Dead Kennedys

:This page is about the band; see Kennedy family for the political dynasty, or The Kennedy Curse, which inspired the name "Dead" Kennedys

Internal conflicts

It was discovered in the late 1990s that there were issues with the payments each band member had received from their record label Alternative Tentacles. Former band members claimed that Biafra had conspired to pay less than appropriate royalty rates to the band members. Although both sides agreed that the failure to pay these royalties was an accounting mistake, the Dead Kennedys took issue with the fact that Biafra failed to inform the band of the mistake. Biafra claims that the Dead Kennedys lawyers had told him only to correspond through lawyers and not directly with the band (which he did). Both sides claim they attempted to resolve the matter without legal action, but the dispute led to the courts, where Biafra was found guilty. He had to pay the outstanding fees, and was forced to hand over the rights to the majority of Dead Kennedys' back catalogue to the three, who found new distribution through another label, Manifesto Records.

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This dispute was hotly contested by all concerned who felt passionately for their cause, and the case caused minor waves within punk circles. Many fans felt that Dead Kennedys lawsuit against Jello was motivated by greed, as the other three band members had numerous unsuccessful solo records after the band's break-up. In addition, Biafra claims that guitarist East Bay Ray has long expressed displeasure with Alternative Tentacles and with the amount of money he received from them. Some observers felt that although Biafra did not try to cheat his band in any way (as he does not take a salary from Alternative Tentacles), that his sneering, irreverant attitude did not endear him to jurors during the trial. Ultimately, these issues have led to a souring of relationships with the erstwhile band-mates, who still have not resolved their personal differences, as of 2005.

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Matters were stirred up even further when the three bandmates invited Jello Biafra to "bury the hatchet" at a band reunion. Jello Biafra felt it was unprofessional because no one contacted him directly. Biafra has long expressed his disdain for nostalgia, and in this particular case he felt that the reunion was an exercise in greed.

Related Topics:
Jello Biafra

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