MDC

Formed in Austin, Texas in 1979 under the name The Stains before quickly adopting MDC (Millions of Dead Cops), the band was part of the first wave of American hardcore punk, with a direct, fast, abrasive sound rooted in punk rock and driven by overtly political lyrics. Based in San Francisco in the early 1980s and later operating out of Portland, MDC was built around singer Dave Dictor, the only constant member of a frequently changing lineup. From the single 'John Wayne Was a Nazi' and the 1982 album Millions of Dead Cops, MDC established an anti-authoritarian, anti-racist and anti-militarist stance, connected with independent American and European punk scenes and networks like Alternative Tentacles and Crass Records. Their discography shows continuity despite stylistic changes, from Smoke Signals (1986) to Hey Cop!!! If I Had a Face Like Yours... (1991), Shades of Brown (1993), Magnus Dominus Corpus (2004), Mein Trumpf (2017), Millions of Dead Cowboys (2020) and War Is a Racket (2023). Between active periods, including a hiatus from 1995 to 2000, MDC toured extensively, including Europe and Russia, maintaining a hardcore punk core blended with satire, social critique and occasional rock or cowpunk accents.