Follow Dean at:
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www.twitter.com/deanstrickland
Click here for upcoming performance dates
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www.twitter.com/deanstrickland
Click here for upcoming performance dates
To hear "Green Trees" click play:
hear "I'm Sorry I Missed Your Call (Your Hitchhiking Guitarman)" click play:
To hear "Good Folks Who Love Jesus" click play:
To hear "Forever" click play:
To hear "That Very Sad Sixth Day Of May (At Poodie's Hilltop Roadhouse)" with Doug Moreland on fiddle click play:
Saturday, September 17, 2005, PRESS RELEASE:
On September 16, 2005 Dean began performing live in Deep Ellum in Dallas, Texas on Fridays and Saturdays from 8-9pm. at
Cafe Brazil
On August 14, 2005 Dean's song "Bassist and Drummer Wanted" received radio airplay on
On September 14, 2005, Dean submitted a signed song license agreement to Skratch Magazine for his song "Conflicting Interest" to be included on its compilation CD. On September 12, 2005, Dean received an email from Scott at Skratch Magazine out of Orange County, California reading, "I like your music.We gotta talk about having you on our punk sampler vol. 26".
Thursday, August 25, 2005 PRESS RELEASE:
Never Die Records has dropped Alan Norsworthy from it's record label for lack of talent and lack of a foreseeable future in music. Alan Norsworthy has been sending the record label text messeges threatening to nark in a Hollywood court on September 1, 2005. Alan has also sent text messeges to Dean Strickland stating that he has quit his day job in order to go to Texas to destroy him. Dean Strickland is doing well in Texas making money playing in clubs both original and cover songs at the redneck bar the ROADHOUSE on Friday nights.
Never Die Records has dropped Alan Norsworthy from it's record label for lack of talent and lack of a foreseeable future in music. Alan Norsworthy has been sending the record label text messeges threatening to nark in a Hollywood court on September 1, 2005. Alan has also sent text messeges to Dean Strickland stating that he has quit his day job in order to go to Texas to destroy him. Dean Strickland is doing well in Texas making money playing in clubs both original and cover songs at the redneck bar the ROADHOUSE on Friday nights.
On July 6, 2005, Dean caught a Greyhound bus to Fort Worth, Texas from Los Angeles, California, and in Fort Worth, Dean's brother picked him up at the bus depot and drove him to Dallas, Texas, and there, Dean rented and apartment. On July 5, 2005, Dean received an email acceptance letter from film director, Deborah Reece reading, "a theme of the script is child abuse so it would work" regarding Dean's songs"Stop It", "You're Almost Dead" and "I Hate You", which he submitted as a member of
to her through email saying that "Stop It" is "A song written from the point of view of a victim of abuse", and Dean was glad that it was to be included in the soundtrack of the movie trailer for her movie Sadistic.
Saturday, April 30, 2005 PRESS RELEASE:
Victims Of The Carousel Cancel Whisky A Go-Go Show and Stand Up For Band Name
On Saturday night, April 16, 2005, Victims Of The Carousel chose to cancel in writing their show at the Whisky A Go-Go
rather than accept the name given to them when billed in the Rock City News Section of the Entertainment Today. No one at the Whisky took responsibility for billing Victims Of The Carousel as Victims Of The Toilet. All fingers pointed the blame at Rock City News. Later that night Tasmanian Rebel Dean Strickland gave the RCN publisher the fight he believed he was asking for.
