dick justice has been (in order of appearance): Rob Arrol, Galen Gondolfi, Jim Kamp, Chris Green, Jeff Sorensen, Paul Pagones, Damon Kagel and Angel A. Dust.
Influences
If you wrote a catchy tune . . . chances are you influenced us. Some have described our sound/mix as eclectic. And even though power pop seemed to infiltrate much of our original material, we still managed to cover, from time to time, Lionel Richie, The Cars, Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Gary Numan, Paul McCartney, The Allman Brothers, N.W.A. (acoustically, mind you), The Eagles, Patsy Cline, The Psychedelic Furs, The Flamin' Groovies, Concrete Blonde, Garth Brooks, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Steve Miller Band, The Cure, R.E.M., Shannon, Rockwell, The Human League, Bjork, Loverboy, KISS, Jackson Browne, Last Gentlemen, Icicle Works, The Eurythmics, Robert Palmer and Material Issue. Also, if you own the band's Lasso Your Heart EP, please reference the booklet for a comprehensive list of influences. As we stated then, dick justice continues to wish pain and suffering on John Ebner at the Ninth Street Pub, Surrounded by Jeds, and the dude that stole Jim's Roland JC120 in 1993 (f*cker).
Formed in late 1991, dick justice took their name from one Richard Justice . . . the associate dean of students at the University of Illinois in charge of student discipline and mediation programs. Original members included Jim Kamp (guitar, vocals), Galen Gondolfi (drums, vocals) and Rob Arrol (bass, vocals). The band played thier first show on January 24, 1992 at a house party (with Bob Rising from Poster Children/Seam guesting on drums). dick justice made a name for themselves throughout the Midwest, through regular touring and playing with the likes of Pavement, Yo La Tengo, Elvis Hitler, Material Issue, Pansy Division, A Flock of Seagulls, Arcwelder, Busker Soundcheck, Tripmaster Monkey, Honcho Overload, The Moon Seven Times, Delta Kings, Walt Mink and one incredibly memorable night with Alcohol Funnycar. The original members released one 7-inch on Mud Records in December 1993. The Lasso Your Heart EP featured the songs
"Nine Outta Ten" (also included on the CD comp. Mud Puddle Playoffs) and "Part of Your Problem." Arrol departed in May 1994. During this period he was also rhythm guitarist For Decatur, Illinois' and Medium Cool Recording Artists' Ticks. He reimerged in the fall of 1994 playing guitar and singing with a pop-punk power trio known as "mary me" with braid's Todd Bell on bass on Roy Ewing on drums. They recorded for John Yates' Allied Recordings. Gondolfi and Kamp recruited Chris Green to fill in before relocating to Chicago and asking Jeff Sorensen to assume full-time bass duties. Gondolfi eventually left the band with Paul Pagones taking over on drums. Gondolfi took a brake from drumming to travel and experience many parts of the United States. He came back into the spotlight in St. Louis' Push and currently drums with an outfit known as Airport Elementary. The Kamp, Sorensen, Pagones line-up of dick justice released two 7-inches: DICK JUSTICE ROCK on Evanston, Illinois' ten-spot record company, inc. and Superfancy Heavy Duty Everything on Chicago's Thick Records. Kamp later fronted seminal Chicago bands Team Player and Snaklab All-Tsars (w/Pagones on drums). He currently plays with his brother Paul (Busker Soundcheck) in Ruth Buzzy.
On May 25, 2008, the original line-up of Rob Arrol, Galen Gondolfi and Jim Kamp reunited in Champaign, IL for a show at The High Dive. In front of a sell out crowd, dick justice (the band) was introduced by Dick Justice (the man). Others on the bill that night were Driver Has No Cash, Corndolly, The Moon Seven Times, Mother/Menthol and Honcho Overload.
Sorry V and I missed your gig in May. We were in Wisconsin. I hope to do some more shows in Champaign soon. We are getting ready to record the next album. Should be done by fall. Hope you like it.
Terry and I were both remarking how good it is to hear your stuff again and we both agreed that you guys had it going on more than most around before or since.
Dick Justice was a great C-U band and one of only a small handful, that I didn't have to try hard to love. Great band, great songs, some danger and some charisma!
