals; Stan Lee on guitar; Chuck Wagon (real name Bob Davis) on keyboards, sax, and guitar; Billy Club (real name Bill Remar) on bass and Karlos Kabellero (real name Carlos Cabellero) on drums and no vocals.

...Many band names are suggested. Karlos refuses to be in a band called the Imbeciles so names the band after a Sixties fashion accessory (a mock turtleneck jumper bib). Their main aim is to headline at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood and appear in local punk magazine 'Slash'.

...After only three weeks of rehearsal the band are 'discovered' by L.A. scene-maker, Rodney Bingenheimer, who books them to appear as the midweek opening act at the Whisky a Go Go on Sunset Boulevard. Their set currently consists of eight songs.

...The debut appearence takes place at a video game arcade next to the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. They play four songs.

...The Dickies embark upon the 'Apocalypse' UK tour with The Jam, sets are kept short as the crowd are anxious to see The Jam and seem largely uninterested by 'these blokes from America'. The general consensus seems to be that they are 'taking the piss out of punk'.

...The single 'Give It Back'/ 'You Drive Me Ape' is released during the tour.

1st Empire Theatre, Liverpool
2nd De Montfort Hall, Leicester
3rd St Georges Hall, Bradford
4th City Hall, Newcastle
5th Apollo, Glasgow
6th Capitol Theatre, Aberdeen
7th University of St Andrews, Fife
10th Polytechnic, Sheffield
12th University, Leeds
13th Apollo, Manchester
14th Odeon, Birmingham
15th Apollo, Coventry
17th Corn Exchange, Cambridge
18th ABC, Great Yarmouth
20th University, Cardiff
21st The Dome, Brighton
22nd University of Kent, Canterbury (cancelled)
24th Guildhall, Portsmouth
25th Electric Ballroom, London (support from the Skids and the Members)
26th Colston hall, Bristol
29th Great British Music Festival, Empire Pool, Wembley

...The band embarks on their first headlining tour of the UK - it is largely attended by a very young audience.

...A riot breaks out in Newcastle when the band appears at a record signing. 2500 kids skip school to meet them but end up breaking the store's front window. The police are called.

2nd College of Technology, Cheltenham
3rd Adri's Ballroom, Manchester
4th The Block, Hull
7th Routes Club, Exeter
8th Woods, Plymouth
9th Stowaways, Newport
10th Polytechnic, Leeds
11th Sandpiper, Nottingham
13th King Georges Hall, Blackburn
14th Pop Club, York
15th Rock Garden, Middlesborough
17th Barbarellas, Birmingham
18th St. Georges Hall, Bradford
19th Eric's, Liverpool
22nd Locarno, Bristol
23rd Top Rank, Sheffield
24th Mayfair, Newcastle
25th Clouds, Edinburgh
29th The Nashville, London (support from the Magnets)

...A new song, 'Stukas Over Disneyland', is previewed on the tour.

...'Banana Splits' / 'Sounds of Silence' is released in the States.

...Leonard and Stan become DJ's on LA radio station KROQ, spinning discs for six hours. Tracks include 'Unconscious Power' by Iron Butterfly, and all their fave punk tunes.

...It is confirmed that the band have sold over a million singles in the UK alone.

...A mini album is currently being planned and is to feature two new songs, the theme to the Japanese cartoon series 'Gigantor', and 'Bedrock Barney', plus six tracks recorded live at the Agoura, Cleveland.

3RD KEYSTONE, BERKELEY, CA

...Things are not rosy in the Dickies camp. After a conflict over who was to be Dawn's producer (the band did not want Hewlett to produce again), tensions have been building between the band and their manager. They plan to sack Hewlett, but are told by A & M that have to stay with him or the record deal is off. Hewlett is dismissed anyway and the band are dismissed from A & M.

...Chuck has started to become uncomfortable in the band, he threatens to leave on numerous occasions but is always persuaded to stay. He is uncomfortable with the fact that a punk band can have a hit single, but a 'serious' artist seemingly can not. His solo single, 'Rock 'n' Roll Won't Go Away' was released last year but went largely unnoticed due to the lack of promotion given to it by A & M.

...The possibility of a greatest hits EP is rumoured. Tracks are set to be 'Gigantor', 'You Drive Me Ape', 'Sounds of Silence', and 'Doggie Do'.

...The late summer is spent touring with the Weirdos.

...New songs are recorded for the band's next album, they include 'Outta Sight Outta Mind', 'Stukas Over Disneyland', 'Ayatollah You So', 'Shy Guy', 'Animal Eater', and 'Dummy Up'.

...Neil Diamond is asked, via producer Ron Hitchcock, to write a love song for the band. Surprisingly nothing materialises!

...There are plans for the Dickies to feature in their first movie, 'Shit Man - The Movie'. The film, which is basically a road movie starring the band's roadie Kent Smythe, has a trailer which features Leonard and a blow up doll lip-synching to the Knack's 'My Sharona' whilst the rest of the band 'pop up' for the choruses.

...The next single is rumoured to be 'Stukas Over Disneyland'.

...A search is on to find the band another record deal. Possibilities are A & M UK, and IRS in the states. Possible tracks for the new album are: 'Stukas over Disneyland', 'She's a Hunchback', Led Zeppelin's 'Communication Breakdown', 'Rosemary', 'Gigantor', 'Banana Splits' and new songs, 'If Stewart Could Talk', 'Pretty Please Me' (a cover of the Quick song), and 'Jim Bowie'.

...Chuck finally quits the band. He hooks up with John Hewlett and ex-sparks members, Dinky Diamond and Trevor White, to work on a project under the guise of 'The Four Squares'. Some 30-plus tracks were recorded for a possible album. Just as the finishing touches are being made Chuck receives a call from the Dickies asking him to help them out with a few local shows. Assured that he will not be required in the studio, he agrees.

...The band, obviously stunned by the tragedy, put everything on hold whilst they decided what to do next.

...'Rosemary' is earmarked as a 12" vinyl release. The band plan to re-record the track and shoot a promotional video to accompany its release.

...The album will be subsequently released as a 3-sided double album on Danceteria records, and two CD's through Roir. The first CD utilises the same artwork as the Danceteria release whilst the second features new packaging and more comprehensive liner notes.

...Also contained on the EP is the track 'Eep Opp Ork Uhuh' culled from the Hanna Barbera cartoon series, the Jetsons.

...The promotional video for the album's title track is the band's most entertaining to date.

...The line up has changed yet again, and now features Leonard, Stan, Laurie, Cliff and new guitarist Enoch Hain. Jerry Angel is also credited on the album.

...This year also sees the A & M retrospective release 'Great Dictations'. Essentially a greatest hits album, it features tracks off both A & M albums as well as singles and b-sides.