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Dead Kennedys
Easily one of the most important bands in punk rock history, the Dead Kennedys were also one of the most controversial. With their in-your-face attitude evident in everything from the band's name to singer Jello Biafra (nee Eric Boucher)'s lyrics to the artwork on their albums, the band wanted nothing less than to inspire revolution. If nothing else, they had an extremely polarizing effect: the right wing wanted to silence them, while the certain left wing factions would eventually even consider Biafra as a viable Presidential candidate.

Hard to believe it all started with a simple magazine ad. Biafra and bassist Klaus Flouride responded to an ad guitarist East Bay Ray placed in 1978, and were quickly joined by drummer Ted (born Bruce Slesinger). The band spent most of its first two years gigging around their hometown of San Francisco, but it didn't take long for the band to become known outside that region. They viciously attacked then-California Governor Jerry Brown on their seminal first single, "California Über Alles," and their second single, the classic "Holiday In Cambodia," was equally furious. Biafra's 1979 campaign to become mayor of San Francisco (he finished fourth of ten candidates) helped increase the band's notoriety -- and popularity -- and in 1980, IRS Records release the Dead Kennedys' debut full-length, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables.

Shortly after the release of Fresh Fruit, the Dead Kennedys went through two major changes. First, Ted departed, to be replaced by Darren H. Peligro. Second, and perhaps more significantly, they formed their own label, Alternative Tentacles. The label's first release was the 1981 EP, In God We Trust. 1982 saw the release of a second full-length, Plastic Surgery Disasters, after which the band took a break. Some of the members worked on side projects during this time, but even more importantly, it was during this period that Alternative Tentacles became a major indie force, building a reputation that remains to this day.

When the Dead Kennedys re-emerged in 1985, they were greeted with the greatest controversy of their career. Their album, Frankenchrist, included a poster of H.R. Giger's painting Landscape #20, which some considered pornographic. The band and Alternative Tentacles were dragged through the courts, charged with distributing pornography to minors, and the band vilified by Christian groups and politicians, and targeted by the Parents' Music Resource Center (PMRC). Incredibly, these incidents only served to increase the band's credibility and respect in many circles, as Biafra became an outspoken and respected poster boy for free speech. After two years, the criminal trial ended in a hung jury, and was dismissed. Sadly, though, the case had taken its toll on the band. While they did release one final album, Bedtime For Democracy, in 1986, in the aftermath of the trial, they split up.

Since the DKs breakup, all the members have remained active to some degree, but none moreso than Biafra. Continuing to head up Alternative Tentacles, he also released a series of spoken word albums, continuing to speak out about politics and culture, and collaborated musically with numerous other artists, most notably Mojo Nixon (on 1994's Prairie Home Invasion) and Ministry's Al Jourgenson and Paul Barker (in the band Lard). It is for his spoken word albums and lecture tours that he gets the most attention, however, with albums like 1991's I Blow Minds For a Living and 1994's Beyond the Valley of the Gift Police filled with intelligent and often humorous social commentary. Biafra also became heavily involved with the Green Party, and was a candidate for the party's 2000 Presidential nomination before deferring to (and campaigning heavily for) Ralph Nader.

Despite Biafra's status as a social advocate, the other Dead Kennedys felt they were treated unfairly by Biafra with relation to the band's back catalog, which he administrates through Alternative Tentacles. Apparently a feud began over Biafra's refusal to allow "Holiday In Cambodia" to be used in a Levi's commercial, and ended with the band taking him to court. A judge found largely in favor of the other three band members, though Biafra also won some victories, and the matter is currently on appeal. It's both unfortunate and ironic that a band that was once so revolutionary and politicized are reduced to squabbling over money in the courts.


Dead Kennedys	Forward To Death	PlayJ	Punk
Not one of the most important tracks from this most seminal of punk bands, but anything by the Dead Kennedys blows away 99% of what masquerades as punk rock in the Y2K…