I Hate Jello Biafra (hey, it IS a discussion topic)
mindw...@live.com
ointment. As I see it, I am a perverse kind of Biafra fan because
while I detest him, I also can't help being mesmerized--like watching
the aftermath of a car wreck.
The most repulsively self-absorbed individual on the planet turned
fifty on June 17, 2008, and he turned it into some kind of combined
sacred event, circus, and yet a new excuse to wring funds out of
brainwashed fans. When I heard about this not too long ago, and saw
the two posters now available for purchase (what a shock), I thought,
that's it. My gloves are off. I'm going to proclaim my hatred for
Jello Biafra to the entire world (or at least the Internet) and make
certain that at least one opinion from one person who has not been
snookered by this High Beast of Useless Matter is out there in the
cybersphere.
Okay, let me begin with my charge that Biafra is self-absorbed. Here's
an example. I either read about this or heard it on one of his endless
spoken word albums. On September 11, 2001 (and we all know what that
is) Biafra was in Alabama for some reason. Upon hearing the news, this
modern day Nathan Hale on the exhale contacted all kinds of
"officials" to find out what he could do (what would his hourly rate
be, I wonder). He was kindly but firmly rebuffed. Well, no kidding!
Who the hell was he to try and step into matters clearly beyond his
depth? It was a national crisis, not a mosh pit. That was not the time
to show how much more morally evolved he was than his former bandmates
from Dead Kennedys.
What about those guys? I don't want to do a complete review of the
scathing court procedures between Biafra and his bandmates. Basically
it came down to Biafra robbing the guys of royalties (being Emperor of
Alternative Tentacles and all). The judgments came in favor of the
former Dead Kennedys, giving them complete control of the band's
catalog. They seized the opportunity to remaster and release these
albums for a new crop of DK fans. Biafra stood on the sidelines,
bitching and moaning. The remasters were of shitty quality. The band
was just out for money. He would have nothing to do with this new Dead
Kennedys effort. And yet DK still has fans. They've gone through
vocalists, but are still performing.
Strangely enough, I caught a video of a stout Biafra (or was it Archie
Bunker or Rush Limbaugh?) singing California Uber Alles with, I
believe, the Melvins. What--he can't write his own songs? But
according to Biafra, he was the despotic creative muse behind
everything DK ever did. This amuses me, since Biafra has admitted over
and over again to not having any real musical skill. "Jezebel" and
the Merry Evildoers haven't changed my opinion there.
Biafra has never bothered to learn to use the Internet (no musical
talent and no cyber savvy). In 2008, this is pretty sad for someone
who claims such an interest in freedom of the media. More to the
point, Biafra is an ecological hypocrite as well. For all of the save
the planet/care for humanity/be sure and buy your reusable shopping
bag from Alternative Tentacles crap Biafra might actually believes he
stands for, he's still using paper. I mean snail mailings. I have also
read that Biafra does not use and will not deign to acknowledge that
little thing called e-mail. Er, excuse me, but the use of e-mail
decreases the amount of wood pulp needed to write the old fashioned
way. How aware can somebody actually be if they've missed this simple
equation?
Then again, Biafra can afford to be wasteful--or so it would seem.
I've read in several places that he lives in a 1.1 million dollar home
in San Francisco. If this is true, then one might assume that Biafra
is doing very well for himself. Yet he solicits donations from the
poor people who come to see his spoken word performances--and that's
on top of the ticket price. That he got attacked and beaten (for being
a poseur) in 1992 is a terrible thing--but he's still claiming not to
have gotten necessary dental repair because of finances. Seems simple
to me. Sell your damn house and fix yourself, you moron.
Is there more? Oh, most certainly. Biafra's "biography" (testament to
delusions of grandeur) at the AT website mentions how he performed
nude when opening for the Clash. What a rebel, right? In a live
interview on "After Dark" in the UK (look it up on YouTube) Biafra
twists the story, saying that he dove into the audience and had his
clothes mostly torn off by the crowd. You may have seen the picture of
Biafra in his tighty-whities. In any case, Biafra didn't plan this
stunt, but rather was the victim of his own lack of judgment.
