Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band played a central role in shaping the American punk scene during its initial eight-year period.
The original lineup included lead guitarist East Bay Ray, bassist Klaus Flouride, lead vocalist Jello Biafra, drummer Ted, and rhythm guitarist 6025. 6025 left the band in 1979, and Ted departed in 1980 after the recording of their debut album, "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" (1980). D. H. Peligro became the band's drummer in 1981, remaining their longest-serving drummer until his death in 2022. Dead Kennedys released the EP "In God We Trust Inc." (1981), followed by the studio albums "Plastic Surgery Disasters" (1982), "Frankenchrist" (1985), and "Bedtime for Democracy" (1986). "Bedtime for Democracy" was recorded and released shortly after the band announced its breakup in January 1986. Most of their recordings were released through Alternative Tentacles, an independent label founded by Biafra and East Bay Ray.
After the band dissolved, Biafra continued to manage Alternative Tentacles and collaborated with other artists, including D.O.A., NoMeansNo, and his own projects Lard and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, in addition to releasing spoken word recordings. In 2000, a legal dispute with his former bandmates over songwriting credits and royalties concluded with Biafra losing the case, a decision upheld on appeal in 2003. Dead Kennedys reformed in 2001 without Biafra, recruiting various vocalists for performances. Since the reformation, the band has continued to tour but has not released any new studio albums.
Dead Kennedys are known for politically charged lyrics that satirize political figures, authority, popular culture, and the punk movement itself.
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