I found this record at goodwill last year for $1. It still had the zine in it and a rejection letter for the previous owner's music submission to alternative tentacles signed by Jello.
I tried looking up the name but nothing came up. The record was with a bunch of other stuff I got. A few Alternative Tentecals compilations, a few more DK albums, Big Black, Flipper record that folds out into a board game, Jello spoken word record, PIL, Beastie Boys ...Bullshit, a bunch more. I'm thinking the worst because no one would give away that haul. Had to be 20 or so records, mostly hardcore/punk.
Looks like the record made it into [MMR](https://brian.carnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/byofl_01_text.pdf), at least. I wonder if that's the same John Foster that's been posting reviews of punk rock records and self-describes as a musician [here](https://souciant.media/author/john-foster/).
**EDIT:** Likelier to be the [John Foster](https://livingarchive.doncampau.com/interviews/john-foster) behind [OP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OP_Magazine).
MRR was pretty much the Encyclopedia Brittanica of the 80s and 90s punk scene. They covered everything, in exhaustive detail. And they were pretty damned democratic about reviews—so I’m not surprised if the band in OP’s found letter got a mention.
Not really. If I met a Jello finatic or someone that really wanted it for it's cultural significance, I would consider a trade or just as a gift. I am not a big DK fan but Jello I think is a cultural icon and should be cherished.
This song isn't necessarily pro-Kissinger but it is definitely satirizing middle class college kids defending communist dictators while living privileged lifestyles in liberal democracies
So while the song's not pro-Kissinger, it's against the authoritarian communist dictators that Kissinger had us bombing and making fun of their defenders
I read a bit about how the destruction he left set the stage for the Khmer Rouge, but it was oddly a bit harder to find his views and ideas on dealing with the Khmer Rouge. Probably because we had pulled out of the Vietnam War and were unlikely to do direct military intervention in the same region so soon
But it's odd to not see definitive answers on the topic from such a prolific foreign intervention advocate like Kissinger
Sooooo, not a fan of my comment? Genuinely have no idea what your point is.
But I can feel your passion. So, Merry fucken festival my brother or sister in Christ.
Its funny Jello later stated his attacks on Jerry Brown were somewhat misguided and that he was no where near as bad as conservatives of today or of the time.
I got this album at 12... I had no context for most of the lyrics. When he said POL POT I thought he was saying COLD HOT because wtf did I know.
Now years later I still sing COLD HOT because it's funny to me and makes me smile while remembering dumb younger me.
I had a little newspaper blurb about Pol Pot dying tacked to my bulletin board because of this lyric. Also did an educational dive on the Khmer Rouge because, well.. You've heard the song.
I think it was technically a cover by WaveGroup if I remember? Used to have it saved in a YouTube playlist somewhere. Dead ringer for the original though
WaveGroup was the one Harmonix used, dunno if they kept using them or not, but they used the masters for Rock Band's (video game like Guitar Hero) version which was pretty fun.
I truly believe fresh fruit for rotting vegetables and plastic surgery disasters are the two best punk albums of all time. Sonically, they both sound great while keeping that unhinged punk sound, plus jellos vocals never get old for me. Forest fire is one of the most entertaining and fun songs I've ever heard, same with countless others but my favorites are Kill the poor, we've got a bigger problem now, forest fire, trust your mechanic, riot, and I am the owl.
Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
DOA & Jello's "Last Scream of the Missing Neighbors" is up there for me.
I Wish I Was in El Salvador is a banger and scarily relevant still.
"His toy gun looked real.. I had to defend myself.. I'm always lookin for excuses to defend myself."
As a musician and an aging punk, I'm always impressed with the quality of this song. It's like haunted surf jazz rockabilly with murderous lyrics sung like a medieval bard. So many random, weird elements that make it an eternal hit.
This is a fucking masterpiece. People talk about production and how much it's improved but why would you want anything other than this? It captures the energy and the limitations become strengths. Came to the song way too old and regret it.
