Dead Kennedys Send to Friend Picture Browser < Previous Next > Formed 1978 Disbanded 1987 Years Active 1910 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 2000 Genre Styles Rock American Underground Hardcore Punk American Punk Anarchist Punk Moods Irreverent Fierce Cynical/ Sarcastic Confrontational Outrageous Angry Provocative Brash Rousing Fiery Intense Snide Harsh Uncompromising Menacing Malevolent Rebellious Acerbic Hostile Bitter Manic Other Entries Products Movie Entry Posters Corrections to this Entry? Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine The Dead Kennedys merged revolutionary politics with hardcore punk music and, in the process, became one of the defining hardcore bands. Often, they were more notable for their politics than their music, but that was part of their impact. The Kennedys were more inspired by British punk and the fiery, revolutionary-implied politics of the Sex Pistols than the artier tendencies of New York punk rockers. Under the direction of lead vocalist Jello Biafra, the Dead Kennedys became the most political and — to the eyes of many observers, including Christians and right-wing politicians — the most dangerous band in hardcore. By the mid-'80s, the band had become notorious enough to open themselves up to a prosecution for obscenity (concerning a poster inserted into their 1985 Frankenchrist album), and the ensuing court battle sped the band toward a breakup, but they left behind a legacy that influenced countless punk bands that followed. The Dead Kennedys formed in 1978 in San Francisco when Biafra (vocals; born Eric Boucher) and bassist Klaus Flouride responded to a magazine ad placed by guitarist East Bay Ray. Drummer Ted (born Bruce Slesinger) joined soon after and the band played locally for the first two years of their career, occasionally venturing outside the Bay Area. Within a year, the band released their first independent single, "California Über Alles," an attack on the then-current governor, Jerry Brown. It was followed shortly afterward by their second single, "Holiday in Cambodia." In 1979, Biafra ran for mayor of San Francisco; he finished fourth. By this time, the band had become quite popular in both the American and British underground. Finally, in 1980, the band released their debut album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, on IRS Records. After its release, Ted left the band; he was replaced by drummer Darren H. Peligro. Following the release of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, the Dead Kennedys formed their own independent record label, Alternative Tentacles, in 1981. The first release on the label was the Kennedys' EP, In God We Trust. That same year, the single "Too Drunk to Fuck" scraped the bottom of Britain's pop Top 40, despite being banned from airplay. In 1982, the Kennedys released their second full-length album, Plastic Surgery Disasters. After its release, the band took a hiatus, during which bandmembers — most notably Klaus Flouride — performed with various side projects. During that time, Alternative Tentacles began to establish itself as a major force in the American underground. The Dead Kennedys returned in 1985 with Frankenchrist, which was the record that earned the band its greatest notoriety. Included with the album was a poster of the Swiss artist H.R. Giger's Landscape #XX, a garish illustration of penises and anuses. A year after the release of the album, the Kennedys and Alternative Tentacles were prosecuted under revised Californian anti-obscenity laws for distributing pornography to minors because of the poster. For the next two years, the band was embroiled in a bitter legal battle, during which Biafra emerged as one of the most articulate advocates for free speech and vocal opponents of the PMRC. In the summer of 1987, the case ended with a hung jury and was dismissed. Although the Dead Kennedys emerged victorious from the court battle, they didn't remain a band for much longer. Just before the prosecution began in 1986, the band released Bedtime for Democracy, which turned out to be their last official album. After the case was settled, the Kennedys split, releasing the posthumous compilation Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death in 1987. Biafra embarked on a solo career, releasing musical and spoken-word recordings sporadically over the next couple decades. Flouride returned to his fledgling solo career, releasing two albums in the late '80s and early '90s. The DVD format of mpo's On Broadway, the Dead Kennedys' June 1984 performance marking the closing of San Francisco's avant-garde theater and nightclub, was released in May 2000. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables Dead Kennedys Send to Friend buy listen Album Browser < Previous Next > Artist Dead Kennedys Album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables Rating Release Date 1980 Label Alternative Tentacles Genre Styles Rock American Underground Hardcore Punk American Punk Anarchist Punk Moods Themes Fierce Rebellious Uncompromising Witty Tense/Anxious Rousing Raucous Provocative Outrageous Intense Humorous Fiery Energetic Brash Angst-Ridden Irreverent Aggressive Visceral Acerbic Manic Snide Scary Music Empowering Motivation Revolutionary Products Posters Corrections to this Entry? Review by Steve Huey A hyper-speed blast of ultra-polemical, left-wing hardcore punk, and bitingly funny sarcasm, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables stands as the Dead Kennedys' signature statement. As one of the first hardcore albums, it was a galvanizing influence on the musical and attitudinal development of the genre, also helping to kickstart the fertile California scene. The record's tactics are not subtle in the least; Jello Biafra's odd warble and spat-out lyrics leave no doubt as to what he thinks, baiting his targets of conservatism, violence, overbearing authority, and capitalist greed with a viciously satirical sarcasm that keeps his unflinchingly political outlook from becoming too didactic. The thin production dilutes some of the music's power, but the ragged speed-blur still packs a wallop, and the hooks cribbed from surf and rockabilly give it a gonzo edge. The songwriting isn't consistent all the way through the album, but classics like "Kill the Poor," "Let's Lynch the Landlord," "Chemical Warfare," "California Über Alles," and "Holiday In Cambodia" helped define the hardcore genre and, thus, must be heard. Tracks Title Composer Time 1 Kill the Poor Biafra, East Bay Ray 3:07 2 Forward to Death Dead Kennedys ... 1:23 Composed by: Dead Kennedys, Sixty Twenty Five 3 When Ya Get Drafted Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:23 4 Let's Lynch the Landlord Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:13 5 Drug Me Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:56 6 Your Emotions Dead Kennedys ... 1:20 Composed by: Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 7 Chemical Warfare Biafra 2:58 8 California Über Alles Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 3:03 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, Greenway 9 I Kill Children Biafra 2:04 10 Stealing People's Mail Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:34 11 Funland at the Beach Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:49 12 Ill in the Head Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 2:46 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, Sixty Twenty Five 13 Holiday in Cambodia Dead Kennedys 4:37 14 Viva Las Vegas Biafra, Pomus, Shuman 2:42 indicates Track Pick Plastic Surgery Disasters Dead Kennedys Send to Friend Album Browser < Previous Next > Artist Dead Kennedys Album Plastic Surgery Disasters Rating Release Date 1982 Label Alternative Tentacles Time 55:35 Genre Styles Rock American Underground Hardcore Punk American Punk Anarchist Punk Moods Themes Fierce Witty Tense/Anxious Rousing Raucous Provocative Outrageous Intense Humorous Fiery Energetic Brash Angst-Ridden Aggressive Irreverent Acerbic Rebellious Visceral Menacing Cynical/ Sarcastic Reckless Scary Music Motivation Revolutionary Empowering Products Posters Corrections to this Entry? Review by Ned Raggett Having proved themselves masters of the quick, vicious smash and bash, on their second full-length album the Kennedys continued in that vein while finding other effective ways to express their all-encompassing message of resistance and satire. Absolutely nobody is safe, whether it's the more expected targets of conservative society, or those who claim to follow what the Kennedys and punk promised but only ended up acting like idiots. For the most part, though, it's a well-deserved smackdown of all the jerks the early '80s produced, set to some fantastic music. Bookended by random noise jams — the first one with a wonderfully dismissive spoken-word analysis on societal programming for The Good Life — Plastic Surgery Disasters shows East Bay Ray, Klaus Fluoride and D.H. Peligro turning into an even more awesome unit than before. Ray's sheet-metal intense guitar may once or twice get slammed into too much treble for its own good, but his spaghetti-western-cranked-to-ten