New Noise Magazine

 Review of The Dicks From Texas New Noise Magazine

Interview with The Dicks From Texas director Cindy Marabito | By Hutch

Most compilations of ‘80s hardcore boast the amazing “Dicks Hate the Police,” the debut single that perfectly captures the sweaty rage and virile vehemence excreted by four punks from Austin in 1980: Dicks. Dicks bled Texas from their audacity to the bluesy stomp embedded in their version of punk. Their legacy evolved and mutated on labels like Radical, Alternative Tentacles, and SST. The band embodied punk rock: DIY, loud, abrasive, confrontational and, ultimately, fun. Cindy Marabito was friends with these men and had the insight to press record early.

Despite the stereotypes of Texans, Marabito equates Dicks with Texas as she explains her new DVD documentary, “The Dicks From Texas”: “Here is this commie, self-described ‘faggot’ hardcore punk band playing outrageously brilliant songs like ‘Dead in a Motel Room’ and ‘Dicks Hate the Police’ with [vocalist] Gary [Floyd] in tight mini-skirts and a brassiere.” Floyd was one of the few openly gay musicians in ‘80s punk.

Other tracks by Dicks drip with fury and sweat, spewed by flamboyant, sardonic provocateur, Floyd. His hatred was placed perfectly over Glen Taylor’s surfy, harsh, swirling, dark, and churning guitar lines. Rounded out by a sinister rhythm section, these caustic tracks remain glorious and potent 35 years later. The film starts chronologically. Marabito explains, “It began when I met Gary Floyd, Buxf Parrott, Glen Taylor, and Pat Deason way back in 1979. I was going to school at University of Texas at Austin and would lug around big ass old WWII equipment and try to shoot the Dicks. Later on, I was living in San Francisco and working at Monaco Film Lab. I began the project then shooting on 16mm.”

Marabito, shooting in San Francisco, Austin, and L.A., tracked down fans and friends of the band to comment on the Dicks’ legacy. Including the live footage, Marabito reports having “about 300 hours. The editing took about three months. Once [editor] Cullen [Metcalf-Kelly] and I got started, it was a breeze. The story is so compelling, it edited itself.” Engrossed in the visuals, the viewer feels the impact of a legendary live band. In between, we get many comments and stories, adorned with humor and endearing sentiment. Not one person speaks without a filter of affection. “The people whom I’ve interviewed for the film all love the Dicks and were very available,” reports Marabito. Some of these people include punk icons like Henry Rollins, Mike Watt, David Yow, Texas Terri, and Ian MacKaye.

Marabito’s journey was not easy, despite the interviewees’ willingness. “I ran out of money; paid for everything out of pocket from wages,” she says. “I also run a pit bull rescue, Reunion Rescue, and had to save a lot of dogs in the meantime. It took 16 years to shoot everyone. It was worth the wait.” Audiences at fests like NOLA, CIMMfest in Chicago, Albuquerque, UnderCannes in France, and the premiere in Austin agreed. Marabito adds, “So far, nobody’s hated it. It’s mind-blowing to me how many people—both hardcore Dicks fans and kids who’d never even heard of the Dicks—love this movie. I call Gary and read him the reviews, and he’s blown away too!”