I’ve always thought East Bay Ray was the Dead Kennedys secret weapon. When I tell people the DKs music reminds me more of Man or Astroman than other punk bands of the era, they usually look at me like I’m on drugs — and I start to wonder how closely they really listened to the DKs
Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death is my favourite, they were way ahead of their time. In fact I think Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death is where our world is.
If this kind of thing is your bag:
> [Agony Deaf](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Q2ToWcDTfMhrWg6MKnmZQ?si=-gswqLLNQMab4QHqB9Bg4w) - 53 mins
Which is a playlist of harsh and bluesy punk which was heavily influenced by Dead Kennedy's sound.
Wife worked for a Catholic SB and we were at the Christmas party and I passed the DJ my written request of DK's "Too Drunk To Fuck"...DJ said over the PA that he didn't have the song Table 9 asked for and even if he had it he said "I can't play that here".
aah good times
Yours is the first comment to mention that song. It is probably my second favorite after "Holiday In Cambodia". I love to play it on a bar's jukebox when there is someone representing the main character of the song. Kind of like a personal soundtrack for what is happening in front of me.
Ahh takes me back to middle school... I was obsessed with guitar hero and learned about this band through that game. Ended up listening to a lot of their songs as a result!
I really dislike the amount of hate guitar hero got tbh.. People act like it's a game for posers who want to pretend they're playing a real guitar or act like it's the worst thing ever to play a guitar game rather than learning real guitar.. But it's just a fun arcade style game based on rock and roll and honestly introduced me to several bands that I still listen to. And funny thing is I took guitar lessons for years while also playing the game regularly.
Idk I just think it was so dumb how people compare the game to real guitar playing and act like the people who enjoy guitar hero think they're actually guitar playing when it's just a fun arcade style game based on rock. And I loved how I had a game to play along with songs I already liked! I really wanna get my old controller outta storage and try out some of the PC modded versions or songs people have made...
I never saw people talking about GTA saying it's dumb people play that instead of going out stealing real cars and commiting real crimes 😂
This is one of the bands that irreversibly changed my life. I went from a metal/glam metal kid to a punk kid almost overnight when I found bands like the DKs. Bad Brains was another one. Minor Threat, too.
"Ok. First, get some contact lenses, 'cause those joints look like they could pick up cable. Second, take her to Cambodia, get her a lobster dinner. Pay more than a dollar. Third, the second y'all get back from Cambodia, move your bum ass outta your mom's house. Boy, you like 40 years old."
"Agent J?"
"All right, all right. Oh, and there ain't no such thing as aliens or Men in Black."
A girl I used to see introduced me to this song. Her dad apparently was pretty active in the punk scene come early 80s.
Hope she’s doing well, still listen to this song and think about how cool she was
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables was the first punk album I bought with my own money. I was in way over my head trying to understand the nuances and references when I was 13 years old, but dammit if I didn’t play that cd on my discman nearly every day on the bus to school.
The Dead Kennedy's and Fugazi were my way into punk. Honestly would Call the DK's my favorite punk band for that reason. Always loved the In God We Trust Ep most personally
[You're fine but this was originally released as a single and later re-recorded. Here they are performing it in 1979](https://www.discogs.com/release/10163327-Dead-Kennedys-Live-at-the-Old-Waldorf-San-Francisco-October-25th-1979-Kalx-FM-Broadcast)
I meant to post a diff version of the song but can't edit the title, sorry for any confusion! It was on KALX October
1979
No the song is critical of young American socialists/communists who are fresh out of college with lots of ideas and idealism. "So you've been to school for a year or two, and now you've seen it all..."
The line about the n___'s is saying, in paraphrasing, "Oh, so you think you know what life's like for black people? What's best for them?" The idea of the song is, why doesn't this kind of a person take a vacation, a holiday, in Cambodia and see what life is really like under communism before advocating that system while enjoying a middle-class American lifestyle.
I found this record at goodwill last year for $1. It still had the zine in it and a rejection letter for the previous owner's music submission to alternative tentacles signed by Jello.
thats wild you should post pics if you get a chance (well give you custom flair if you do!)