playing is fantastic stuff at its best. The others have their moments, like Peligro's rolling drum breaks on "Government Mechanic." When the band aims for subtlety, the results are grand — the sudden silences on "Trust Your Mechanic," the goofy hipswing start to "Forest Fire." Unsurprisingly, Biafra is still at the center of it all; once again, the song titles make it clear what's at play. "Terminal Preppie," rips into an example of the type with gusto, and the wonderfully sneering "Winnebago Warrior" is just the tip of the iceberg. The real highlight can be found at the end — "Moon Over Marin," with a soaring, anthemic surf-rock line from Ray offsetting Biafra's semi-apocalyptic vision of the Bay Area's snooty region. Tracks Title Composer Time 1 Advice From Christmas Past Dead Kennedys 2 Government Flu Dead Kennedys 2:59 3 Terminal Preppie Dead Kennedys 1:30 4 Trust Your Mechanic Dead Kennedys 2:54 5 Well Paid Scientist Dead Kennedys 2:21 6 Buzzbomb Biafra, East Bay Ray 2:22 7 Forest Fire Dead Kennedys 2:22 8 Halloween Dead Kennedys 3:35 9 Winnebago Warrior Dead Kennedys 2:08 10 Riot Biafra, Dead Kennedys 5:57 11 Bleed for Me Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3:25 12 I Am the Owl Biafra, Dead Kennedys 4:50 13 Dead End Dead Kennedys 2:56 14 Moon Over Marin Dead Kennedys 4:26 indicates Track Pick Frankenchrist Dead Kennedys Send to Friend buy listen Album Browser < Previous Next > Artist Dead Kennedys Album Frankenchrist Rating Release Date 1985 Label Alternative Tentacles Time 44:58 Genre Styles Rock American Underground Hardcore Punk American Punk Anarchist Punk Moods Themes Fierce Witty Visceral Rousing Provocative Outrageous Intense Humorous Fiery Energetic Brash Angst-Ridden Irreverent Acerbic Aggressive Bleak Tense/Anxious Menacing Raucous Cynical/ Sarcastic Hostile Revolutionary Scary Music Motivation Empowering Products Posters Corrections to this Entry? Review by David Cleary Released after a three-year studio hiatus, this album picks up right where Plastic Surgery Disasters left off. As always, the lyrics are among the most literate and angry in all of rock & roll. "Goons of Hazard" scores the culture of guns and the rednecks who love them, utilizing full-textured hard rock to set the verses. "Soup Is Good Food" lacerates the concept of disposable people in disposable jobs, pairing this idea with repeated guitar riff-based music that suggests a nightmare version of 1960s songs. "Jock-O-Rama" excoriates organized sports and macho attitudes; musically, the outer sections wed rockabilly and hardcore influences, sandwiching a slow middle section that spoofs martial numbers like Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Berets." "This Could Be Anywhere" has critical lyrics about racism and classicism set to music highly reminiscent of the Sex Pistols. "Hellnation" has garbled, wide-range, muckracking verses set to stun-speed punk that recalls numbers from In God We Trust Inc. The excellent "MTV — Get Off the Air" lambastes the corporate influences on rock & roll; musically, the song exhibits a tripartite structure, using a vacuously poppy opening, a speed hardcore central section, and a mid-tempo rocking finale that prominently features trumpet (a very brief coda reprise of hardcore ends the number). The finest selection on this album (and perhaps in the whole Dead Kennedys' canon) is the anthemic "Stars and Stripes of Corruption." This number also utilizes a three-part construct, consisting here of a hard-rocking midsection flanked by faster, punk-oriented material. The verses here are stunningly detailed, describing what the band believes is wrong with the United States and what the solutions should be. This wonderful and challenging album is very highly recommended. Tracks Title Composer Time 1 Soup Is Good Food Dead Kennedys 4:18 2 Hellnation Dead Kennedys, Peligro 2:21 3 This Could Be Anywhere Dead Kennedys 5:24 4 A Growing Boy Needs His Lunch Dead Kennedys 5:49 5 Chicken Farm Dead Kennedys 5:05 6 Jock-O-Rama Dead Kennedys 4:06 7 Goons of Hazzard Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 4:24 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 8 MTV-Get off the Air Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3:37 9 At My Job Dead Kennedys ... 