ABOVE: Victims Of The Carousel graffiti art in front of the Rock City News office in Hollywood, California
Dean made a phone call to the Whisky a Go Go, and spoke to Gina to complain about the name "Victims Of The Toilet" that was run in the April 15, 2005 issue of Entertainment Today, and Gina said to Dean that Rock City News was responsible, so Victims of the Carousel cancelled their show, and Dean walked to the Rock City News office to fight the editor, Ruben MacBlue who ran the following Whisky a Go Go's ad for the Victims of the Carousel show:
Entertainment Today Whisky a Go Go ad for the Victims Of The Carousel Whisky a Go Go show
LA Weekly ad for for the Victims Of The Carousel Whisky a Go Go show
Entertainment Today Rock City News Section write up on Victims Of The Carousel
All Access Magazine ad for the Victims Of The Carousel Whisky a Go Go show
Victims of the Carousel booked themselves a gig at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California for April 21, 2005, and ran ads in magazines in local magazines in addition to distributing the following promotional flyer:
Victims of the Carousel booked themselves a gig at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood, California for April 21, 2005, and ran ads in magazines in local magazines in addition to distributing the following promotional flyer:
ABOVE: Victims Of The Carousel promotional flyer for their Whisky a Go Go Show
Sunday, January 30, 2005 PRESS RELEASE:
V.O.T.C., Dean Strickland and Rocket Ride Versus Mojo El Diablo and Gerardo of HTTH at the Whisky A Go Go
When Victims Of The Carousel, Dean Strickland and Rocket Ride showed up at the Whisky A Go Go on Saturday night January 29, 2005, to face Mojo El Diablo and Gerardo, who had a show that night with his band HTTH, they found out that Mojo had no show when it came to backing up the criminal threats he made against V.O.T.C. Rocket and Strickland looked good in their matching leather jackets, and with intent they confronted the Rock City Sr. staff writer, Mojo El Diablo, and Gerardo of HTTH whom had placed hits on them in the newspaper and on the internet. A crowd was gathered outside at the Whisky totally unaware of what was about to happen. In a flash the Tasmanian Rebels, Rocket and Dean, took on what most would fear and never attempt. Bravely they stepped up to the crowd of Satan loving haters, but no one was stepping up out of the whole mob of twenty or more, because they were scared of getting too close, fearing they would be clubbed with the jar of Holy Water in Strickland's hand. This was good versus evil. Rocket said in loud voice, "Well, guess who it is. Mojo, you called out Victims Of The Carousel and now we're here. What do you got to say? You posted email threats and published in the newspaper a contract on my life, and we're here to settle the score. You want us dead? Then bring it on. I don't think you got any balls." Gerardo said, as though with an attempt to save face, "We'll be done with our show at 12:30. Meet us then." Mojo was silenced when Strickland spoke and said to him and the rushing mob, "Let Mojo stand behind what he wrote." Mojo had a look of terror in his eyes, and spoke not one word during the confrontation. It was a war of words, and V.O.T.C. stood their ground, and took a fearless stance showing they mean business in the music industry, while Mojo and Gerardo did nothing to back up their words. No more hunting down Victims Of The Carousel, because they brought it to the table of Mojo and Gerardo and they did'nt eat.
V.O.T.C., Dean Strickland and Rocket Ride Versus Mojo El Diablo and Gerardo of HTTH at the Whisky A Go Go
When Victims Of The Carousel, Dean Strickland and Rocket Ride showed up at the Whisky A Go Go on Saturday night January 29, 2005, to face Mojo El Diablo and Gerardo, who had a show that night with his band HTTH, they found out that Mojo had no show when it came to backing up the criminal threats he made against V.O.T.C. Rocket and Strickland looked good in their matching leather jackets, and with intent they confronted the Rock City Sr. staff writer, Mojo El Diablo, and Gerardo of HTTH whom had placed hits on them in the newspaper and on the internet. A crowd was gathered outside at the Whisky totally unaware of what was about to happen. In a flash the Tasmanian Rebels, Rocket and Dean, took on what most would fear and never attempt. Bravely they stepped up to the crowd of Satan loving haters, but no one was stepping up out of the whole mob of twenty or more, because they were scared of getting too close, fearing they would be clubbed with the jar of Holy Water in Strickland's hand. This was good versus evil. Rocket said in loud voice, "Well, guess who it is. Mojo, you called out Victims Of The Carousel and now we're here. What do you got to say? You posted email threats and published in the newspaper a contract on my life, and we're here to settle the score. You want us dead? Then bring it on. I don't think you got any balls." Gerardo said, as though with an attempt to save face, "We'll be done with our show at 12:30. Meet us then." Mojo was silenced when Strickland spoke and said to him and the rushing mob, "Let Mojo stand behind what he wrote." Mojo had a look of terror in his eyes, and spoke not one word during the confrontation. It was a war of words, and V.O.T.C. stood their ground, and took a fearless stance showing they mean business in the music industry, while Mojo and Gerardo did nothing to back up their words. No more hunting down Victims Of The Carousel, because they brought it to the table of Mojo and Gerardo and they did'nt eat.
