Dead Kennedys Reveal Factors Holding Back Their Reunion

The Reunion Dilemma

The dead guitarist Kennedys Ist -Bay Ray discussed the factors that hinder the group from reuniting with former frontman Jello Biafra.

The musician (real name Raymond Pepperll) co-founded the band in 1978 in San Francisco, marking a significant moment in punk history.

In 2001, Dead Kennedys reformed with Ray, bassist Claus Flouride, and drummer DH Peligro, who replaced original drummer Ted (real name Bruce Slusinger) in 1981.

Brandon Cruz from Dr. Noun initially sang before Biafra joined, but was replaced by Jeff in 2003. Jeff departed Dead Kennedys five years later, making way for the current frontman Ronald “Skip” Greer.

Following the death of Peligro in 2022, the group has performed with Santi Guardiola and Steve Wilson on drums.

Controversial Relationships

In a recent conversation with The Guitar World, East-Bay Ray revealed a potential reunion of the original Dead Kennedys lineup. The interviewer hinted at the strained relationship with Biafra, questioning whether their past issues would inhibit any possibility of coming together again.

“This is not a problem for me or Klaus. It’s Biafra who refuses any proposals for us to collaborate; we have no issues,” the guitarist clarified. “He got caught with his hands in the cookie jar and wants to blame us, but he should never have put his hands there.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0UC6ZWDF3C

It is noted that Dead Kennedys accused Biafra of misappropriating fees during a legal battle in 1998. Biafra lost the case two years later and was required to pay his former bandmates.

Additionally, he was forced to relinquish the rights to most of the Dead Kennedys catalog, which allowed the remaining members to reissue earlier albums, including the debut “Fresh Fruits for Rotting Vegetables” in 2022. Biafra claimed this was done “intentionally” behind his back.

The Creative Legacy

In another part of the recent The Guitar World interview, Pepperll reflected on the “chemistry” and creative process of Dead Kennedys, asserting that they “wrote as a group.”

“None of us had a solo career that surpassed Dead Kennedys, illustrating how talented individuals can come together and create something far greater than the sum of its parts,” he remarked. “Jello didn’t create all the songs. He’s crafted a myth about writing them all, but if he truly did, why hasn’t he produced anything significant since leaving the band?”

He continued, “IGGI left The Stooges and launched a successful career; Lou Reed with The Velvet Underground and Morrissey with The Smiths did the same. What happened to Biafra’s solo career filled with great songs?” The guitarist emphasized that “very few songs were solely written by one person” within the group.

Dead Kennedys recently performed energetically across the USA. However, according to Pepperll, he and Klaus “decided to scale back a bit.”

He added, “We are reducing the number of shows and will not engage in long tours. We’re no longer young and don’t play music that requires sitting still (laughs).”

In 2017, the band declined an invitation from Chicago’s Riot Fest to reunite with the original lineup. “Dead Kennedys received a sincere invitation to perform a reunion at Riot Fest in Chicago this fall,” they stated on Facebook. “Jello Biafra turned it down. Klaus Flouride, DH Peligro, and I were looking forward to it.”