All right, I'm done. Maybe you've read this, and maybe I'm making some
kind of sense to you. What can you do?
Hit where it hurts. Buy nothing--NOTHING--from Alternative Tentacles.
Do not attend shows by AT artists (you won't really be missing
anything anyway). And if you really want to flip Biafra the bird, be
sure and buy the entire Dead Kennedys catalog in the re-releases from
Manifesto Records. If you get a chance to catch the band on tour (yes,
they are touring, and yes, they're still great--I always thought it
was the musicians that made it anyway) do yourself a favor and go see
them.
I'm afraid I just wasn't able to attend Biafra's two-day tribute to
himself June 17. But there will be plenty of suckers who did, I'm
sure. I don't get why anyone would go to pay tribute to a man who so
readily will never respect them back. I also don't imagine Klaus or
Ray will be permitted anywhere near the venue--even if they came
bearing gifts and good intentions.
Happy birthday, double crosser. I don't want you dead, of course. But
I would really like you GONE.
And if you ever feel like going to the mat in an intellectual fight to
the death, Mr. Biafra, by all means let me know. I would love to back
up my cries of disgust.
Tian
> Ranting and nasty and finally off my chest, here's my fly in the
> ointment. As I see it, I am a perverse kind of Biafra fan because
> while I detest him, I also can't help being mesmerized--like watching
> the aftermath of a car wreck.
I gotta admit this is an on topic post. I like free speech in my in box.
>
> The most repulsively self-absorbed individual on the planet turned
> fifty on June 17, 2008, and he turned it into some kind of combined
> sacred event, circus, and yet a new excuse to wring funds out of
> brainwashed fans. When I heard about this not too long ago, and saw
> the two posters now available for purchase (what a shock), I thought,
> that's it. My gloves are off. I'm going to proclaim my hatred for
> Jello Biafra to the entire world (or at least the Internet) and make
> certain that at least one opinion from one person who has not been
> snookered by this High Beast of Useless Matter is out there in the
> cybersphere.
I turned fifty a couple of months later.
>
> Okay, let me begin with my charge that Biafra is self-absorbed. Here's
> an example. I either read about this or heard it on one of his endless
> spoken word albums. On September 11, 2001 (and we all know what that
> is) Biafra was in Alabama for some reason. Upon hearing the news, this
> modern day Nathan Hale on the exhale contacted all kinds of
> "officials" to find out what he could do (what would his hourly rate
> be, I wonder). He was kindly but firmly rebuffed. Well, no kidding!
> Who the hell was he to try and step into matters clearly beyond his
> depth? It was a national crisis, not a mosh pit. That was not the time
> to show how much more morally evolved he was than his former bandmates
> from Dead Kennedys.
Ummmm.... I betcha it was a mosh pit somewhere in the pentagon. Maybe he
could have helped with something. I think he did help when he came out
with that piece I downloaded about then. His research was those calls.
>
> What about those guys? I don't want to do a complete review of the
> scathing court procedures between Biafra and his bandmates. Basically
> it came down to Biafra robbing the guys of royalties (being Emperor of
> Alternative Tentacles and all). The judgments came in favor of the
> former Dead Kennedys, giving them complete control of the band's
> catalog. They seized the opportunity to remaster and release these
> albums for a new crop of DK fans. Biafra stood on the sidelines,
> bitching and moaning. The remasters were of shitty quality. The band
> was just out for money. He would have nothing to do with this new Dead
> Kennedys effort. And yet DK still has fans. They've gone through
> vocalists, but are still performing.
I saw them in Palo Alto when Eddie (I forgot his name even though I met
and like him) ^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Brandon was doing it. Great show!
I'm still a fan.
>
> Strangely enough, I caught a video of a stout Biafra (or was it Archie
> Bunker or Rush Limbaugh?) singing California Uber Alles with, I
> believe, the Melvins. What--he can't write his own songs? But
> according to Biafra, he was the despotic creative muse behind
> everything DK ever did. This amuses me, since Biafra has admitted over
> and over again to not having any real musical skill. "Jezebel" and
> the Merry Evildoers haven't changed my opinion there.
