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Dead Kennedys
1978-1987
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Artistfacts:
| Biafra picked his name randomly out of a notebook. He later said he liked the way the two images- Jello, a consumer product, and Biafra, a poor third world country - collided in people's minds. |
| The Dead Kennedys' first single, "California Uber Alles," was an attack on then governor Jerry Brown and his brand of "zen fascism." However, the title was often misinterpreted and used as a slogan by skinheads in the punk scene. |
| Biafra started his own record label, Alternative Tentacles, to distribute the music of the Dead Kennedys. The label went on to distribute music from acts such as DOA, 7 Seconds, and Butthole Surfers. |
| Biafra ran for mayor of San Francisco in 1979. He came in 4th out of 10 candidates, with 6000 votes. Supervisor Quentin Kopp soon enacted a law banning people from running for mayor using "funny names." |
| Their 1981 single "Too Drunk To F--k" actually hit the charts in the UK, despite a ban from airplay. |
| The release of their 1985 album Frankenchrist led to the first ever case of a band being brought to trial over the content of an album. A painting by H.R. Giger, a Swiss surrealist artist, that depicted rows of penises engaged in intercourse was included with the album. The band was brought to trial for "distributing harmful matter to minors." Famous artists such as Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, John Denver, and Frank Zappa testified at the trial. Though the band eventually won the case, they were financially devastated and soon broke up. |
| Biafra has gone on to become a vocal opponent of censorship and injustice, touring the country and giving lectures. He has released seven albums of his spoken word material. (thanks, Andrew - Tucson, AZ, for all above) |
| D.H. Peligro played drums with The Red Hot Chili Peppers from 1988-1989. (thanks, Colton - Puyallup, WA) |
| In 2008, Flouride announced that a skin condition known as Angiodema would keep him from touring with the Dead Kennedys. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France) |
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Comments:
| I love DK, but the idea of seven albums of spoken-word Jello Biafra existing side-by-side in a record shop or somebody's shelf somewhere is a little disturbing. - Kim, Stuart, FL |
| East Bay Ray was the one who originally started Alternative Tentacle, and Biafra later went on to take over its operation. - Mike, Melrose, MA |
| The information about the Frankenchrist obscenity trial is partially incorrect. Dee Snider, John Denver, and Frank Zappa did NOT testify at the trial. The author is confusing the Dead Kennedys case with the Senate Commerce Committe hearing on record labeling in 1985 (this happened before the Dead Kennedys trial). Snider, Denver, and Zappa did in fact testify during that hearing. - stanley, dallas, TX |
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