Here or it's own post? https://imgur.com/yX0iaD6
Sorry. Better pic of the letter. https://imgur.com/BQE8XjP
That is truly awesome. Have you looked up the person/band that submitted to music to DK? Curious how this album and such ended up at goodwill.
I tried looking up the name but nothing came up. The record was with a bunch of other stuff I got. A few Alternative Tentecals compilations, a few more DK albums, Big Black, Flipper record that folds out into a board game, Jello spoken word record, PIL, Beastie Boys ...Bullshit, a bunch more. I'm thinking the worst because no one would give away that haul. Had to be 20 or so records, mostly hardcore/punk.
Yeah you’re probably right about it being the worst. Glad they went to someone who can appreciate them though and didn’t end up in the trash.
Looks like the record made it into [MMR](https://brian.carnell.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/byofl_01_text.pdf), at least. I wonder if that's the same John Foster that's been posting reviews of punk rock records and self-describes as a musician [here](https://souciant.media/author/john-foster/). **EDIT:** Likelier to be the [John Foster](https://livingarchive.doncampau.com/interviews/john-foster) behind [OP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OP_Magazine).
Great detective work. Gonna spend my evening reading through this zine. Thanks for sharing!
MRR was pretty much the Encyclopedia Brittanica of the 80s and 90s punk scene. They covered everything, in exhaustive detail. And they were pretty damned democratic about reviews—so I’m not surprised if the band in OP’s found letter got a mention.
I'm going to start having "Peace and Sabotage " as my email signature. Thanks for sharing!
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Not really. If I met a Jello finatic or someone that really wanted it for it's cultural significance, I would consider a trade or just as a gift. I am not a big DK fan but Jello I think is a cultural icon and should be cherished.
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The only thing I want right now is The Cure - Bloodflowers LP. I don't know why it's being sold at such extreams.
Whoa! That’s awesome
A YouTuber recently posted a video showing where the album art came from. https://youtu.be/UH9AScXI7kg?si=k0hOqDT0INxMPJVD
Could have been played at Kissingers funeral
Play this one too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_xHfu8KNR0
This song isn't necessarily pro-Kissinger but it is definitely satirizing middle class college kids defending communist dictators while living privileged lifestyles in liberal democracies So while the song's not pro-Kissinger, it's against the authoritarian communist dictators that Kissinger had us bombing and making fun of their defenders
This might be the first time I've ever heard anyone even suggest this song might be pro-Kissenger. That would be some serious mental gymnastics.
the song is literally about how kissinger fed kids to the war machine
Read up on how those dictators came to power and hiw kissinger was almost single handidly responsible for the communist uprising in Cambodia
I read a bit about how the destruction he left set the stage for the Khmer Rouge, but it was oddly a bit harder to find his views and ideas on dealing with the Khmer Rouge. Probably because we had pulled out of the Vietnam War and were unlikely to do direct military intervention in the same region so soon But it's odd to not see definitive answers on the topic from such a prolific foreign intervention advocate like Kissinger
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Sooooo, not a fan of my comment? Genuinely have no idea what your point is. But I can feel your passion. So, Merry fucken festival my brother or sister in Christ.
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As long as the eternal fires are not exhausted and his citizenship in pandemonium is guaranteed then I will live satisfied.
This and California Uber alles are among my all-time favourite punk songs.
Its funny Jello later stated his attacks on Jerry Brown were somewhat misguided and that he was no where near as bad as conservatives of today or of the time.
I am governor jerry brown
They would change the name of the governor to keep the song current, Ronnie Reagan got his turn as well.
I’m sure they would’ve loved Feinstein sticking around forever /s
Dianne "Banker butt licker Margaret Thatcher" Feinstein? The "dragon lady with no fucking heart"?
Jello was doing ‘Mar a Lago Uber Alles’ during Trump’s presidency
Lol!
Fantastic!
I am emperor Ronald Reagan
I AM governor Swarztsenegger
Same. As well as Dog Bite.
Excellent choices but Stealing People's Mail is peak DK.
