Dead Kennedys In God We Trust Demos Now Available On Picture Disc

As I get older, the less I listen to Dead Kennedys. It's hard to admit, but the band has turned into such a relic for me-forever regulated to the era of Ronald Reagan. They were a vital element to my own musical development, for sure, but to suggest that the band carries the same weight now as they did 30 years ago, is ridiculous.

Their songs, and even their Winston Smith artwork, served a purpose back then. They educated us. When you heard "Holiday In Cambodia" for the first time, you thought Jello Biafra was singing "Cold! Hot! Cold! Hot!" until you read the lyrics and realized he was saying "Pol Pot." Then you went and researched who Pol Pot was, and you got the idea that these guys were more than just a punk rock band with a provocative name.

There was no internet then, so you had to dig for information. You also had to dig to verify Biafra's account of everything, and it wasn't until years later that you started to get the idea that his lefty barks were the product of a very hippie upbringing, something that he frequently white-washed during interviews.

With that being said, the Dead Kennedy's legacy was also tainted by the inability of this band who fought for years to get a corner of a national soapbox to get along with each other. There's nothing wrong with big ideals, but to chastise public officials for not listening or caring about others with apposing viewpoints becomes somewhat muted when it's learned that you can't even hash out your own internal band issues.

I won't get into the Jello vs. the rest of the band debate, but I will say that the entire event and the band's subsequent attempt to parlay their controversial re-issues with the kid from The Courtship of Eddie's Father into a money-grab "reunion" tour only deadens what little bark the band had left going into the new century.

And perhaps you can draw the same conclusions to that as you could with releasing the demo sessions for the In God We Trust e.p. into a 11" picture disc. Like the days of old, you discover that the source material really isn't the actual demo tapes, but from a video feed of those demo tapes because someone fucked up the actual audio tapes.

And what's the deal with an 11" piece of vinyl? With 7" 10" and 12" platters being the norm for over 50 years, how would an 11" record even play on my linear tracking turntable. Short answer: it wouldn't, so I'm personally saving my $30 (!!) for this questionable release, but hey, this may be right up your alley.

Besides, like the old song goes, "We've got a bigger problem now."

PREORDER NOW - SHIPS EARLY FEBRUARY


Finally, the legendary first version of the Dead Kennedys In God We Trust, Inc. sees the light of day!

Recorded in 1981, the original tapes were defective, but a video feed of the session did survive. This is the first time these recordings have been committed to vinyl! The DKs at their most frantic and hardcore! 11" Picture disc includes DVD!

Track Listing:

Hyperactive Child
Nazi Punks Fuck Off
Kepone Factory
Dog Bite
Religious Vomit
We've Got a Bigger Problem Now
Rawhide
Moral Majority

Jello Biafra Throbblehead

Let’s get one thing straight, I don’t actually own any bobbleheads.

But I do like lookin at ‘em and I think if you’re single and need to piss your money away because you don’t have a girl or a dog, bobbleheads are the perfect investment.

Then when you do get a girl, you’ll have to explain to her who G.G. Allin is.

The market seems to be flooded with these little critters, and below is the latest: Jello Biafra.

Now I have mixed emotions about this one.

First off, the commercial is completely cheap. And I question if Jello even knows this is taking place.

If he does, does he get a cut of the action? Seems somewhat hypocritical that he’s against reissuing Dead Kennedy’s records but he’s ok with his likeness being on a bobblehead.

Just sayin’…

Here’s what the manufacturers have to say:

"Jello Biafra, the original political punk and former ringmaster of Dead Kennedys, is now a throbblehead.

This figure capturing his look from the 80s is limited to 1000 numbered units, stands at 7 inches tall, and is made of super strong polyresin.

Jello is accurately sculpted right down to the piercing glare, star belt buckle and Alternative Tentacles tee.

The figures cost $19.95, and orders will ship the first week of December.

Check out the commercial below featuring Jello's "Occupy" rant..."

Dead Kennedys Ask: What Kind Of Beer Do You Like, Neighbor

Got this in my email today. At first, I thought it was an old April Fools joke I forgot to open last spring.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Dead Kennedys Furious With Heineken Over Un-Authorized Use Of Music To Promote Beer

As recently reported by NME, The Guardian, AOL Spinner, NY Press, and a host of other news agencies, Heineken was forced to remove an advert which features a cover of the Dead Kennedys' 'Too Drunk To Fuck' because of complaints it would encourage binge drinking. Heineken had used the song in a commercial tie-in to promote its beer in banner advertisements broadcast via the popular music website Spotify.

Spotify had been running a series of banner advertisements, which directed users to a special "lounge style" playlist as part of a campaign for the beer Kronenbourg 1664

One of the tracks used was the Dead Kennedys' 'Too Drunk To Fuck', which attracted a number of complaints to the independent industry watchdog, The Portman Group. The complaints were then investigated and were found to be in breach of a rule which bans advertisers from "encouraging irresponsible or immoderate drinking".

Dead Kennedys emphatically deny that they ever gave Heineken permission to use the song. The band's attorneys have contacted Heineken to address the un-authorized use. Dead Kennedys have never authorized any company to use this song or any of the band's songs to promote a consumer product (let alone the consumption of alcohol) in this or any advertisement