Every once in a while the punk rock geniuses here at Dying Scene like to unleash some punk rock trivia to enlighten and enhance the minds of you, the readers. Today’s “fun factoid” is about Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra and his satirical, but still somewhat serious, political career.
When you have discussions about political punk rock, it’s hard not to at least mention the Dead Kennedys. Early in the band’s career, singer Jello Biafra decided that satire through music wasn’t enough and that a more, uhhh, serious (for lack of a better word) approach was needed to voice his concerns over the current state of affairs.
In 1979, Biafra ran for Mayor of San Francisco on a platform that included paying the homeless to panhandle on commission and requiring businessmen to wear clown suits between the hours of 9-5. To hear an interesting clip of Biafra speaking on his mayoral campaign, click here.
Biafra finished 3rd in the race in a field of 11 candidates but succeeded in gaining the attention of San Franciscans as well as getting under the skin of the “serious” candidates. In 2000, the Green Party of New York nominated Biafra for another political campaign, this time for United States president. In 2004 and 2008, Biafra was heavily active in the Green Party and the presidential campaign of Ralph Nader, but has not completely ruled out a 2012 bid for president.
I mean, running for president with a name like Jello Biafra, how can you lose?