“Good evening, England. We’re the Dictators NYC” roars “Handsome Dick” Manitoba, who has the band’s name beautifully painted on the back of his leather jacket. The 1975 album The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! created a prototype punk rock, and they hung out with Blondie in CBGBs. The grinning frontman remembers how Bruce Springsteen once wore a Dictators T-shirt on stage and dedicated Born to Run to the band.

Slightly before their time and more interested in fun, the Dictators influenced countless bands, without ever achieving success themselves. However, they’re still touring, albeit in a remodelled version (hence “NYC”) built around Manitoba and founding guitarist Ross “The Boss” Friedman, whose hair, riffola and impressively raised eyebrow defy his 62 years.

Most of the time, the eyebrow levitates at the antics of the charismatic, rugged singer, who is the same age but gleefully points out that he is playing 20 shows in 21 days and can still manage a “boner”. Manitoba is incorrigible but good value. He points out that “Of 320 million Americans, we got Donald Trump!” but also speaks movingly of his sadness at the decline of rock’n’roll culture, which he compares to the fall of the Ottoman empire.

Their energetic racket has dated in places, but Stay With Me, Who Will Save Rock’n’Roll? and even the new Supply and Demand are terrific, spiky anthems that should be more widely heard. “After all these years, we’re still the Next Big Thing,” cackles Manitoba as the band storm ahead triumphantly.

• At Think Tank?, Newcastle upon Tyne, Wednesday 3 August. Then on UK tour.