ABOVE: Dean Strickland and Alan Norsworthy AKA Rocket Ride in a V.O.T.C. t-shirt on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood, California on January 29, 2005 unknown photographer
Victims Of The Carousel are Rocket Ride and Dean Strickland, performing singer/songwriters claiming Hollywood, California as their hometown. The World Wide Love Ride is the independent promotional tour they began in August of 2004. When Strickland joined Rocket their plan was to go on tour, and on the road they put together their smashing show which has gained them their bad reputation in Hollywood. Without much money and no corporate backing they toured the west coast. At the Hempfest in Seattle, Washington, Dean sang “Fuck All Those A & R Guys”, and, Rocket played “Seasons Of My Life”. They toured the east coast too, and on September 11th they took their music to the streets of Ground Zero in Manhattan, New York. They made dedications to the heroes, and sang and played guitar for hours, along with the passing out of free tour gear (V.O.T.C. t-shirts and g-strings) to the police, and fire departments. Victims left their mark in Nashville, Tennessee at the world famous Blue Bird Café when they smashed their guitars after their open mic performance, and afterward presented the smashed guitars to the café owner, Amy Kurland. In Burns, Tennessee, Rocket and Dean recorded a CD at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. They were treated like hometown heroes when they performed and smashed their guitars at Texas Jive, in Denton, Texas in November. The show received a rave review in the North Texas Daily, the student run newspaper at the University of North Texas where Dean matriculated before moving to Hollywood. V.O.T.C. performed in Hollywood on December 3rd, and won the awards for Best New Band, and Strickland won the trophy for Best Songwriting at the 2004 Rock City Awards Show (Rockies).
08/05/2004 Hollywood, CA
The Rainbow Smash and Burn
08/11/2004 San Francisco, CA
The Park
08/16/2004 Portland, OR
The Goodfoot
08/22/2004 Seattle, WA
Hempfest
09/11/2004 Manhattan, NY
Ground Zero
09/25/2004 Dickson, TN
Grand Old Hatchery
09/27/2004 Nashville, TN
The Bluebird Café Smashville in Nashville
10/11/2004 New Orleans, LA
Carrolton Station
10/26 & 27/2004 Dickson, TN
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
11/04/2009 Denton, TX
Andy’s
11/13/2004 Denton, TX
Texas Jive Smash N Denton
12/03/2004 Hollywood, CA
Rock City Awards Show Jonesin’ For The Smash
Rock City News write ups on the Victims Of The Carousel Jonesin' For The Smash show
North Texas Daily write up on the Victims Of The Carousel World Wide Love Ride Tour
Rock City News ad for the Victims Of The Carousel World Wide Love Ride Tour
(Click photo above to hear CD)
08/05/2004 Hollywood, CA
The Rainbow Smash and Burn
08/11/2004 San Francisco, CA
The Park
08/16/2004 Portland, OR
The Goodfoot
08/22/2004 Seattle, WA
Hempfest
09/11/2004 Manhattan, NY
Ground Zero
09/25/2004 Dickson, TN
Grand Old Hatchery
09/27/2004 Nashville, TN
The Bluebird Café Smashville in Nashville
10/11/2004 New Orleans, LA
Carrolton Station
10/26 & 27/2004 Dickson, TN
Rockabilly Hall of Fame
11/04/2009 Denton, TX
Andy’s
11/13/2004 Denton, TX
Texas Jive Smash N Denton
12/03/2004 Hollywood, CA
Rock City Awards Show Jonesin’ For The Smash
Monday December 6, 2004
PRESS RELEASE: Hollywood's own Victims Of The Carousel successfully brought their World Wide Love Ride Tour 2004 back home to Hollywood.
