Ex-Kennedy resurfaces in Portland
It’s too rare that intelligent charismatic people speak out against the status quo and bring to light issues that the dominant paradigm keeps buried. Ignorance is not bliss. It’s also rare for an insightful speaker to be entertaining. Granted, the purpose of education isn’t usually entertainment, but life’s certainly sweeter when they become bedfellows. Here to save the day is counterculture icon Jello Biafra to entertain and enlighten tonight at a surprise Portland appearance.
Biafra began his spoken-word career in early ’86, when he found himself assuming the role of spokesperson on censorship and First Amendment rights during the “Frankenchrist” trial of his old band, the Dead Kennedys. The trial was the first case in history to charge musicians with obscenity for a record album.
Numerous albums, tours and political campaigns later, Biafra continues to be a high-profile political speaker. Which makes sense since he speaks with intelligence, wit and charisma rarely found in those types. He was a Green Party candidate for president (old man Nader got the easy nomination) and a San Francisco mayoral candidate. In addition to spoken-word projects, he’s working with former members of Ministry on a project called LARD and put together the No WTO Combo during the November 1999 mass protest, a group that featured old members of Nirvana and Soundgarden.
Speaking of music, although one of the greatest punk bands ever, it’s time to forget about the Dead Kennedys. It would be swell if the original members were on good terms and talks of future collaborations were in order, but as it stands now, many long-term fans even boycott the Kennedys’ existence sans Jello.
Recently, the three remaining members of the Kennedys took Biafra to court over rights to the back catalog of his songs. Jello wanted control, but not so he could get rich. He would probably rather take a “Holiday in Cambodia” than allow them to do what they wished with one of the songs, license it to a Levi’s Dockers ad. It appears that Biafra actually walks the walk and talks the talk. Too bad he lost the case.
On this appearance, Biafra will cover material cataloged on his upcoming spoken-word release, Machine Gun In The Clown’s Hand, (hmm, a homage to the little Bush?) to be released Nov. 19, as well as last April’s release, The Big Ka-Boom, Part One.
Ka-Boom came together following the events of Sept. 11 as Biafra received requests for his take on the political situation. The CD is his response, recorded in November 2001 during the Madison, Wis., leg of the Spitfire spoken-word tour. He gets out his shovel and digs up plenty of dirt on the Bush administration and covers historical events that may have contributed to the attacks. Machine Gun expands on this topic with more details and insight. Historical events and corruption contributing to terrorism, what a concept! I don’t think I’ve heard Dan Rather or any other mainstream talking heads delve into that dirt pile.
So maybe you think Bush is the cleverest thing since sliced bread. Maybe you think he’ll kill us all by starting nuclear war. The hard fact is that no matter who you are, you have very little idea about what is really going on in the world. Jello Biafra may not know all the dirty little secrets being hidden, but he’s done more homework that most of us, and he’ll definitely tell you something new and challenging.
The revolution begins tonight at the Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside, at 8 p.m. for the gauging price of $10. It’s an all-ages show. You can call 503-225-0047 for more info.
