Origin of the Dogpile!

Here is the story of the origin of the Dogpile, as told by the TrailBoss, Kevin Daly!!! Vin Silvestro told me today he did not know who started the Dogpile, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. He also did not know why he pulled out his harmonica when he was at the bottom of the pile more than once, but he did know that signaled the gang to jump off him, raise their beers anew, and sing "Ring of Fire" together.
If you can understand that, you may be one of us. The slam dance was in evidence at all punk shows, imported early from California. Like many punk attributes, it won quick acceptance here in Phx. Everyone wanted to drink and get rowdy to loud, fast music. Concerts back then were stately affairs where people swooned over sensitive hippie seers, limbs akimbo.
We wanted to destroy,and the pit was a rebellion. What was different about us is we wanted more damage than the pit afforded, or at least a more immediate version. A dogpile always started with one individual taking out one other. Then, in the spirit of sheer mayhem and cruelty, everyone joined in. It is funny to hurt your friends. It is funny when they hurt you. No one was throwing punches, except an occasional kidney shot. No one was angry. We were laughing. We were all experienced brawlers, and from time to time we broke people's heads in the street or bars if they demanded it. This was measured bashing, a time for testing skills and heft, playfully reminding each other to stay on your toes, or land on your back. The smaller guys who strayed too close to see what was going on were often swept in, and rewarded with beer and camaraderie after a bruising. Nobody was hurt, nobody's feelings were hurt. It is not by mistake that the term is derived from the behavior of...puppies. That's what we were- 200lb, crew cut, leather clad puppies. I can still hear that rusty mouth harp from far down the struggling heap- wheezing out the familiar notes, and the drunken refrain which followed..."I fell into a burning ring of fire..."