Rocket Ride and Dean Strickland drove in from their next to last show in Denton, Texas where they found themselves on the front page of the North Texas Daily, the student newspaper of the University of North Texas where Strickland matriculated for four years before moving to Hollywood, California in 2002. Victims Of The Carousel "HIT BIG!" in the Rock City newspaper VOL 22 NO 15 - OCT 22, 2004 - page 12, and was nominated by Ruben MacBlue, Editor of Rock City, for "Best Band Name". They were also nominated for "Best New Band". Dean Strickland was nominated for "Best Songwriting", and Jasmin Guevara was nominated for "Best Female Drummer" for her work on the 4GIVNESS EP, recorded and release in the spring of 2004, on which Strickland fronted the band. VOTC ran ads in the Rock City newspaper for their show "Jonesin' For The Smash" at the 10th Annual ROCK CITY AWARDS SHOW, Dec 3rd, 2004 held at the Qtopia Events Center located at 6021 Hollywood Boulevard. It was clear to the Victims something was wrong when the first award of the night, "Best Band Name", went to a band with one of the lowest percentages on the Main Ballot # 2 at rockcitynews.com despite the incredible lead Victims Of The Carousel held. For "Best New Band" the awards presenter announced "It's a tie," between VOTC and another band, and two trophies were awarded again, despite VOTC's undisputed lead in the polls. Rocket and Strickland then accepted their award and gave short acceptance speeches. Later, in the category of "Best Songwriting", Dean Strickland tied with another band. Again, despite his undisputed lead in the polls. In Strickland's acceptance speech he said, "GOD gave me a talent to write songs, and I'm grateful." He also spoke of his knowledge of Jasmin Guevara's over three thousand votes gained for "Best Female Drummer" and his hopes that she would win the Rockie Award. Victims started their set at 9:00p.m. kicking Mascot balz into the audience. After that they smashed their acoustic guitars, and Strickland threw broken guitar pieces into the audience. Then Rocket and Dean grabbed two new acoustic guitars, and started the musical part of their show. Strickland said to the audience, "Listen up f-ckers" while Rocket faced his back to the audience displaying the VOTC logo. Strickland then played his song "You're Almost Dead" from their new advance CD Naked Acoustic that was recorded in Hollywood, also at the Burns Station Sound Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Dickson, Tennessee during their World Wide Love Ride Tour 2004 on October 26th and 27th. Dean finished his song, and then like mad men,he and Rocket began to level the stage with their guitars. Strickland smashed to pieces all of the Rockie Award trophies that were placed on the stage in front of him. Rocket focused on the castle to the far right of the stage smashing his guitar several times into the plywood structure with intention to take the tower castle down. After smashing the trophies, Strickland wildly threw the Rock City podium off the stage, and down on top of the busted awards. He then threw the microphone stand into the backdrop of the stage castle wall striking the drums as he walked off the stage. Rocket exited the stage throwing his guitar into the drum set. They walked bravely by the bands, and audience in awe of what happened, and Ruben MacBlue. Ruben made a citizens arrest, and had Victims detained by several security guards. Strickland when asked by MacBlue, "Why did you smash all the trophies?", spoke out loud saying, "Jasmin Guevara had over 3000 votes in the category of "Best Female Drummer", and how the drummer awarded had fewer votes. When asked by Ruben, "Why did you do it?", Rocket replied, "You f-cked our fans out of their votes, and you stole 'Best Band Name' from us giving us a tie after we clearly ruled the polls from the beginning of the voting period. And you're stealing of our over 1800 votes that you took away from us, and knocked us down to 100 votes. Strickland and Rocket were release at 12:15p.m. Monday, December, 6th.PRESS RELEASE: Hollywood's own Victims Of The Carousel successfully brought their World Wide Love Ride Tour 2004 back home to Hollywood.
