As an 80’s rocker listening to the Crue, Dio and other contemporary hard rock, I came across a record at Eides record shop in Pittsburgh by a band called The Dead Kennedy’s. I was taken by the name-almost shocked! Of course I bought it and put the needle down and on came the iconic intro bass riff soon joined by the clapping of the hi-hat , then the eery guitar strikes and then the high winding and intimidating vocals of Jello Biafra. The song was Holiday in Cambodia and it scared the shit out of me! This song wasn’t about girls, or fast cars or skipping school but instead a conflict half way around the globe. I mean a head skewered on a stake for crying out loud! How bubble gum everything on the radio seemed after that.
This band had a purpose beyond getting girls and impressing friends; they were relevant, educating, and intimidating. My life truly changed after listening to that record-music doesn’t have to be melodic -it can be downright angry.
When I play the opening salvo on bass to this epic song, I am transported to that Saturday at a Pittsburgh record store. This song was on the first submission of “songs to try” for our RepoMan project over 3 years ago. It never fails to get my blood pumping and raise the level of what we are doing as a band.
