Manitoba's Wild Kingdom

A spin-off of the Dictators, Manitoba's Wild Kingdom has one CD to their credit, the amazing And You? Formed in late 1986 by ex-Dictators Andy Shernoff and Handsome Dick Manitoba, along with Ramone Daniel Rey, MWB quickly earned a rep as a great live band in the New York/New Jersey area. Legendary Dictator/Manowar axeman Ross the Boss replaced Rey in 1989, and the band’s CD was released in 1990. 25 minutes of blazing, cleanly recorded punk/metal, the disc is close to perfect, if a bit short. Combining Manitoba’s throaty vocals with Shernoff’s fast, catchy, hook-filled songs and hysterically funny (and sometimes chilling lyrics), it is a must. MWK evolved back into the Dictators with the return of Scott “Top Ten” Kempner to the fold in 1991. ~ Geoff Ginsberg