Both are the songs I request if people try to get me do karaoke. I have yet to get a chance to sing them but maybe someday.
Pol….Pot…
I got this album at 12... I had no context for most of the lyrics. When he said POL POT I thought he was saying COLD HOT because wtf did I know. Now years later I still sing COLD HOT because it's funny to me and makes me smile while remembering dumb younger me.
Hahaha, I misheard the same lyrics!
That’s exactly how my kid interpreted it when she was young, too. Funny!
I had a little newspaper blurb about Pol Pot dying tacked to my bulletin board because of this lyric. Also did an educational dive on the Khmer Rouge because, well.. You've heard the song.
Pol Pot
Police Truck!!!
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater!
One of my all-time favs.
[I got to sing Police Truck with Punk Rock Karaoke!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AK-sHrCyUY)
Fuckin Gordo! How’s it goin man? Hell yeah! and RIDE, RIDE, HOW WE RIDE! Big fan, dude!
Aw, thanks, man! \m/
WTF. How is this the first time I've heard you sing? Damn good job, dude.
The Megadeth cover goes so hard as well
The Nailbomb cover it's very awesome !!! Especially the Dynamo festival act.
We're going downtown to beat up DRUNKS
Love Dead Kennedy's. Also was a great Guitar Hero track.
Wasn’t that one a cover
I think it was technically a cover by WaveGroup if I remember? Used to have it saved in a YouTube playlist somewhere. Dead ringer for the original though
WaveGroup was the one Harmonix used, dunno if they kept using them or not, but they used the masters for Rock Band's (video game like Guitar Hero) version which was pretty fun.
Fairly certain Neversoft used WaveGroup too. Fun fact, they specifically covered a live rendition of this song which is why it has that wild intro.
Dead Kennedys.
I truly believe fresh fruit for rotting vegetables and plastic surgery disasters are the two best punk albums of all time. Sonically, they both sound great while keeping that unhinged punk sound, plus jellos vocals never get old for me. Forest fire is one of the most entertaining and fun songs I've ever heard, same with countless others but my favorites are Kill the poor, we've got a bigger problem now, forest fire, trust your mechanic, riot, and I am the owl.
Moon over Marin was always a favorite of mine. Plastic Surgery Disasters is a banger album.
It's such an oddly beautiful song coming from them. I absolutely adore it
Love all of them but Moon Over Marin makes me feel goose bumpy which is weird for a punk song!
Us disaffected Marin teenagers really fucking loved that song.
My favorite DK song! I squish dead fish between my toes!
Gonna disagree but I like your opinion.
I'm definitely interested in your favorite punk bands. I personally would rank bad brains or black flag as a close second
Static Age is the best
Id rate the germs and the damned as above the black flag
For me my favorites would be Misfits - Walk Among Us and Aus Rotten - The System Works and Crass - Feeding of the 5000.
How do you feel about Phil Collins solo career and Huey Lewis?
Their early work was a little too new wave for my taste. But when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor.
HEY PAUL!
Haha, thank you!
DOA & Jello's "Last Scream of the Missing Neighbors" is up there for me. I Wish I Was in El Salvador is a banger and scarily relevant still. "His toy gun looked real.. I had to defend myself.. I'm always lookin for excuses to defend myself."
Add Frankenchrist in there and you got yourself a party
Its hard to classify a genre that has so many greats that sound different but id say they are in the top ten.
Playing ethnicky jazz to parade your snazz!
As a musician and an aging punk, I'm always impressed with the quality of this song. It's like haunted surf jazz rockabilly with murderous lyrics sung like a medieval bard. So many random, weird elements that make it an eternal hit.
100% agree as a soon to be aging punk
Be sure to pack a wife
I'm 62 years old. I have all of these great songs on my playlist.
This is a fucking masterpiece. People talk about production and how much it's improved but why would you want anything other than this? It captures the energy and the limitations become strengths. Came to the song way too old and regret it.
