The Dictators Iain Dale

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.

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.

Learn how Francisco Franco used the tactics of colonial war to win control of Spain. Driven by a deeply conservative vision, he used torture, murder and incarceration to transform Spanish Society.

See how Idi Amin used lessons learned in the colonial British army to build a powerful dictatorship in Uganda. Through a combination of populist charm and brutal violence, he ruled for eight years – until his strategic blunders brought him down.