Dead Kennedys’ guitarist East Bay Ray’s electronic/ambient music release Labyrinth will be available Sept. 15 on iTunes, eMusic, Napster, Rhapsody and other music download sites. Four of the tracks can be heard on East Bay Ray’s MySpace page. The CD version will be in stores Nov 17.

Lux Interior, lead singer of the Cramps, passed away February 4, 2009 at age 60 from heart failure. (He did not go from what some of you might be thinking.)  Even at 60, the Cramps were still out there rockin’ it up.  They just finished doing shows last November -  good for them and good for the audience. I had no idea that he and Ivy met and were originally from Sacramento, CA, which explains a bit of their unique  character. I’ve seen them and hung out with the Cramps at different times in  my life. In the early days at punk shows, and later I played a truly great show in San Francisco on Halloween with them when I was with Pearl Harbor. 

Despite the sometimes cartoon-like horror imagery, they were one of the rockinest bands around, and they truly captured the sprit of rockabilly and made it fresh and new. They were definitely not the museum piece like some  other bands who just captured the form but not the spirit, they were the real  thing.  May Lux keep on rockin’, wherever he is.

11.19.08 – Dead Kennedys Tracks Hit Rock Band

The Dead Kennedys are the latest popular beat combo to get their sparkling pop songs in the 360 version of Rock Band.
Link - http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=307043

11.19.08 – Street to Recognize "Pope of Punk"

The godfather of San Francisco punk rock, known for insulting crowds and performers alike, is likely to soon get his own tribute from city leaders.
Link - http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?&entry_id=32724

11.19.08 – Soldier Finds His Voice Blogging from Iraq

Then, after he posted an anti-Iraq war rant by Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra, they ordered him to stop blogging. Buzzell's Iraq blog lasted just 10 ...
Link - http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/11/13/soldier.blogger/?iref=mpstoryview

9.20.08 – Amanda Palmer Recording

Recently DK guitarist East Bay Ray was in the studio recording two tracks with singer, pianist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione, members of the experimental art/punk band the Dresden Dolls. Tentatively, one of the tracks, ironically called "Guitar Hero," will be on Amanda Palmer's solo album "Who Killed Amanda Palmer." www.myspace.com/whokilledamandapalmer

After the recording, the Dresden Dolls played to a sold out crowd at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco and Ray sat in with them and played the two songs, the first time they were performed publicly. The show was
fantastic, the Dolls had other local musician's sit in with them besides himself. They did one song with the fabulous cello player Zoe Keating, who will also be a featured guest on the release. Very cool!
www.myspace.com/dresdendolls

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Dead Kennedys Announce Indefinite Touring Hiatus
 
August 21, 2008 - Dead Kennedys sadly announce that the band will no longer
be touring in the foreseeable future due to health related issues of bassist
Klaus Flouride and drummer D.H. Peligro.
 
Klaus comments, "Over the years, I have had the great fortune to have been a
founding member of Dead Kennedys.  It's been tough at times but it's also
been particularly rewarding working and collaborating with men like Biafra,
D.H., 6025, Brandon, Jeff, Ted, Dave, Steve, Skip and especially Ray.  And
to all those who I have met over the years - thank you."
 
Though unable to do major tours, Klaus will continue to perform and
collaborate in local projects.  Guitarist East Bay Ray, and vocalist Skip -
from the Wynona Riders, who sang on Dead Kennedys' last two tours, will
continue working together writing songs and performing under a new band
name.
 
Earlier this year, in May 2008, Dead Kennedys were awarded a Gold Record in
both the United States and the United Kingdom for "Give Me Convenience or
Give Me Death."  "In God We Trust, Inc" was also certified Gold in the
United Kingdom.  This is significant achievement because the recordings were
all released on independent labels.
 
On Dead Kennedys' recent UK and Californian tours, the audience reception
was enthusiastic and genuine (including two new songs performed by the
band). Thanks to those that came to those shows and for their encouragement.