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The Jello Biafra FAQ

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First Release   10/15/94  v1.00.00

"After nearly a year of operation, it has become apparent that the newsgroup
alt.fan.jello-biafra is in need of a FAQ - so here it is!"

Additions and Modifications
by Consumercide 10 October 2002

Also see the "jello rockumentary"

1. Who is Jello Biafra?
Jello Biafra was the lead singer of the San Francisco based punk rock band Dead Kennedys, from 1979 until the band broke up in 1986.

2. What is Jello's real name?
        Eric Boucher.

3. What happend to Jello?
        He was standing at the side of the pit at a club when someone came flying out and landed on his leg.  He tried to get some identification off the guy, "to keep the cops out of it," when a ruckus broke out.

        The guy who landed on his leg started calling him "rich rock star", and "sell out", and was then joined by some of his houligan friends, who then started beating Jello.

Jello is still recovering, and has cancelled all his spoken word shows.

4. Is it true? Did Jello really go country?
        Yep - for his collaboration with Mojo Nixon on "Praire Home Invasion." In the Lumpem Times, Jello said the reason was because of the report that was published that country music causes suicides, and that it should get Tipper Gore's attention.  If you don't like country, and I sure don't, don't worry - it is a very well thought out album and has not only Jello's wit and humor, but Mojo "Bo-dacious" Nixon's as well.

6. Is there a gopher site for Alternative Tentacles?
Yes there is.  Frequent contributor to alt.fan.jello-biafra 
        cq080@cleveland.freenet.edu, 
Randy Mills, told us all about wps.com
Just gopher there and you can get pictures, order forms, etc.

7. What is the snail mail address for Alternative Tentacles?
(From the album "Prairie Home Invasion":)
Alternative Tentacles
P.O. BOX 419092
San Francisco, CA  94141-9092
USA

8. So what Jello songs were in the Oliver Stone movie "Natural Born Killers"?
        According to most on the newsgroup, only "Forkboy" was featured, however "Mate, Spawn, & Die" was played during the filming when Rodney Dangerfield's character was killed. 

9. The DK breakup.
When DK released Frankenchrist, they included a copy of H.R. Giger's Landscape No. XX "Where are we coming from?" poster, aka "Penis Landscape."  On April 15, 1986, the LA and SF police departments
raided the AT headquarters, AT distributor Mordam Records, and Jello's apartment.  Why?  They said the poster was obscene.

On June 2, 1986, Jello and four other were charged with "Distribution of harmful matter to Minors." 

The jury reached a deadlock of 7-5 in favor of acquittal and the judge dismissed the remaining charges.

Sometime during or shortly after this episode, the band decided to call it quits.  Jello has said that they were tired of playing 'Greatest Hits' type shows.

As a sidenote to this, in late 1987 or early 1988, one of the shriners on the Frankenchrist album attempted to sue DK for using his picture.  DK received permission to use the picture from Newsweek,
        who owns the photo.  [I never heard the outcome of this - randyr]

10. Is Jello on the net?
        Nope.  He has said that he does not know anything about these wonderful machines, but people do send him copies of stuff pulled from the newsgroups.  Whether he gets to read any of the stuff on alt.fan.jello-biafra is another matter...

Dead Kennedys

Jello Biafra - Vocals
East Bay Ray - Guitars
Klaus Flouride - Bass
Ted - Drums

Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables released 1980 - Alternative Tentacles Records (VIRUS 1) released 1980 - Cherry Red (in U.K.)

Plastic Surgery Disasters released 1981 - Alternative Tentacles Records (VIRUS 5)
NOTE: Released on CD with In God We Trust, INC.
 

Jello Biafra - Vocals
East Bay Ray - Guitars
Klaus Flouride - Bass
D.H. Peligro - Drums

 In God We Trust, INC. released 1983 - 
Alternative Tentacles Records (VIRUS 27)
NOTE: Released on CD with 
Plastic Surgery Disasters
 

Frankenchrist released 1985 - 
Alternative Tentacles Records (VIRUS 45)
 

Bedtime for Democracy released 1986 - 
Alternative Tentacles Records (VIRUS 50)
 

COMPILATION 
Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
released 1987 - 
Alternative Tentacles Records (VIRUS 57)

Mutiny on the bay
February 2001
Recorded by John Cuniberti
Mixed by East Bay Ray
Mastered by John Cuniberti at The Plant Mastering, Sausalito, CA with East Bay Ray

(not endorsed by Jello)

Singles 

1979    California Über Alles / Man with the Dogs Alternative Tentacles / DKS 1 
1980   California Über Alles / Man with the Dogs Optional 
1980   Holiday in Cambodia / Police Truck Optional (ltd. pressing) / DKS 2 
1980   Holiday in Cambodia / Police Truck  IRS 
1980 * Kill the Poor / In-Sight Cherry Red (UK) / DKS 4 
1981 * Too Drunk to Fuck / The Prey Cherry Red / DKS 5 
1982 * Nazi Punks Fuck Off! / Moral Majority Subterranean / DKS 7 
1982   Nazi Punks Fuck Off! Take It! ( flexi w/magazine) 
1982   Bleed for Me / Life Sentence Statik (UK) / DKS 8 
1982   Halloween / Saturday Night Holocaust Statik / DKS 10 

Jello Biafra - Vocals
Al Jourgenson - Guitars, Keyboards
Paul Barker - Keyboards
Jeff Ward - Drums

The Power of Lard (EP)

"The Power of Lard" is an incredibly powerful track that fuses the angst of Ministry's Jourgensen & Biafra seamlessly.

