The Dogmatics
The Dogmatics were a Boston, Massachusetts band, active in the 1980s.
Band Biography
Peter, Paul, and Jerry met in the first grade at St. Matthew's Catholic school in Dorchester, Massachusetts. After eight years at St. Matthew's, each of their families moved from Dorchester to South Shore suburbs during while they were in high school.
Paul started a band with lifelong friend T.K, singer Skag, guitarist Sam Babbitt, and drummer Joey Olsen. They called themselves the Savage Beasties. This band would be the starting point for future bands. T.K eventually moved to Boston on Thayer St., where he co-founded "Spearhead Go" along with Barry Hall, B.C Kagan and Joey Olsen. This accomplishment encouraged Paul to move to the Thayer St. loft along with his twin brother Pete. Paul, eager to pick up where the Beasties left off, enlisted his brother and longtime friend Jerry Lehane to start a band in Boston. Their good friend Dan Shannon played drums in this new band. The future Dogmatics would play their first and last show under the name "Guttersnipes" at their Thayer St. loft. Not happy with the "Guttersnipes" name, Pete thought that "Dogmatics" was more appropriate. The Dogmatics played their first show at Cantones in 1981. They were honored to open on a Tuesday night for no money. They continued to play throughout Boston for the next year with drummer Dan Shannon, who would leave the band for college. Squantum native Thomas Long, the 18 year old celebrated drummer, would take over on sticks and the Dogs would be forever changed.
The Dogmatics played anywhere they could get a gig in the United States. This fact did not deter them. In 1984, the Dogmatics released their first and only single to date on their own label "Cat records": 'Gimme the Shakes' on the A-side and the Eddie Cochran classic "20 Flight Rock" on the B-side. In 1985, the Dogmatics signed with Homestead Records and released their first album, "Thayer Street". Their second LP, "Everybody Does It", was released in June, 1986. The singles "Teenager on Drugs" and Teenage Girls" were released on the "Mr. Beautiful" compilation and the "Rock Turns to Stone" compilations, respectively. The Paul O'Halloran penned classic "It sure don't feel like Xmas time" was featured on the "Midnite Xmas Mess" compilation. In 1998, Shredder/Vagrant released the Dogmatics 2 LPs along with some previously unreleased tracks. The Dogmatics songs have been covered by, among others, Boston's own Mighty Mighty Bosstones, New Orleans pranksters Dash Rip Rock, The Pussy Willows, Heap, and Swedish garagepunk kings "The Locomotions".
On October 23, 1986, Paul O'Halloran died in a tragic motorcycle accident. The Dogmatics have had numerous reunions since 1986 with brothers Johnny and Jimmy O'Halloran sharing the bass duties.
They can still be heard on XM Radio and in Boston on MIT radio WMBR at least once in a while
Singer/songwriter Jerry Lehane is the cousin of renowned crime fiction author Dennis Lehane.
Band members
Peter O'Halloran
Paul O'Halloran - Bass
Jerry Lehane - Guitar, Vocals
Tommy Long - Drums
Dan Shannon(1981–1982) - Drums
John Goetchius (1986).
Discography
1984 Single "Gimme the Shakes" and "20 Flight Rock" (Eddie Cochran) on the B-side.
1985 "Thayer Street" on Homestead Records (1983) (HMS 003)
1986 "Everybody Does It" on Homestead Records (1983) (HMS 049)
1998 "Dogmatics 1981-86" on Shredder/Vagrant