DEAD KENNEDYS
Live At The Deaf Club (Manifesto)
Reviewed by Alan Wright

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Wherever you stand on the whole DKs vs. Biafra court case and subsequent tour by a reformed band with Brandon Cruz (and now some other guy) singing in Biafra's place, you'd still be advised to pick up this CD. Recorded in 1979 by the short-lived twin guitar line-up of the band featuring both 6025 and East Bay Ray, this is an excellent document of the times. The band is slower, and not nearly as Hardcore as they would become, still finding their "sound," but man this really cooks! They kick off with a "disco" version of "Kill The Poor," and do an early version of "When Ya Get Drafted" called "Back In Rhodesia." This version of "Man With The Dogs" features an entire extra verse and different arrangement than the version that would become the B-side of the "California Uber Alles" single. "Gaslight" was never recorded by the band in the studio. "Straight As" and "Short Songs" were featured on the original Can You Hear Me? - Live At The Deaf Club compilation LP and subsequent DKs Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death singles and comp. tracks compilation. Other familiar tunes like "Ill In The Head" and "Holiday In Cambodia" are slower and rougher around the edges. The strangest part has to be when the band returns for a three song encore of the Honeycombs' "Have In The Right" and the Beatles' "Back In The USSR," capped off by a rendition of "Viva Las Vegas" dedicated to bill sharers that night Darby Crash and the Germs "because that's the next place they're going to be playing." Apparently this was actually planned to be a real live release by the band back in 1980 or so, but was curtailed for one reason of another. Regardless, I'm glad they released this as it belongs in any DKs fan's collection. Interesting trivia note: 6025, the other guitarist on this, later became a born again Christian and dedicated a large part of his life to railing against punk music!

© 2004 - Alan Wright