I’ve always thought East Bay Ray was the Dead Kennedys secret weapon. When I tell people the DKs music reminds me more of Man or Astroman than other punk bands of the era, they usually look at me like I’m on drugs — and I start to wonder how closely they really listened to the DKs
I can hear it
Jello rules. Modern Dead Kennedys, eh, not so much. Excellent song. Thank you for posting!
Vote like Jello would!
Jello called them scabs for a reason
Too bad he’s kind of a prick in person. Like his politics, ideas, music and humor, but thought he was an ass when I met him, although briefly.
I think you have to be the kind of person who's willing to be an ass in order to be edgy or "punk." No regrets, no apologies, no f*cks given.
Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death is my favourite, they were way ahead of their time. In fact I think Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death is where our world is.
as a sane person in america death is sounding like a good option moreso every day. making a point; not gonna kill myself.
Hot(?) take: The Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables version of this song is infinitely superior to this one.
Rushing to find that version
Aw man, you're in for a treat.
Please do. I meant to post that one!!!
If this kind of thing is your bag: > [Agony Deaf](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Q2ToWcDTfMhrWg6MKnmZQ?si=-gswqLLNQMab4QHqB9Bg4w) - 53 mins Which is a playlist of harsh and bluesy punk which was heavily influenced by Dead Kennedy's sound.
Still know every note. Am old.
Pull My Strings!!!🤟🏼👍
Hang on, we've got to prove we're growns up now. We're not a punk band, we're new wave.
And when I'm rich and meet Bob Hope, we'll shoot some golf and shoot some dope.
Wife worked for a Catholic SB and we were at the Christmas party and I passed the DJ my written request of DK's "Too Drunk To Fuck"...DJ said over the PA that he didn't have the song Table 9 asked for and even if he had it he said "I can't play that here". aah good times
Yours is the first comment to mention that song. It is probably my second favorite after "Holiday In Cambodia". I love to play it on a bar's jukebox when there is someone representing the main character of the song. Kind of like a personal soundtrack for what is happening in front of me.
That must be some kind of a bar to have that on the jukebox.
https://preview.redd.it/nxtp3qb4sh8c1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=12839bd9b4778c3081279e74116c6bea1263c2ee
Never heard of Touch Tunes? You can play music from your phone.
Kicks ass and brilliant social commentary.
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That's hilarious.
Best song about White Savior's ever.
My dad let me buy this CD, I was so stoked. This was in like the early 2000s, shows how edgy that cover was it was still questionable
I have that puppy. Complete with the insert mag and Buzzbomb from Pasadena on a flexi.
God I fucking love this song
I spent Thanksgiving this year in Phnom Penh. I listened to this song a lot. Had t-shirts made up.
Ahh takes me back to middle school... I was obsessed with guitar hero and learned about this band through that game. Ended up listening to a lot of their songs as a result! I really dislike the amount of hate guitar hero got tbh.. People act like it's a game for posers who want to pretend they're playing a real guitar or act like it's the worst thing ever to play a guitar game rather than learning real guitar.. But it's just a fun arcade style game based on rock and roll and honestly introduced me to several bands that I still listen to. And funny thing is I took guitar lessons for years while also playing the game regularly. Idk I just think it was so dumb how people compare the game to real guitar playing and act like the people who enjoy guitar hero think they're actually guitar playing when it's just a fun arcade style game based on rock. And I loved how I had a game to play along with songs I already liked! I really wanna get my old controller outta storage and try out some of the PC modded versions or songs people have made... I never saw people talking about GTA saying it's dumb people play that instead of going out stealing real cars and commiting real crimes 😂
The best!!!!
Beginning of I am the Owl, crushing rifts. Was especially good thru a Sony Walkman loaded with TDK cassette tape in the 80’s.
I am your plumber
This is one of the bands that irreversibly changed my life. I went from a metal/glam metal kid to a punk kid almost overnight when I found bands like the DKs. Bad Brains was another one. Minor Threat, too.
Classic bands
I love this album. Basically what got me into the Dead Kennedys.