"Hellfudge" is a hilarious parody of a bible-bashing hypocrite's journey to a prostitute...
 

The Last Temptation of Reid
1990, Virus 84

Includes "forkboy" which, as mentioned in the FAQ, was featured in "Natural Born Killers"...

The recordings on this album were
finished before the death of Jeff Ward.

Pure Chewing Satisfaction.
Virus 199 
Released 1997
 

Last Scream of the Missing Neighbours
Released 1989 - virus 78
Have a listen to "Full Metal Jackoff", an epic work of almost 14 minutes duration, with one of the most thumping bassline riffs you have ever heard...

The album-length result of Biafra's collaboration with long-time associates D.O.A.. Both DKs and D.O.A. began playing music in the same week of 1978, so perhaps this project was bound to happen. It sure seems like it...

 When rats get to being a problem...

The second recording to emerge from the "Terminal City Ricochet" sessions. Includes an alternate version of "Falling Space Junk."

Take Me Back or I'll Drown Your Dog 
Virus 87 - Released 1991

Prairie Home Invasion
Virus 137 Alternative Tentacles 
Released 1994

Jello Biafra w/Mojo Nixon
"Will the Fetus be Aborted" 
Virus 136 Alternative Tentacles 
Released 1993

Jello Biafra Spoken Word albums

No More Cocoons
Spoken Word Album #1
A collection of humorous stories, chilling words, and pointed observations. Sets the tone and style with readings and the first of his improvised talks on censorship. No one who hears these albums will ever vote for Al Gore. CD version features a "new improved version" of "Names For Bands."

High Priest of Harmful Matter
(tales from the trial) 
Spoken Word Album #2
1989-1992 alternative tentacles Virus 66
A blow-by-blow account of the Frankenchrist trial and the ugly roots of anti-music censorship. As close to Lenny Bruce as Biafra would ever want to get.
 

I Blow Minds For A Living
released 1991 - 
Spoken Word Album #3
Alternative Tentacles Records (VIRUS 94)
Biafra's third spoken word album. Features an updated version of "Die For Oil, Sucker."
 
 

Beyond the Valley of the Gift Police
Virus 150 (1994)
The nightmare and swindle continues in the Clinton era. Solutions are detailed here too, in what may be Biafra's most personal spoken word album.

If Evolution Is Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Evolve
Virus 201 (1998)
Spoken Word Album #5. 
A stiff shot of reality... shaken, not stirred. 
Second most recent one from the man.
 

Become The Media
Virus 260 (2001)
Jello reflects on the WTO convention in Seattle; democracy; e-issues; the Green Party & post Columbine High School backlash on kids who think.
 

Die For Oil Sucker
A discourse against the US war on Iraq.

The Big Ka-Boom, Part One
Virus 276 (2002) 
Jello Biafra's follow-up to Become The Media . It is only 1 CD this time and focuses entirely on the September 11 terrorist attacks and the even-uglier aftermath. Jello digs up the dirt on George W. Bush's staff and details some historical events that may have contributed to the attacks.
 

There are a few other 'various artist' type albums that carry the odd track or spoken word contribution from Jello. They won't be detailed here any further than the list below. If you want more info of a consumercidal nature, head to http://alternativetentacles.com/ or
http://www.deadkennedys.com/ . 

(There is a bit of a war going on here that consumercide.com wants no part of. This site is not-for-profit and the DKs section is based solely in praise of the ideas and the music.)

1980   Can You Hear Me? Music from the Deaf Club PVC Gammon 
1982   Let Them Eat Jellybeans Alternative Tentacles 
1982 * Burning Ambitions: A History of Punk Cherry Red (UK) 
1982   Wargasm Pax (UK) 
1982 * Punk and Disorderly Posh Boy 
1982 * Not So Quiet on the Western Front Sonic Reducer 
1982   Rat Music for Rat People Go!/CD 
1984   P.E.A.C.E. R Radical 
1985   Viva La Revolution! Cambra Sound (UK) 
1986   Play New Rose For Me New Rose (France) 
1986   Lovedolls Superstar Soundtrack SST 
1993 * Faster & Louder Rhino Records 
1996 * Real Punk! Cleopatra Records 
1997 * Official Skateboard World Championship Plattenmeister 
1998 * Snowboard Tribute Tribe Records 
1998 * United States of Punk
 Music Club 
 

1991 DIRK DIRKSEN PRESENTS: DEAD KENNEDYS LIVE AT THE ON BROADWAY
Recorded June 16, 1984, at San Francisco's legendary On Broadway, this exciting performance demonstrates why Dead Kennedys were America's premiere punk band! 63min, stereo, color. 
Rhino Home Video RNVD 2001 / Cherry Red Films CRDVD 001N 

2001 DEAD KENNEDYS - THE EARLY YEARS LIVE - TARGET VIDEO
Some of the earliest performances of the Dead Kennedys video taped and compiled by Target Video. Originally released by Target in 1987. 30min, stereo, color.
Music Video Distributors DR-1097