Taking a brief detour back to the 70s this morning with a concert by California’s own Dead Kennedys. Recorded live at Old Waldorf by the venerable Terry Hammer for KALX in Berkeley on October 25, 1979.
The West Coat was certainly a hotbed of Punk activity in the late 70s all the way into the 80s. Dead Kennedys were one of the most popular at the time, lead by the inimitable (and now Political candidate-at-times) Jello Biafra.
Dead Kennedys have been described as one of the first hardcore punk bands. They were noted for the harshness of their lyrics, which generally combined biting social satire while expressing a staunchly left-wing view of contemporary America. Unlike other leftist punk bands who use more direct sloganeering, Dead Kennedys’ lyrics were often snide. For example, “Holiday in Cambodia” is a multi-layered satire targeting both yuppies and Cambodia’s recently deposed Khmer Rouge regime. Or, on “Jock-O-Rama”, featured on Frankenchrist, they mock southern small towns whose residents’ lives revolve around high school football.
Dead Kennedys’ lyrics were usually political in nature, satirizing political figures and authority in general, as well as popular culture and even the punk movement itself. During their initial incarnation between 1978 and 1986, they attracted considerable controversy for their provocative lyrics and artwork. Several stores refused to stock their recordings, provoking debate about censorship in rock music; in the mid-1980s, vocalist and primary lyricist Jello Biafra became an active campaigner against the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). This culminated in an obscenity trial between 1985 and 1986, which resulted in a hung jury and also hastened the band’s demise.
The band decided to split up in January 1986, prior to the recording and release of Bedtime for Democracy, and played their last live show with the original lineup on 21 February. Biafra went on to speak about his political beliefs on numerous television shows and he released a number of spoken-word albums.
Dead Kennedys – Old Waldorf – 1979 – Past Daily Morning Soundbooth
– Dead Kennedys – Live At Old Waldorf – October 25, 1979 ©Terry Hammer Archives –
Taking a brief detour back to the 70s this morning with a concert by California’s own Dead Kennedys. Recorded live at Old Waldorf by the venerable Terry Hammer for KALX in Berkeley on October 25, 1979.
The West Coat was certainly a hotbed of Punk activity in the late 70s all the way into the 80s. Dead Kennedys were one of the most popular at the time, lead by the inimitable (and now Political candidate-at-times) Jello Biafra.
Dead Kennedys have been described as one of the first hardcore punk bands. They were noted for the harshness of their lyrics, which generally combined biting social satire while expressing a staunchly left-wing view of contemporary America. Unlike other leftist punk bands who use more direct sloganeering, Dead Kennedys’ lyrics were often snide. For example, “Holiday in Cambodia” is a multi-layered satire targeting both yuppies and Cambodia’s recently deposed Khmer Rouge regime. Or, on “Jock-O-Rama”, featured on Frankenchrist, they mock southern small towns whose residents’ lives revolve around high school football.
Dead Kennedys’ lyrics were usually political in nature, satirizing political figures and authority in general, as well as popular culture and even the punk movement itself. During their initial incarnation between 1978 and 1986, they attracted considerable controversy for their provocative lyrics and artwork. Several stores refused to stock their recordings, provoking debate about censorship in rock music; in the mid-1980s, vocalist and primary lyricist Jello Biafra became an active campaigner against the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). This culminated in an obscenity trial between 1985 and 1986, which resulted in a hung jury and also hastened the band’s demise.
The band decided to split up in January 1986, prior to the recording and release of Bedtime for Democracy, and played their last live show with the original lineup on 21 February. Biafra went on to speak about his political beliefs on numerous television shows and he released a number of spoken-word albums.
The hits are here, including Holiday in Cambodia.
Crank it up.
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