Reviews
"This book encapsulates perfectly the time when punk was a movement and not an scholastic subject." --Mark Diston, the Register, "The Dead Kennedys couldn't get arrested (creatively speaking) in America and turned toward British indie label Cherry Red to release Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables , which, in the author's words, 'outclasses London Calling , or the Sex Pistols' and the Ramones' debut albums.'" --Matthew Duersten, lamag.com, "A must have item for anyone interested in this original and distinctive band and their sneering yet creative take on the Punk Rock form." --Roger Batty, Musique Machine, "The Dead Kennedys tale is as complex and contradictory brilliant as any journey through punk rock can be with their tight knit musical brilliance and their acidic commentary on the bedenimmed neoliberal consensus of late seventies America." --John Robb, louderthanwar.com, "This story, told efficiently by a veteran chronicler of punk, reveals that the American underground in the late '70s could match the best of the British punks when it came to political commentary paired with feisty music." --John L. Murphy, popmatters.com, "This story, told efficiently by a veteran chronicler of punk, reveals that the American underground in the late '70s could match the best of the British punks when it came to political commentary paired with feisty music." --John L. Murphy, popmatters.com "This is an extremely interesting, well balanced and long overdue account of the story of one of punk's most important bands." --Andy Higgins, massmovement.co.uk, "We have a sense of humor and we're not afraid to use it in a vicious way if we have to. In some ways, we're cultural terrorists, using music instead of guns." --Jello Biafra, Dead Kennedys "It was obvious that DKs weren't just another band that was gonna come and go. They were something special. Biafra was an absolute talent. And he had a band behind him that were tight and good." --Howie Klein, concert promoter, disc jockey, and record label executive "One day, this kid from my social studies class brought in a cassette tape of Dead Kennedys' Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables and I listened to it and my life was changed completely." --Adam Gierasch, film director "One of my favorite rock 'n' roll memories is of an after-party during DKs' first visit to Seattle. Recognize that bands like this for me--these actual guys being at a party in the same house that I was in--was like being in the presence of Led Zeppelin or Kiss." --Duff McKagan of Guns 'n' Roses "My education was punk rock--what Dead Kennedys said... It was attacking America, but it was American at the same time." --Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, "It's a well-balanced and informative account . . . the pages just seem to turn themselves." --Andy Higgins, Razorcake, "The Dead Kennedys couldn't get arrested (creatively speaking) in America and turned toward British indie label Cherry Red to release Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables , which, in the author's words, 'outclasses London Calling , or the Sex Pistols' and the Ramones' debut albums.'" --Matthew Duersten, lamag.com, "This first major work on America's massively influential punk band will be pounced on and devoured by the huge Dead Kennedys global fan-base." --Kris Needs, Classic Rock, "Ogg's directness and his attention to detail make this among the best biographies you will ever read. The book recounts a vital chapter in US Punk history and delivers its narrative with style, focus and sincerity." --Steve Scanner, scannerzine.com, "A must have item for anyone interested in this original and distinctive band and their sneering yet creative take on the Punk Rock form." --Roger Batty, Musique Machine, "This first major work on America's massively influential punk band will be pounced on and devoured by the huge Dead Kennedys global fan-base." --Kris Needs, Classic Rock, "This book is an essential pick-up for anyone with an iota of interest in the DKs and Punk in general. Highly recommended." --Pete Craven, caughtinthecrossfire.com, "Alex Ogg has accomplished a rare task with his new book. . . . Ogg manages to present all sides of the band's history, speaking with all sides of the now-warring members. More surprisingly, it's actually entertaining." --nuthousepunks.com, "It's a well-balanced and informative account . . . the pages just seem to turn themselves." --Andy Higgins, Razorcake
