The Dead Kennedys were an American punk band from the first wave of American punk rock, formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. Pioneers of punk during the 1980s, the band gained a large underground following in the international punk music scene.
The music of the Dead Kennedys mixed the more experimental elements of British 1970s punk with the raw energy of the 1980s American punk scene. Dead Kennedys' songs mix the deliberately shocking lyrics of punk with a humorous, acerbic, satirical, and sarcastic left-wing commentary on current social and political issues. Many of the band's songs criticized the right-wing ideologies of the Christian right and the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. In the late 1980s, the band was embroiled in an obscenity trial in the US over the 1985 Frankenchrist album, which included a poster with art that depicted penises (Penis Landscape by H. R. Giger). The band was charged criminally with distribution of harmful matter to minors, but the trial ended with a hung jury. The band officially disbanded in 1986. From 1998-2004, the band was embroiled in an acrimonious lawsuit over royalties and rights to the band's music. In 2001, the band re-formed and began touring with a new vocalist over the objections of former lead singer Jello Biafra, who, after losing the lawsuit and being found liable for fraud, filed two appeals that he later lost. In 2008, the band picked up their first ever UK gold sales awards in 15 years.
Vocals
* Jello Biafra (1978 - 1986)
* Brandon Cruz (2001 - 2003)
* Jeff Penalty (2003 - 2008)
* Ron "Skip" Greer (2008)
Guitars
* East Bay Ray (1978 - 1986, 2001 - 2008)
* 6025 (1978 - 1979) as second guitarist
Bass
* Klaus Flouride (1978 - 1986, 2001 - 2008)
Drums
* 6025 (1978)
* Ted (1978 - 1981)
* D. H. Peligro (1981 - 1986, 2001 - 2008)
* Dave Scheff (2008)
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