MDC Al Schvitz: Double Life in Double Time

by Alan Schultz

When Alan Schultz met David Dictor as a freshman at the University of Tampa in 1973, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. After some highly questionable youthful hijinks, they would meet up again eight years later in Austin, Texas, to form the punk bank that would become known as MDC, Millions of Dead Cops. In this scorching memoir, written behind bars in San Quentin while serving time for drug dealing, the drummer known as "Al Schvitz" recounts, with both humor and horror, MDC's triumphs and disappointments while narrating the nonstop challenges of being incarcerated in California's most infamous prison. After more than 40 years of friendship, Al Schvitz and Dave Dictor continue to bring the punk message of social justice throughout the world, spreading their chant of "No Trump! No KKK! No Fascist USA!" as founding members of MDC.

192 pages, Paperback

Published August 21, 2018

Reviews

[Melanie Jablonski · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Michelle Shocked, the folksinger, is credited with the saying: "Music is far too important to be left to professionals." MDC had some of the most talented people to be found anywhere among its alumni, yet keeping a solid band together year in and year out seemed to be an illusive proposition, at best"

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this from MDC at their New Year’s Eve show in 2019. It’s really an interesting history of MDC and life in prison. The writing is a little clunky, but the story is fascinating.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how this got on my list, but I enjoyed it. It’s always good to hear about drummers and bands I should get to know. Will add Dave Dictor’s book to my list as well.