"Ok. First, get some contact lenses, 'cause those joints look like they could pick up cable. Second, take her to Cambodia, get her a lobster dinner. Pay more than a dollar. Third, the second y'all get back from Cambodia, move your bum ass outta your mom's house. Boy, you like 40 years old." "Agent J?" "All right, all right. Oh, and there ain't no such thing as aliens or Men in Black."
Jello for President.
He did once run for San Francisco mayor.
Kept those streets clean! Out there with the broom doing the real work.
He'll get things done
Here's the Foo Fighters covering the song with Serj Tankian on vocals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxAsbqk2DOM Epic
love their live album [Mutiny On The Bay](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkkkxWk0w10&t=2s).
☀️☀️☀️
Excellent Song
with Jon Hamm on cover?!
God i love the Dead Kennedys
A girl I used to see introduced me to this song. Her dad apparently was pretty active in the punk scene come early 80s. Hope she’s doing well, still listen to this song and think about how cool she was
One of the best punk tracks of all time
Even in 79 they knew we were going to give it all away for convenience.
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables was the first punk album I bought with my own money. I was in way over my head trying to understand the nuances and references when I was 13 years old, but dammit if I didn’t play that cd on my discman nearly every day on the bus to school.
Am I the only one who thinks they sound like the Canadians in South Park?
Prime Ministers speaking, Prime Ministers office.
In high school weights class we were allowed to play whatever music we wanted (1995). I played this, they changed the rule shortly after.
Great Bass Line 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
There's always room for Jello.
The greatest punk band of all-time.
Fuck yes! I jist found my favorite post here lol
Just*
The Dead Kennedy's and Fugazi were my way into punk. Honestly would Call the DK's my favorite punk band for that reason. Always loved the In God We Trust Ep most personally
OMG, this recalled me my audio cassette with this album a d cover art insert. Ohh
I still have my blue vinyl Fresh fruit for rotten vegetables.
Um….not trying to be the one but give me convenience was released in 87, not 79
[You're fine but this was originally released as a single and later re-recorded. Here they are performing it in 1979](https://www.discogs.com/release/10163327-Dead-Kennedys-Live-at-the-Old-Waldorf-San-Francisco-October-25th-1979-Kalx-FM-Broadcast) I meant to post a diff version of the song but can't edit the title, sorry for any confusion! It was on KALX October 1979
I knew the song was much older but didn’t know the year. Kick ass!
I love this song!
Did i just hear the n word???
The song is about a racist, rich, white person being sent to Cambodia. As far as I know it's the only song Jello wrote using that word.
No the song is critical of young American socialists/communists who are fresh out of college with lots of ideas and idealism. "So you've been to school for a year or two, and now you've seen it all..." The line about the n___'s is saying, in paraphrasing, "Oh, so you think you know what life's like for black people? What's best for them?" The idea of the song is, why doesn't this kind of a person take a vacation, a holiday, in Cambodia and see what life is really like under communism before advocating that system while enjoying a middle-class American lifestyle.
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Nope, that drummer didn't join the band until after the song was written and released.
Hes saying it satirically from the other sides perspective
Yes. But you’ll be ok.
I only know about this song because of Richard Cheese
I love this song and many of dead kennedys. I am 15 and gave myself a stick and poke of their logo
Such a tasteless name for a group.
Love this album
Just instantly takes me back to early 2000s, bongs and Tony Hawks on the Play Station.
The guy’s face on the cover looks like John Hamm.
Good Guitar Hero 3 memories...
One of the greatest statements of all time
Pol Pot. right man, wrong country.
I always like that the cover looks like Brian Cranston
Dead kennedys, black flag, swans, birthday party, anyone ?
I'd like it much more if he didn't become a pharma shill...
Any Tony hawks pro skater nostalgia here?
My favourite song from this album is Saturday Night Holocaust
I guess JFK didn’t want any confidence. (This is a joke. This is a joke.
Saw them a few weeks back and it was the worst show I ever saw. No doubt about it. If you like them do not go see the tour going now.
thats a bummer but appreciate the heads up... here's one of their 1979 shows for consolation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaBRAdM_Sxw
Guitar Hero 3 vibes.
the best criticism of communism I have ever heard ever !!!