ABOVE: The aftermath of Victims Of The Carousel Jonesin' For The Smash Show (Mojo El Diablo at the mic) at the Rock City News Awards Show on Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, California on December 3, 2004 unknown photographer
ABOVE: Dean Strickland's Best Songwriting Trophy awarded by the Rock City Newspaper in Hollywood, California
Rock City News ad for the Victims Of The Carousel Jonesin' For The Smash show at the Rockies
(Click photo above to hear CD)
ABOVE: Photo of Victims Of The Carousel Naked Acoustic advanced CD recorded in Burns, Tennessee at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame on October 26th & 27th, 2004
Rock City News write up for the Victims Of The Carousel World Wide Love Ride Tour
Smashville In Nashville
(In the above article, a letter to Bluebird Cafe owner, Amy Kurland is in the smashed guitars display case that reads):
Victims Of The Carousel from Hollywood, California smashed these guitars on the Bluebird's stage on Monday September 27, 2004. Rocket Ride and Dean Strickland, performing singer/songwriters drove into Nashville, Tennessee on their independent promotional World Wide Love Ride Tour ready to give the World Famous Bluebird Cafe a high energy show. With a phone call a few days before to Barbara Cloyd they were given exception and booked to play the open mic. They purchased these two guitars at the Guitar Center at 721 Thompson Lane in Nashville just hours before the show. Low on funds Dean traded his Vox amplifier for the guitars. Immediately after smashing VOTC picked up the pieces of their guitars and raced for the door expecting a rowdy crowd, but instead were cheered on and shown love as they drove away. On Thursday October 14, 2004 they presented to Amy Kurland, Owner of the Bluebird Cafe this display.
Rock City News ad for the Victims Of The Carousel World Wide Love Ride Tour
Rock City News cover story interview featuring Dean Strickland and Alan Norsworthy AKA Rocket Ride of Victims Of The Carousel discussing their World Wide Love Ride Tour
ABOVE: Victims Of The Carousel Press shot taken in their Portland, Oregon hotel room in September 2004 by Victims Of The Carousel
ABOVE: Photos of Dean Strickland in the first original Never Die Records t-shirt, and Alan Norsworthy AKA Rocket Ride of Victims Of The Carousel kicking off their World Wide Love Ride Tour at the Hyatt on Sunset in West Hollywood, California, and at their Smash and Burn show at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Also Dean Strickland seated next to his tag at the corner of Sunset and San VicenteBlvd in West Hollywood, California on August 5, 2004 taken by Ronnie Verville
Smashville In Nashville
(In the above article, a letter to Bluebird Cafe owner, Amy Kurland is in the smashed guitars display case that reads):
Victims Of The Carousel from Hollywood, California smashed these guitars on the Bluebird's stage on Monday September 27, 2004. Rocket Ride and Dean Strickland, performing singer/songwriters drove into Nashville, Tennessee on their independent promotional World Wide Love Ride Tour ready to give the World Famous Bluebird Cafe a high energy show. With a phone call a few days before to Barbara Cloyd they were given exception and booked to play the open mic. They purchased these two guitars at the Guitar Center at 721 Thompson Lane in Nashville just hours before the show. Low on funds Dean traded his Vox amplifier for the guitars. Immediately after smashing VOTC picked up the pieces of their guitars and raced for the door expecting a rowdy crowd, but instead were cheered on and shown love as they drove away. On Thursday October 14, 2004 they presented to Amy Kurland, Owner of the Bluebird Cafe this display.
