Dictators

Considering that the first Dictators album came out in 1975, scads of credit is due these hearty pre-punk New Yorkers for blazing a long trail, melding the essentials of junk culture – wrestling, fast food, TV, beer, dope, cars, scandal sheets – with loud/hard/fast rock'n'roll and thus creating an archetype that has been adopted and adapted by countless other bands. Originally formed as an homage/response to the MC5, Flamin Groovies, New York Dolls and the Stooges, the Dictators wound up playing a similarly crucial and inspirational role to the generations that followed them. Now the Dictators are back with original members Andy Shernoff and Ross The Boss along with former Blue Õyster Cult drummer Albert Bouchard and Frankenstein 3000 guitarist/vocalist Keith Roth. They have already wowed fans with the new singles “Let’s Put The Band Back Together” and “Thank You And Have A Nice Day” and are ready to continue their 50 year legacy as one of the greatest pre-punk bands ever.

Considering that the first Dictators album came out in 1975, scads of credit is due these hearty pre-punk New Yorkers for blazing a long trail, melding the essentials of junk culture – wrestling, fast food, TV, beer, dope, cars, scandal sheets – with loud/hard/fast rock'n'roll and thus creating an archetype that has been adopted and adapted by countless other bands. Originally formed as an homage/response to the MC5, Flamin Groovies, New York Dolls and the Stooges, the Dictators wound up playing a similarly crucial and inspirational role to the generations that followed them. Now the Dictators are back with original members Andy Shernoff and Ross The Boss along with former Blue Õyster Cult drummer Albert Bouchard and Frankenstein 3000 guitarist/vocalist Keith Roth. They have already wowed fans with the new singles “Let’s Put The Band Back Together” and “Thank You And Have A Nice Day” and are ready to continue their 50 year legacy as one of the greatest pre-punk bands ever.

In recent years the world has become an unsettling place, from the mass movements of refugees to political upheaval, both in this country and abroad. Disturbingly, history shows that it's at unsettled times like these that dictators can rise - leaders who promise they can solve every problem, if only they're granted supreme power. David Olusoga examines fifty years of BBC documentary archives to try and discover why dictators can have such a powerful appeal.

An examination of the techniques and tactics Saddam Hussein used to rise from a low level enforcer to become the supreme leader of Iraq. Through his brutal use of violence, intimidation and torture Saddam Hussein managed to rule the nation for nearly a quarter of a century until he was finally deposed by US forces during the Invasion of Iraq in 2003. Few dictators loom so large in recent history.

In recent years the world has become an unsettling place, from the mass movements of refugees to political upheaval, both in this country and abroad. Disturbingly, history shows that it's at unsettled times like this that dictators can rise - leaders who promise they can solve every problem, if only they're granted supreme power. David Olusoga examines fifty years of BBC documentary archives to try and discover why dictators can have such a powerful appeal.

Learn how six dictators, from Mussolini to Saddam Hussein, shaped the 20th century. How did they seize and lose power? What forces were against them? Learn the answers in these six immersive hours, each a revealing portrait of brutality and power In Episode Three see why Benito Mussolini was considered a pioneer among 20th century dictators. From undermining judges to indoctrinating children, he forged key tactics for seizing power. He also created fascism, an ideology that would plunge Europe into darkness.

Watch Manuel Noriega rise through the Panamanian military to become chief of intelligence – and then, military dictator. He spied for the United States, but in the end, money laundering, drug trafficking and political crimes led to his downfall.