3:40 Composed by: Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 10 Stars and Stripes of Corruption Dead Kennedys 6:25 indicates Track Pick Bedtime for Democracy [Bonus Sampler] Dead Kennedys Send to Friend Album Browser < Previous Next > Artist Dead Kennedys Album Bedtime for Democracy [Bonus Sampler] Rating Release Date 1986 Genre Styles Rock Hardcore Punk Anarchist Punk American Underground American Punk Moods Visceral Tense/Anxious Snide Rowdy Nihilistic Menacing Manic Malevolent Hostile Harsh Cynical/ Sarcastic Confrontational Bitter Angry Aggressive Products Posters Corrections to this Entry? Review by David Cleary The Dead Kennedys go out in a blaze of snarling, defiant glory in their final studio release. They drub a bushel basket's worth of entrenched interests, including scientists, the military, the power hungry, macho attitudes, classicism, lie detectors, Reagan and his economic policies, the press, the entertainment industry, and the commercialization of rock and revolutionary attitudes. The album's manic speed punk style recalls In God We Trust Inc., particularly on the frenetic cover of Johnny Paycheck's hit "Take This Job and Shove It." When the tempo slows, a few songs resemble frantic rockabilly; of these, "Hop With the Jetset" lampoons the privileged classes, "I Spy" savages government agents, and "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" is a plea in favor of anarchy. The quiet, furtive "D.M.S.O." is a highly atypical number strongly resembling the theme to The Pink Panther. The lengthy, anthemic "Cesspools in Eden" is a hard rock number with unusual chord changes and lyrics railing against toxic waste; similarly, "Chickenshit Conformist" alternates slow and hyperfast sections and sports wide-ranging verses that constitute a scathing indictment of the rock music industry. As usual, the rushed hardcore numbers often garble or swallow up the well-written lyrics (if you want people to follow you into revolution, your ideas need to be intelligible). The album cover sports witheringly disparaging artwork; also included in this release are two muckraking newspapers, one containing clip art, and the other written articles about the obscenity trial embroiling the band at that point. While it's not totally successful, at least the Dead Kennedys had the satisfaction of going out on their own terms. It's all well worth hearing. [In 2001 Bedtime for Democracy was distributed with a bonus sampler from Industrial Strength Records.] Tracks Title Composer Time 1 Take This Job and Shove It Biafra, Coe 1:25 2 Hop With the Jet Set Biafra, Biafra ... 2:07 Composed by: Biafra, Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3 Dear Abby Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:09 4 Rambozo the Clown Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:25 5 Fleshdunce Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:29 6 The Great Wall Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:32 7 Shrink Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:44 8 Triumph of the Swill Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:17 9 Macho Insecurity Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:30 10 I Spy Dead Kennedys, Peligro 2:30 11 Cesspools in Eden Biafra, Dead Kennedys 5:56 12 One-Way Ticket to Pluto Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:38 13 Do the Slag Dead Kennedys ... 1:36 Composed by: Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 14 A Commercial Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:33 15 Gone With My Wind Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:43 16 Anarchy for Sale Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:18 17 Chickenshit Conformist Biafra, Dead Kennedys 5:58 18 Where Do Ya Draw the Line Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:39 19 Potshot Heard 'Round the World Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 2:10 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 20 D.M.S.O. Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:09 21 Lie Detector Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 3:45 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 22 Was It Worth It Rats Composed by: Rats Performed by: Rats, 23 Never Enough Oozzies Composed by: Oozzies Performed by: Oozzies 24 Mule Kick Strychnine Composed by: Strychnine Performed by: Strychnine 25 Scooter Boy Cell Block Five, Dalton ... Composed by: Cell Block Five, Dalton, Tommy Performed by: Cell Block Five 26 Kaos Control Shitgiveits Composed by: Shitgiveits Performed by: Shitgiveits, 27 This is Reality Opressed Logic Composed by: Opressed Logic Performed by: Opressed Logic, 28 Going Down Glamour Pussy Composed by: Glamour Pussy Performed by: Glamour Pussy, 29 Shrimp's Up Jumbo Shrimp Composed by: Jumbo Shrimp Performed by: Jumbo Shrimp, 30 Your Generation East Bay Chasers Composed by: East Bay Chasers Performed by: East Bay