Zbigniew Brzezinski’s “political awakening” is alive and well in rock 'n' roll, thanks to Los Angeles guitarist-turned singer-songwriter John Dissed, who after years of various collaborations with vocalists began singing and recording his own songs in the fall of 2007. Dissed spent the latter half of the ‘00s performing on guitar throughout the Southwest with Los Angeles female-fronted punks, Bull Lee. When the outfit began to show signs of cracking up, he sought a more sustainable alternative. Although his original songs have been featured in the films Do Not Disturb and Werewolf Rising, he is also known in some circles for his eclectic covers, which have appeared on such compilations as Conceptual Continuity: A Cover Freak Tribute to Frank Zappa and Naive Medley: This Must Be The Coverville Tribute To The Talking Heads, to which he contributed the title track.
Inspired by the likes of Tom Petty, The Ramones, Thin Lizzy and KISS, his songs are comprised of layered vintage guitars and vocal harmonies, owing much influence to years of classical music study. But bells and whistles aside, it’s ultimately about the melodies, which can be distilled down to their source: the lyrics. The songs range in subject matter from perpetual war, rendition and torture, the creeping American “police state” unfolding before our eyes under the guise of increased “national security” in the wake of 9/11, as well as the JFK assassination.
Two songs are being offered here: One from each of John's political solo albums. "Honey Pot" (Red Flag), explores the idea of a female spy using sex to lure a politician into a state of pliant vulnerability, controllable by blackmail. "Dirty Business," (American University) was inspired by the Project Unspeakable play, which came out of the book by James Douglass, JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why it Matters.
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