Manitoba's Wild Kingdom
Manitoba's Wild Kingdom were an American heavy metal and punk rock band based in New York City. They were formed in 1986, and most recently performed in 2008. The band included members of the New York punk band The Dictators and was one of the few musical groups Sandy Pearlman ever signed to his short-lived record label, Popular Metaphysics. History In late 1986, former members of The Dictators, vocalist Richard Manitoba, bassist and songwriter Andy Shernoff, and guitarist Daniel Rey (Rabinowitz), producer for The Ramones, organized to form the band Wild Kingdom. The Dictators had disbanded in late 1978. The three released a cover version of the song, "New York, New York" on the 1988 soundtrack to the film, Mondo New York. They signed with Sandy Pearlman (best known for his work with Blue Öyster Cult), who had also produced albums for The Dictators, on his Pearlman's new label, Popular Metaphysics, which was formerly the San Francisco punk label, 415 Records. Soon after they began recording, Rey left the band and was replaced in 1989 by guitarist Ross "The Boss" Friedman, also formerly of The Dictators. The band began billing itself as Manitoba's Wild Kingdom in 1989 after Rey's departure,