Meet the infamous Leonard Graves Phillips of the Dickies. what can I say about this man that hasn’t already been said in court documents?

The Dickies were there from the beginning. They were the first and only LA punk band on a major label in the 70’s and are very much responsible for spreading punk to the suburbs and more rural areas of the US. They have had a profound influence on music in general—not just punk. Leonard has had quite a career. He has been in movies, played thousands of shows, has allegedly urinated on his audience, sold countless records, was the biggest and best thing that ever happened to the Warped Tour. He once kicked me in the head at Bogart’s in Long Beach, CA, and is a certified rock-n-roll legend and comedic genius.

*All photos of the Dickies are from Rebellion Festivals 2018* *©dickslaughter.com*

Can you please introduce yourself?

I am Leonard Graves Phillips of The Dickies.

What year did you start playing Rebellion and how did you hear about it?

I don't remember. It was 2000-something.

How many times have you played or been to Rebellion and do you have a favorite performance?

Plenty.

What is your favorite thing about Rebellion?

The 19th-century architecture of the Winter Gardens.

Do you have a favorite pub in Blackpool outside of the Winter Gardens?

Yes. It’s a general favorite place in Blackpool: the hotel where the Beatles stayed (the Imperial Hotel). More 19th-century architecture, this time in the form of a seaside hotel.

Do you have any fond or funny Rebellion memories?

Favorite memory was when we did our set with Olga from the Toy Dolls playing bass.

What’s the best performance you’ve seen at Rebellion?

Honestly, none. I’m very isolated that way.

How has Rebellion changed since you first played?

It really hasn’t other than the location—we’ve played in Morecambe and I recall an indoor venue but I can’t remember the city. Was it London?

How has Rebellion influenced you or impacted your career?

It hasn’t been an influence but it has impacted my career by allowing our expenses to be paid in order to get to Europe.

Are Rebellion staff nicer than at other festivals of this size?

I try not to do many festivals. Frankly, I hate them. So the answer is yes.

Who is the person or band who comes to mind first when you think about Rebellion?

Olga, The Damned and PIL.

Do you have any projects that you’d like to tell our readers about?

The Dickies’ final album and my book of memoirs should be out next year.

Unfortunately, that’s all we got from Leonard, which leaves room for some self-aggrandizing commentary and ranting about supporting the scene.

As you may know, Mr. Phillips is not a big fan of the media. So you might wonder how I, Dick Slaughter, managed to convince him to agree to an interview in the first place. Well, my initial plan was to contact the Dickies team, but before I could do that, I received a Facebook message from someone claiming to represent Leonard. The message said that they wanted to use one of my photos in a documentary about Leonard and the Dickies but couldn't afford to pay for it. I thought to myself, "Yup, this guy definitely represents Leonard."

*The photo in question- All Photos* *©dickslaughter.com*

I replied, "Sure, why not? I donated to his GoFundMe when his car got stolen. I won't charge him for his own image. You can use it, and if Leonard participates in the Rebellion Spotlights Interviews, I'll look for more old photos and take new ones at Rebellion this year." And so a deal with the Devil was struck (although we're not quite sure which one of us is the Devil).

The truth is, I don't charge 99% of bands to use my photos for promotional purposes. I might charge if they plan to put the photo on t-shirts, coffee cups, or underpants – shit like that. But I believe it's unfair and a bit of a dick move to charge someone for a digital copy of their own photo, even if they're big rock stars like Leonard, who drive fancy used cars and live in fancy neighborhoods (where used cars get stolen).

Many photographers might disagree with me, and I might change my mind if someone like Gwen Stefani wanted to use my photo. But when it comes to bands like the Dickies, come on! Most of the bands I shoot aren't wealthy—and I genuinely like them. Believe it or not, some are struggling up-and-comers, and others are older veteran musicians who probably would prefer to stay home but have to keep touring to pay the bills. Just because a band is legendary doesn't mean they made much money off their first album, even if it continues to sell. The Dickies are a perfect example of that. So, I urge everyone to support your favorite bands by buying their stuff directly from them at shows or through their websites.