Chasers 31 Cheap Fun Process Composed by: Process Performed by: Process, 32 Set In Stone Doomsday Device Composed by: Doomsday Device Performed by: Doomsday Device, 33 Motorhead Puzzle Box Composed by: Puzzle Box Performed by: Puzzle Box, 34 Apocalypse Rats Composed by: Rats Performed by: Rats, 35 Red White and You Oozzies Composed by: Oozzies Performed by: Oozzies 36 Liquer & Poker Strychnine Composed by: Strychnine Performed by: Strychnine 37 Going to a Fight Cell Block Five Composed by: Cell Block Five Performed by: Cell Block Five 38 Sour Shitgiveits Composed by: Shitgiveits Performed by: Shitgiveits, 39 Void of Society Oppressed Logic Composed by: Oppressed Logic Performed by: Oppressed Logic 40 I Won't Take it Up the Ass Glamour Pussy Composed by: Glamour Pussy Performed by: Glamour Pussy, 41 Mersey Beach Jumbo Shrimp Composed by: Jumbo Shrimp Performed by: Jumbo Shrimp, 42 Blood Money East Bay Chasers Composed by: East Bay Chasers Performed by: East Bay Chasers 43 Red Neck a Go Go Process Composed by: Process Performed by: Process, 44 BTS Doomsday Device Composed by: Doomsday Device Performed by: Doomsday Device, 45 Albania Puzzle Box Composed by: Puzzle Box Performed by: Puzzle Box, Bedtime for Democracy Dead Kennedys Send to Friend buy listen Album Browser < Previous Next > Artist Dead Kennedys Album Bedtime for Democracy Rating Release Date 1986 Label Alternative Tentacles Time 48:12 Genre Styles Rock American Underground Hardcore Punk American Punk Anarchist Punk Moods Themes Fierce Witty Rousing Raucous Provocative Outrageous Intense Humorous Fiery Energetic Brash Angst-Ridden Irreverent Acerbic Cynical/ Sarcastic Menacing Aggressive Tense/Anxious Rowdy Malevolent Angry Revolutionary Products Posters Corrections to this Entry? Review by David Cleary The Dead Kennedys go out in a blaze of snarling, defiant glory in their final studio release. They drub a bushel basket's worth of entrenched interests, including scientists, the military, the power hungry, macho attitudes, classicism, lie detectors, Reagan and his economic policies, the press, the entertainment industry, and the commercialization of rock and revolutionary attitudes. The album's manic speed punk style recalls In God We Trust Inc., particularly on the frenetic cover of Johnny Paycheck's hit "Take This Job and Shove It." When the tempo slows, a few songs resemble frantic rockabilly; of these, "Hop With the Jetset" lampoons the privileged classes, "I Spy" savages government agents, and "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" is a plea in favor of anarchy. The quiet, furtive "D.M.S.O." is a highly atypical number strongly resembling the theme to The Pink Panther. The lengthy, anthemic "Cesspools in Eden" is a hard rock number with unusual chord changes and lyrics railing against toxic waste; similarly, "Chickenshit Conformist" alternates slow and hyperfast sections and sports wide-ranging verses that constitute a scathing indictment of the rock music industry. As usual, the rushed hardcore numbers often garble or swallow up the well-written lyrics (if you want people to follow you into revolution, your ideas need to be intelligible). The album cover sports witheringly disparaging artwork; also included in this release are two muckraking newspapers, one containing clip art, and the other written articles about the obscenity trial embroiling the band at that point. While it's not totally successful, at least the Dead Kennedys had the satisfaction of going out on their own terms. It's all well worth hearing. Tracks Title Composer Time 1 Take This Job and Shove It Biafra, Coe 1:25 2 Hop With the Jet Set Biafra, Biafra ... 2:07 Composed by: Biafra, Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3 Dear Abby Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:09 4 Rambozo the Clown Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:25 5 Fleshdunce Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:29 6 The Great Wall Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:32 7 Shrink Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:44 8 Triumph of the Swill Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:17 9 Macho Insecurity Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:30 10 I Spy Dead Kennedys, Peligro 2:30 11 Cesspools in Eden Biafra, Dead Kennedys 5:56 12 One-Way Ticket to Pluto Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:38 13 Do the Slag Dead Kennedys ... 