Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is the debut album by Dead Kennedys, released in 1980 through Jello Biafra's own Alternative Tentacles record label in the US, and Cherry Red Records in the UK. The best selling, probably the best known, and certainly the most critically aclaimed album by the Dead Kennedys, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables has become a major staple of the L.A. punk community and the starting point for Los Angeles political punk. Although musical categories are difficult to define, many music historians also believe this to be the first hardcore punk album.
Although now it is somewhat dated, Jello Biafra's strong leftist statements on songs such as "Kill the Poor" and "California Über Alles", launched the Dead Kennedys into the political arena. It has been widely reported that this caused right-wing Christians and politicians to consider the Dead Kennedys "the most dangerous band in the world", although whether that is a direct quote is debatable.
| Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables | ||
|---|---|---|
| Album cover | ||
| Album by Dead Kennedys | ||
| Released | 1980 | |
| Recorded | ??? | |
| Genre | Punk | |
| Length | 33 min 0 sec | |
| Record label | Alternative Tentacles | |
| Producer | Norm | |
| Professional reviews | ||
| Allmusic.com | 5 stars out of 5 | link |
| Dead Kennedys Chronology | ||
| Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980) |
In God We Trust, Inc. (1981) |
Plastic Surgery Disasters (1982) |
Track listing
- "Kill the Poor" (Biafra, Ray) - 3:07
- "Forward to Death" (6025) - 1:23
- "When Ya Get Drafted" (Biafra) - 1:23
- "Let's Lynch the Landlord" (Biafra) - 2:13
- "Drug Me" (Biafra) - 1:56
- "Your Emotions" (Ray) - 1:20
- "Chemical Warfare" (Biafra) - 2:58
- "California Über Alles" (Biafra, Greenway) - 3:03
- "I Kill Children" (Biafra) - 2:04
- "Stealing People's Mail" (Biafra) - 1:34
- "Funland at the Beach" (Biafra) - 1:49
- "Ill in the Head" (6025, Biafra) - 2:46
- "Holiday in Cambodia" (Dead Kennedys) - 4:37
- "Viva Las Vegas" (Pomus and Schuman) - 2:42
Personnel
- 6025 - Guitar on "Ill in the Head"
- Oliver Dicicco - Engineer
- East Bay Ray - Guitar, Production Assistance
- Jello Biafra - Vocals
- Klaüs Fluoride - Bass, Vocals
- Ninotchka - Keyboard on Drug Me
- Norm - Producer
- Porky - Mastering
- Paul Roessler - Keyboards on "Drug Me" and "Stealing Peoples' Mail"
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal Choir - Clubhouse Scene on "Chemical Warfare"
- Ted - Drums