Ideas on spoken word musically delivered. That's where Jello shines!
I saw him live for the first time at the 2000 Green Party Convention
in Colorado.
>
> Biafra has never bothered to learn to use the Internet (no musical
> talent and no cyber savvy). In 2008, this is pretty sad for someone
> who claims such an interest in freedom of the media. More to the
> point, Biafra is an ecological hypocrite as well. For all of the save
> the planet/care for humanity/be sure and buy your reusable shopping
> bag from Alternative Tentacles crap Biafra might actually believes he
> stands for, he's still using paper. I mean snail mailings. I have also
> read that Biafra does not use and will not deign to acknowledge that
> little thing called e-mail. Er, excuse me, but the use of e-mail
> decreases the amount of wood pulp needed to write the old fashioned
> way. How aware can somebody actually be if they've missed this simple
> equation?
This newsgroup would be so much better if he participated a little more.
>
> Then again, Biafra can afford to be wasteful--or so it would seem.
> I've read in several places that he lives in a 1.1 million dollar home
> in San Francisco. If this is true, then one might assume that Biafra
> is doing very well for himself. Yet he solicits donations from the
> poor people who come to see his spoken word performances--and that's
> on top of the ticket price. That he got attacked and beaten (for being
> a poseur) in 1992 is a terrible thing--but he's still claiming not to
> have gotten necessary dental repair because of finances. Seems simple
> to me. Sell your damn house and fix yourself, you moron.
>
> Is there more? Oh, most certainly. Biafra's "biography" (testament to
> delusions of grandeur) at the AT website mentions how he performed
> nude when opening for the Clash. What a rebel, right? In a live
> interview on "After Dark" in the UK (look it up on YouTube) Biafra
> twists the story, saying that he dove into the audience and had his
> clothes mostly torn off by the crowd. You may have seen the picture of
> Biafra in his tighty-whities. In any case, Biafra didn't plan this
> stunt, but rather was the victim of his own lack of judgment.
I think he was more a victim of the crowd's judgement.
>
> All right, I'm done. Maybe you've read this, and maybe I'm making some
> kind of sense to you. What can you do?
>
> Hit where it hurts. Buy nothing--NOTHING--from Alternative Tentacles.
> Do not attend shows by AT artists (you won't really be missing
> anything anyway). And if you really want to flip Biafra the bird, be
> sure and buy the entire Dead Kennedys catalog in the re-releases from
> Manifesto Records. If you get a chance to catch the band on tour (yes,
> they are touring, and yes, they're still great--I always thought it
> was the musicians that made it anyway) do yourself a favor and go see
> them.
I got Be The Media from them. I still like that title as a saying...
>
> I'm afraid I just wasn't able to attend Biafra's two-day tribute to
> himself June 17. But there will be plenty of suckers who did, I'm
> sure. I don't get why anyone would go to pay tribute to a man who so
> readily will never respect them back. I also don't imagine Klaus or
> Ray will be permitted anywhere near the venue--even if they came
> bearing gifts and good intentions.
>
To think I've met all 3 of them. DH to, I think. Courtesy of Brandon.
--
Tian
http://tian.greens.org
Latest: Added free POWER TO THE PEOPLE - McKinney 2008 sticker offer.
Rev. Jones Says "Drink More Koolaid"
commercials. What a rat-bastard douchenozzle.
Jones
grundoon
On Wed, 10 Sep 2008 0:21:02 -0400, mindw...@live.com wrote
(in message
<8c6e03e2-31d4-4b3d...@e39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>):
> Strangely enough, I caught a video of a stout Biafra (or was it Archie
> Bunker or Rush Limbaugh?) singing California Uber Alles with, I believe, the
> Melvins. What--he can't write his own songs? But according to Biafra, he was
> the despotic creative muse behind everything DK ever did. This amuses me,
> since Biafra has admitted over and over again to not having any real musical
> skill. "Jezebel" and the Merry Evildoers haven't changed my opinion there.
Last I knew of, there were eleven albums worth of songs he wrote since DK.