Dillinger Four Release First New Song in 18 Years: “Don’t Happy Be Worry”
w-defunct venue known as the Triple Rock Social Club. These days, they’re semi-active. They play occasional shows, especially around Minneapolis, but their last studio album was 2008’s Civil War. There have been lots of compilations, but they haven’t released any music in a long time. Until now.
Today, Dillinger Four return with a new single called “Don’t Worry Be Happy.” It’s not a Bobby McFerrin cover. It really rocks. In their Bandcamp-alert email, the band mentions, “Happy April Fools Day! Our first new track in 18 years is out now! Or is it? It is.” We also received a press release from the band. Here’s what Funk has to say about it:
After about 18 years without new music, the natural question arises – why? And why now? To be honest, I have no idea. We’ve been consistently active with shows and writing music during this period, we just never quite finished anything. The band was never about pursuing a career, so there’s never been that pressure. We are tremendously grateful that people worldwide still come to see us play live and are eager to hear something new. If there’s been any pressure on us, it’s been for that reason alone. Lately, we’ve found a balance in our lives, with parenting, work, hobbies, aligning in a way that allows us to focus on completing new music. Though it takes longer than before, we now have a collection of new material, and it’s time to share it with the world. As always, with Dillinger Four, we operate on our terms, releasing music when, where, and how we want.
The exciting news of Dillinger Four’s return has brought back memories of attending one of their shows back in 2002 at the Ottobar in Baltimore. It was an impulsive decision on my part, as I was not familiar with their music but had heard good things. The show was energetic and intense, with frontman Erik Funk delivering a passionate speech on Johnny Unitas amidst the chaos. The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the “dance like a drunken hobo” contest announced by Funk, which I unexpectedly won with my unusual moves in the mosh pit.
Despite not knowing any of their songs, my brief onstage appearance with Funk left a lasting impression. The band’s generosity in gifting me with CDs and merchandise spoke volumes about their character. Over the years, I’ve shared this anecdote whenever the subject of Dillinger Four surfaced, holding onto the memory of that night.
As Dillinger Four makes a triumphant return with their latest single, fans old and new can revel in their distinctive sound and enduring legacy. The band’s commitment to creating music on their own terms is truly commendable. We can’t wait to hear more from these punk rock icons and see where their musical journey takes us next.