OFF: Dead Kennedys (was: A fan + some other things too)

[Doug Pearson]

On Mon, 25 Jun 2001 09:16:40 EDT, DASLUD at AOL.COM wrote:
>In a message dated 6/25/01 8:54:49 AM, moonglum at DREAMWORKER.CO.UK writes:
>
><< However, he DID get his
>>band's name from one in Cleveland ...
>
>---- >>
>
>say what?

Yes, the FIRST band to be called the "Dead Kennedys" were NOT the one from
the Bay Area with Jello Biafra, Klaus Fluoride and East Bay Ray.

They were (along with the Pagans) one of the first punk rock bands in
Cleveland, including mr. Chris Yarmuch (later of the Easter Monkeys, along
with Jim Jones of Pere Ubu, Mirrors [who did the earliest Hawkwind cover
I'm aware of - actually a cover of "Ejection" in 1974 ... Cleveland was a
hotbed of Hawkwind fandom in those days, as also mentioned wrt Devo] and,
more recently, Speaker\Cranker & Translunar Express) on vocals and Gary
Lupico (later of country-rockers California Speedbag) on guitar.  They were
written up in Cle magazine, which was distributed nationally, and read by
one Eric B. (no not Bloom!) of Boulder, CO.

The Cleveland DK's soon changed their name to the Kneecappers, after (as
Gary Lupico recounted when I interviewed him several years ago) being told
numerous times, "with all the Irish bartenders in Cleveland, you'll NEVER
get a gig with THAT name!"  He found it amusing and flattering that someone
else used the name after he discarded it.  Unfortunately, the Kneecappers
never released a record during their short career, but a 12"EP
retrospective titled 'Urban Kill' (after one of their best songs) came out
a few years ago.  Essential if you're into 'Killed By Death'-type '77 punk.

Enough history (with obligatory spacerock connections) for ya?

    -Doug
     jasret at mindspring.com