The Dead Kennedys are a second wave punk rock band, from San Francisco, California, who formed in 1978. The original line-up consisted of; Jello Biafra on vocals, East Bay Ray and 6025 playing guitars, Klaus Flouride on Bass, and Ted on Drums. After only a brief stint in the band, 6025 left in 1979 after music differences with Biafra, and Ted was replaced in 1980, with D.H. Peligro. The band incorporates the experimental sound, and nature of English punk bands, with the pure energy of the American punk scene.

After the release of Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables, they were invited to play at the Bay Area Music Awards, in front of industry big-wigs, and promoters, to give the band some "new wave credibility" to quote the organizers, and they spent the day practicing their underground hit 'California Über Alles' which made them the talk of the event, however ten seconds into their performance Biafra called 'Hold it! We've gotta prove that we're adults now. We're not a punk rock band; we're a new wave band.' The band, who were all wearing white shirts with a big, black 'S' painted on the front, pulled black ties from around the backs of their necks, to form a dollar sign, then flew into the previously unheard "Pull My Strings", a scathing, satirical attack on the ethics of the mainstream music industry, containing the lyrics "Is my cock big enough, is my brain small enough, for you to make me a star", the song also included a parody of The Knack's biggest new wave hit, "My Sharona". The song was never studio recorded, but this performance; the first and only time the song was played, was released on the compilation album 'Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death' and the band was never invited to play the awards show ever again.
The band gained a large underground following, and continued to tour America and Europe throughout the 80's, releasing the single 'Too Drunk To Fuck' in Britain in 1981, which made the BBC anxious, as if the single entered the top 30, it would require a Top Of The Pops appearance, however to their relief, the single peaked at #31.

Other albums by the band:
Plastic Surgery Disasters - October 1982
Frankenchrist - October 1985
Bedtime for Democracy - November 1986
Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death - May 1987
Mutiny on the Bay (Live) - February 2001
Live At the Deaf Club (Live) - March 2004

After a 15 year break, the band has started performing, with Jeff Penalty on Vocals, after a brief stretch with Brandon Cruz. The band has had several internal disputes, and has fallen out with Biafra, over loyalties, on the Alternative Tentacles label, along with the fact that the band sold themselves out; circumventing Biafra, by including work on Tony Hawks Pro Skater.

If I was someone looking for politically infused second wave punk, before bands like Bad Religion came into the scene, or just a great Dead Kennedys album, this would be a fantastic point to start.