Dead Kennedys

Jello Biafra – Vocals, East Bay Ray – Guitar,
Klaus Fluoride – bass, Bruce Slesinger then DH Peligro – drums

The Dead Kennedys formed in San Francisco 1978 and through the life of the band caused controversy not least for their name (they saw it as the death of the American dream with the assassinations rather than an attack on the Kennedy family) but also for their lyrics and later album covers and artwork that would ensnare them in legal wranglings.

Back to 1979 though, their first release was on their own Alternative Tentacles record label California Uber Alles / Man Bites Dog which was a shot in the arm for punk rock coinciding with the third wave of punk rock in the UK of bands like the UK Subs, Skids, Ruts and Angelic Upstarts. The record was of course featured by John Peel and the Dead Kennedys became very popular in the UK and were picked up by Cherry Red Records.

Where the Nuns, Germs, Avengers and so on failed to break out beyond their scenes, the Dead Kennedys managed just that and with no compromise. Their single Too Drunk Too Fuck actually made the UK singles charts and they had no qualms about releasing the worthy Nazi Punks Fuck Off to hammer home their point!

Their sound though sets the band apart with its combination of frenetic hardcore but some of the stand-out tracks like Holiday in Cambodia and Police Truck are mid-paced with guitar effect-driven picked notes and almost cinematic in composition.

Photo Credit?

By the time they come through the court shit, it was the disintegration of the band and lawsuits between Jello Biafra and East Bay Ray and Klaus Fluoride over unpaid royalties and rights to the name. To this day the two parties remain firmly unreconciled and have never reformed though the Dead Kennedys still tour albeit with various lead singers.



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