Dead Kennedys - Live At The Deaf Club (1979/2004) RESTORED

Live at the Deaf Club is a live album released by the Dead Kennedys in 2004. The actual performance took place at the San Francisco Deaf Club on March 3, 1979. The performance was unique in that this was the last time their rhythm guitarist 6025 performed with them. It also includes original drummer Ted, later replaced in February 1981 by D.H. Peligro. Also, songs such as "Straight A's", "Short Songs", "Gaslight" and their covers of "Back in the U.S.S.R." and "Have I the Right" are not found on any other DK album…

The Deaf Club recordings of "Shorts Songs" and "Straight A's" are featured on the compilation album Give Me Convenience OR Give Me Death and the hard-to-find Can You Hear Me? Live at the Deaf Club along with "Police Truck". "Back in Rhodesia" is an early version of "When Ya Get Drafted" with a different chorus than the final version. "Kill the Poor" is also a "disco" version minus the introduction. The album has drawn criticism from former lead singer Jello Biafra, though several reviewers have given it good reviews, for example PopMatters and Punknews.org .

Maybe the greatest tribute you can pay a live album is to think to yourself, "I wish I'd been there". Live at the Deaf Club is precisely that kind of live album. Recorded in San Francisco in March 1979, this is the DKs at their peak as the short sharp-shock punksters with brains as well as attitude – not to mention a sharp collective sense of humor. Fronted by legendary smart-ass agitator Jello Biafra, this five-piece Dead Kennedys lineup (Jello, East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, and Ted, with guitarist 6025 playing his last gig with the band) blazes through a mighty set that includes such killer material as "California Über Alles". "Kill the Poor," "Holiday in Cambodia," and the surreal encore numbers "Back in the U.S.S.R." and "Viva Las Vegas". There's also a previously unreleased track, "Gaslight". Plenty of atmosphere and sizzling repartee, this is entertainment and punk history in one neat, sweetly subversive package. You'll wish you'd been there.

~ Adrian Zupp, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Introduction by DJ Johnny Walker
02. Kill The Poor
03. Back In Rhodesia
04. Man With The Dogs
05. Gaslight
06. California Über Alles
07. Ill In The Head
08. Straight A's
09. Short Songs
10. Holiday In Cambodia
11. Police Truck
12. Forward To Death
13. Have I The Right
14. Back In The USSR
15. Viva Las Vegas


Produced by East Bay Ray
Engineered by Jim Alcivar. Mixed by John Cuniberti
Recorded live at the San Francisco's Deaf Club on March 3, 1979.

• Jello Biafra - lead vocals
• East Bay Ray - lead guitar
• 6025 - rhythm guitar
• Klaus Flouride - bass, backing vocals
• Bruce Slesinger (a.k.a. Ted) - drums

Release Date: January 27, 2004
Format: Original Recording Remastered
Label: Manifesto Records
Catalog No.: MFO-42908