Mike Johnston: Lead Guitar/Vocals Renee Wetselaar (formerly Johnston): Back up vocals Sarah Hodgson : Back up vocals Frank Viola: Bass Steve Hoy: Rhythm Guitar Stu Smith: Drums
Influences
Og records, The Gruesomes
, Dead Milk Men, Ramones, Rezillos / Revillos,
B52's
, Asexuals, Misfits, I Love My Shitzuh, The Hartleys, Vindicators, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet,
The Cramps, Science Ninja, Sinister Dude Ranch, The Late Jimmy Marvelous, Coop Boys, Deja Voodoo
, Ray Condo, Reverend Horton Heat, UIC, Wetspots, Heimlich Maneuver, UIC, Ray Stevens, Nick Cave , Bobby "Boris" Pickett, Jumpin' Gene Simmons
Sounds Like
The Vaselines, The Dead Milk Men, The Cramps, I Love My Shih-Tzu
The Dik Van Dykes were a garage punk sextet based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada who first formed in 1985 and folded in 1989.
They referred to themselves as "Hamilton's Ambassadors of Tackiness to the World" and dressed accordingly during their stage performances. Back up vocalists Sarah Hodgson and Renee Wetselaar often wore matching outfits and were referred to as the PopTarts.
Most of the Dik Van Dykes' songs were humorous in nature, often satirizing local and Canadian culture. Curling and Adult Gumby were two fan favorites.
Often compared to a cross between the Ramones/Rezillos/B52's. Others thought we were more like the "Dead Milkmen".
Opening for the Ramones 3 nights in 1988 and playing with other great bands of the era such as Shadowy Men, UIC, Wetspots, Heimlich Maneuver and Deja Voodoo.
The band received significant airplay on McMaster University's CFMU 93.3, Memorial University of Newfoundland's (MUN) CHMR 93.5, and many other student-run radio stations.
Discography: "Live At The Gown And Gavel" ( Independent limited addition cassette) "Nobody Likes The Dik Van Dykes" (LP OG Records 1987) "Waste Mor Vinyl" (LP OG records 1989) ... and countless compilation records such as the "It Came From Canada" series issued by OG Records (the "Deja Voodoo" guys).
In The 90's Sarah asked Mike (Dik) to join her band "Sinister Dude Ranch". Mike accepted, but with one condition... that the band change its name to "I Love My Shih Tzu". "I Love My Shih-Tzu's" first song was actually a DVD's song- "Too Much Like Fun", and the band broke up in the early 21st century.
Mike went on to play with the "Coop Boys", and is a Lawyer.
Renee Wetselaar has been working in the arts and social justice sector since 1990 and is now Executive Director of the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre. While she doesn't make music right now, she still makes art and causes trouble.
Sarah is working as a teacher.
Stu was drumming for "The Late Jimmy Marvelous" and has also played with Toronto area bands "Ronin" and the "Mummers". He is employed as a Post Production Manager at AllianceAtlantis.
Paul moved to France where he's one of the head dudes for the world's largest Audio Design firm. Designs audio setup at concerts for the likes of U2, Peter Gabriel, Rolling Stones. You know... bands that make money.
Frank... whereabouts unknown.
Steve... whereabouts unknown.
Here is a fan with a cover of "Birthday Song" posted on YouTube.
Thank you for the request. Nobody Likes the Dik Van Dykes is still my favorite album of ALL TIME! How 'bout putting out an Anthology CD? Come on! Santa says I've been good this year.
Ahh, "Lazlo", "Aerobocop"...so many great tunes and memories. I sing "The Birthday Song" to someone at least two or three times a year even to this day. Time for a reunion show I think! We'd be proud to open.
I am absolutely positively soooo happy to have found you...been soooooooooooooooo long. Toooooooooooooooo long. Best Hamilton era ...Gown and Gavel...corktown...very cool.
i just wanted to say i adore the tunes on the jukebox and i hope one day you lovely kats and dolls scrape together enough money to come to crapass america
heeeyyy... nice to hear from you again after all these years... I'll never forget the voodoo barbq in that montreal palladium where the bouncers were big ass idiots... by the way did you check out my cover of 3men1coffin?... do you like it?... cheers...
