Music-News.com is proud to host the exclusive world video premiere of 'Dictator' by Rocky Athas.
Directed by Oscar Chavira.
Rocky Athas, known by critics and fans as "The Texas Tornado", "The Malice from Dallas", "The Young Eric Clapton" and "The Last Great Bluesbreaker Guitarist", possesses an arsenal of punishing guitar riffs and catchy hooks that have opened every door. From recording his first solo album at Willie Nelson's studio with multi-Grammy winning producer, Jim Gaines (Santana's Supernatural), to working with Buddy Miles and SRV's Double Trouble to Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple's The Voice of Rock) to Joe Walsh and John Mayall, Rocky's blues rock pedigree reads like a Whos Who of musicians. You might not remember his name but you will most certainly remember his playing! With his wonderfully crafted new album Shakin' The Dust, Rocky is here to announce his arrival from the international touring stage with the Godfather of British Blues to his rightful place front and center delivering his musical message with Texas style.
At the age of 23, Rocky Athas was one of the first and the youngest guitarist to be listed on Buddy Magazine's legendary list of Top Guitarists. The Texas native shares the honor with Eric Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Billy Gibbons, and that was just the start of his career. Rocky spent his time honing his craft as lead guitarist with national touring artists like Jim Dandy and Black Oak Arkansas, racking up writing credits for two of BOA's greatest hits. Widely known for his wicked guitar tone, his skills certainly did not go unnoticed. His solo album, Miracle, caught the ear of John Mayall and he was soon asked to join the legendary group The Bluesbreakers, whose cast of stars has included Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood, and Mick Taylor (Rolling Stones). Even while touring the world with John Mayall, Rocky always found time to keep recording his own music and making guest appearances.
His new single "Dictator" is a fresh take on blues rock n' roll played by a true legend. The cut-throat licks that Rocky brings to the table slice through the mix of this roaring tune. His quintessential Strat tone gives his riffs their signature All-American grit that fellow Lone Star residents consider their national anthem. The lyrical makeup of "Dictator" consists of telling "the man" to take a hike, whomever that may be in your life. You are the one who controls your happiness, and don't ever let a single person try to tell you otherwise. With all the years of experience under Rocky's belt, he has that pure blues rock n' roll spunk in him that makes his lyricism and guitar playing as relatable as ever to fans new and old. As the first track off the new album Shakin' The Dust, "Dictator" serves up the perfect introduction to the record for fans around the world to identify with no matter what language they speak because music is the universal language and Rocky is fluent!
The official music video showcases the Texas gunslinger jamming with his band in the studio. They may as well have written a book entitled "How-To-Rock", because Rocky and the band put on a clinic in under four minutes with this superbly shot, fully realized video. The footage displays just how authentic the sound is by literally showing the parts being tracked as they come. Each lush note from his 1960 Fender Stratocaster tone is visibly being put through a classic mixing board, re-iterating that there's no need for editing, correcting or synthesizing here.