1:36 Composed by: Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 14 A Commercial Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:33 15 Gone With My Wind Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:43 16 Anarchy for Sale Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:18 17 Chickenshit Conformist Biafra, Dead Kennedys 5:58 18 Where Do Ya Draw the Line Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:39 19 Potshot Heard 'Round the World Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 2:10 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 20 D.M.S.O. Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:09 21 Lie Detector Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 3:45 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray indicates Track Pick Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death Dead Kennedys Send to Friend buy listen Album Browser < Previous Next > Artist Dead Kennedys Album Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death Rating Release Date 1987 Label Alternative Tentacles Time 50:49 Genre Styles Rock American Underground Hardcore Punk American Punk Anarchist Punk Moods Themes Fierce Witty Tense/Anxious Rousing Provocative Outrageous Intense Humorous Fiery Energetic Brash Angst-Ridden Aggressive Irreverent Acerbic Raucous Rebellious Visceral Harsh Confrontational Snide Motivation Empowering Revolutionary Scary Music Products Posters Corrections to this Entry? Review by Ned Raggett Hounded by political enemies and reaching their personal breaking point, the Kennedys bowed with a retrospective of some of their fiercest, finest moments. If one needs a starting point for the band's fierce, funny assault on any level of complacency imaginable, Give Me Convenience is indeed as convenient as it gets. Focusing for the most part on non-album cuts or various rarities, it appeals to hardcore Dead Kennedys fans as well as neophytes. The collection includes some of the band's earliest greats, like the legendary rant "Too Drunk to Fuck," as withering a depiction of getting trashed and stupid as any. While the definitive "California Über Alles" and "Holiday in Cambodia" make the cut from the first album, there are also plenty of more obscure and unknown goodies. The second half features live tracks like the hilarious "Pull My Strings," which vivisects typical rock star pomposity (knowingly quoting the Knack's "My Sharona") before shifting into an even nuttier chorus. Another screamingly funny number is the improv "Night of the Living Rednecks," done "while Ray was changing strings" at an Oregon date in 1979. After threatening to play the theme from the Dinah Shore show, the remaining three members light into something resembling a beat/'50s hep groove, only with Biafra recalling a tale of idiots encountered during a previous visit to Portland. Meanwhile, there's a version of "I Fought the Law," which easily trumps the Clash's version, helped by a lyric change or two along the way. Messy, nutty, and fun, Convenience is a treat and a half. Tracks Title Composer Time 1 Police Truck Biafra, East Bay Ray 2:24 2 Too Drunk to Fuck Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:40 3 California Über Alles Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 3:27 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, Greenway 4 The Man With the Dogs Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3:02 5 In-Sight Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:40 6 Life Sentence Biafra 2:40 7 A Child and His Lawn Mower Biafra, Dead Kennedys :55 8 Holiday in Cambodia Dead Kennedys 3:44 9 I Fought the Law Curtis, Rose 2:18 10 Saturday Night Holocaust Biafra, Dead Kennedys 4:20 11 Pull My Strings Biafra, Dead Kennedys 5:52 12 Short Songs Sixty Twenty Five :28 13 Straight A's Sixty Twenty Five 2:13 14 Kinky Sex (Makes the World Go Around) Biafra, Dead Kennedys 4:17 15 The Prey Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3:48 16 Night of the Living Rednecks Biafra, Dead Kennedys 5:10 17 Buzzbomb from Pasadena Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 2:24 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray indicates Track Pick Mutiny on the Bay Dead Kennedys Send to Friend buy listen Album Browser < Previous Next > Artist Dead Kennedys Album Mutiny on the Bay Rating Release Date Apr 24, 2001 Recording Date Mar 20, 1982-1986 Label Manifesto Type Live Genre Styles Rock American Underground Hardcore Punk American Punk Anarchist Punk Moods Themes Fierce Uncompromising Rebellious Witty Visceral Tense/Anxious Snide Rousing Raucous Provocative Outrageous Manic Intense Humorous Harsh Fiery Energetic Cynical/ Sarcastic Confrontational Brash Angst-Ridden Revolutionary Products Posters