ABOVE: Photo of Dean Strickland in a Victims Of The Carousel t-shirt at Carrolton Station in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 11, 2004 taken by Alan Norsworthy AKA Rocket Ride
ABOVE: Victims Of The Carousel Press shot taken in their Portland, Oregon hotel room in September 2004 by Victims Of The Carousel
Rock City News write up for the Victims Of The Carousel World Wide Love Ride Tour
With a purpose to make a statement that he thought the Gothic whiteface makeup looked ridiculous, Dean painted his face brown, and dyed his hair black for the Victims Of The Carousel Smash and Burn tour, show opener at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California on August 5. 2004.
ABOVE: Photos of Dean Strickland in the first original Never Die Records t-shirt, and Alan Norsworthy AKA Rocket Ride of Victims Of The Carousel kicking off their World Wide Love Ride Tour at the Hyatt on Sunset in West Hollywood, California, and at their Smash and Burn show at the Rainbow Bar and Grill on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Also Dean Strickland seated next to his tag at the corner of Sunset and San VicenteBlvd in West Hollywood, California on August 5, 2004 taken by Ronnie Verville
Before going on tour with Victims Of The Carousel, Dean tagged on the sidewalks of Hollywood, and West Hollywood the bands logo, which was designed by Alan Norsworthy AKA Rocket Ride.
ABOVE: Photos of sidewalks in Hollywood, California with Dean Strickland and Victims Of The Carousel tags painted by the Dean Strickland street team. Top photo taken by Clinton Steed. Bottom photo photographers unknown
After graduating from Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, in March 2004, Dean bought himself a car which he parked, and slept in, in the Hollywood Hills of Hollywood, California, for three months until he met Alan Norsworthy AKA Rocket Ride at an open mic at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood, California, and joined Rocket's band Victims Of The Carousel.
Rock City News ads and write ups on Dean Strickland
Skratch Magazine 4GIVNESS CD review
On April 20, 2004, Dean released for his band 4GIVNESS a self titled CD that they recorded in a Musicians Institute studio when he was a student of the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California.
(Click photos above to hear CD)
Click here to buy this CD online
ABOVE: Photos of the front cover (Dean Strickland, Jasmin Guevara, and Michael Dwyer in the Musicians Institute recording studio in Hollywood, California), and back side of the 4GIVNESS CD.
Rock City News write up on Dean Strickland and 4GIVNESS
(Click video still above to watch 4GIVNESS showcase at Musicians Institute)
ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland and 4GIVNESS performing at Musicians Institute in Hollyuwood, California on March 17, 2004 unknown camera man
ABOVE: Photos of sidewalks in Hollywood, California with Dean Strickland and Victims Of The Carousel tags painted by the Dean Strickland street team. Top photo taken by Clinton Steed. Bottom photo photographers unknown
After graduating from Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, in March 2004, Dean bought himself a car which he parked, and slept in, in the Hollywood Hills of Hollywood, California, for three months until he met Alan Norsworthy AKA Rocket Ride at an open mic at the Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood, California, and joined Rocket's band Victims Of The Carousel.
On April 20, 2004, Dean released for his band 4GIVNESS a self titled CD that they recorded in a Musicians Institute studio when he was a student of the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California.
(Click photos above to hear CD)
Click here to buy this CD online
ABOVE: Photos of the front cover (Dean Strickland, Jasmin Guevara, and Michael Dwyer in the Musicians Institute recording studio in Hollywood, California), and back side of the 4GIVNESS CD.
After graduating from Musicians Institute in March of 2004, Dean started writing under different pen names for the Rock City News Newspaper in Hollywood, California.
(Click video still above to watch 4GIVNESS showcase at Musicians Institute)
ABOVE: Video still of Dean Strickland and 4GIVNESS performing at Musicians Institute in Hollyuwood, California on March 17, 2004 unknown camera man
ABOVE: 4GIVNESS Press shot taken at outside of Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California in the Spring of 2004 (left to right: Dean Strickland, Jasmin Guevara, Michael Dwyer)
In the Winter of 2004, as a student at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California, Dean put together a band he called 4GIVNESS.