Scott Kempner was a New York guitarist and a founding member of the proto-punk band the Dictators, as well as the rock band the Del-Lords, known for his aggressive three-chord attack on the guitar.
- Died: November 29, 2023 (Who else died on November 29?)
- Details of death: Died in Connecticut from complications of dementia at the age of 69.
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Scott Kempner’s legacy
When the Bronx-born Kempner joined Andy “Adny” Shernoff, Stu Boy King, and Ross “The Boss” Friedman to form a band while attending the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, their goal was simply to make an aggressive rock album. It was 1973. The term “punk rock” had been coined the year prior but was not yet widely used. However, despite low sales, Kempner and the group, now called the Dictators, proved influential on the nascent scene with their 1975 debut, “The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!” Their 1977 record, “Manifest Destiny,” proved equally hard-hitting.
Kempner also formed his own side band, the Del-Lords, in 1982. Their music was more influenced by garage rock and Americana, releasing five albums and finding modest success on the college rock charts and influential regional radio stations.
Meanwhile, the Dictators continued to release music, including a 2001 record, “D.F.F.D.,” which received strong reviews nearly 30 years after the band was formed. Save for a few brief breakups over the years, Kempner was a mainstay with the band until 2021, when early onset dementia began to impact his ability to play, and he retired from music.
Tributes to Scott Kempner
Full obituary: Variety