Corrections to this Entry? Review by Chris Nelson Had singer Jello Biafra not lost a court battle in 2000 against former bandmates East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, and D.H. Peligro, Mutiny on the Bay would likely have remained in the vaults. Biafra disdains nostalgia, so it's hard to picture him releasing this live album (14 years after the band's demise) on Alternative Tentacles, his label and the band's long-time home. But the decision in San Francisco Superior Court that effectively ruled Dead Kennedys songs property of the entire band, rather than individual songwriters, meant band affairs were thereafter to be run according to vote. Biafra was outnumbered by the other DKs, who moved to reissue on Manifesto the group's entire Alternative Tentacles catalog, as well as Mutiny on the Bay, a concert set stitched together from shows recorded in 1982 and '86. The album is uneventful for anyone other than completists. While the disc proves Dead Kennedys churned up plenty of fury on stage, it was identical to the fury they'd already given fans on studio discs. Mutiny on the Bay smacks of opportunism, which wouldn't be so bad, had the band not built their reputation on staunch artistic principles. Tracks Title Composer Time 1 In-Sight Biafra, Dead Kennedys :22 2 Police Truck Biafra, East Bay Ray 2:38 3 Kill the Poor Biafra, East Bay Ray 3:04 4 Holiday in Cambodia Dead Kennedys 4:30 5 Moon Over Marin Dead Kennedys 3:34 6 California Über Alles Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 4:29 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, Greenway 7 MTV-Get off the Air Biafra, Dead Kennedys 4:14 8 Too Drunk to Fuck Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:54 9 Goons of Hazzard Biafra, Dead Kennedys ... 4:07 Composed by: Biafra, Dead Kennedys, East Bay Ray 10 This Could Be Anywhere Dead Kennedys 4:22 11 Forward to Death Dead Kennedys ... 1:10 Composed by: Dead Kennedys, Sixty Twenty Five 12 I Am the Owl Biafra, Dead Kennedys 5:15 13 Hellnation Dead Kennedys, Peligro 2:59 14 Riot Biafra, Dead Kennedys 7:31 indicates Track Pick Live at the Deaf Club 1979 The Dead Kennedys Send to Friend buy listen Album Browser < Previous Next > Artist The Dead Kennedys Album Live at the Deaf Club 1979 Rating Release Date Jan 27, 2004 Recording Date Mar 3, 1979 Label Manifesto Type Live Genre Styles Rock Anarchist Punk American Underground American Punk Hardcore Punk Moods Themes Fierce Witty Visceral Tense/Anxious Snide Rousing Raucous Provocative Outrageous Manic Intense Humorous Harsh Fiery Energetic Cynical/ Sarcastic Confrontational Brash Angst-Ridden Angry Aggressive Revolutionary Products Posters Corrections to this Entry? Review by Adrian Zupp Maybe the greatest tribute you can pay a live album is to think to yourself, "I wish I'd been there." Live at the Deaf Club is precisely that kind of live album. Recorded in San Francisco in March 1979, this is the DKs at their peak as the short sharp-shock punksters with brains as well as attitude — not to mention a sharp collective sense of humor. Fronted by legendary smart-ass agitator Jello Biafra, this five-piece Dead Kennedys lineup (Jello, East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, and Ted, with guitarist 6025 playing his last gig with the band) blazes through a mighty set that includes such killer material as "California Über Alles," "Kill the Poor," "Holiday in Cambodia," and the surreal encore numbers "Back in the U.S.S.R." and "Viva Las Vegas." There's also a previously unreleased track, "Gaslight." Plenty of atmosphere and sizzling repartee, this is entertainment and punk history in one neat, sweetly subversive package. You'll wish you'd been there. Tracks Title Composer Time 1 Introduction DJ Johnny Walker 0:20 Composed by: DJ Johnny Walker Performed by: DJ Johnny Walker, 2 Kill the Poor [Disco Version] Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3:57 3 Back in Rhodesia Biafra, Dead Kennedys 1:31 4 Man With the Dogs Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3:22 5 Gaslight [#] 6025, Dead Kennedys 2:41 6 California Über Allies Dead Kennedys, Greenway 3:45 7 Ill in the Head Biafra, Dead Kennedys 3:25 8 Straight A's [Different Mix] Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:13 9 Short Songs [Different Mix] 6025, Dead Kennedys 0:31 10 Holiday in Cambodia Biafra, Dead Kennedys 4:33 11 Police Truck Biafra, Dead Kennedys 2:55 12 Foward to Death 6025, Dead Kennedys 1:53 13 Have I the Right Blaikley, Howard 2:16 14 Back in the U.S.S.R. Lennon, McCartney 2:31 15 Viva Las Vegas Pomus, Shuman 3:31 Releases