Dead Kennedysformed in in 1978 when vocalist Jello Biafra(né Eric Boucher) and bassist Klaus Flourideresponded to a magazine ad placed by guitarist East Bay Ray. The three joined with drummer Tedand formed one of the most successful hardcore punkbands of the 80s. The band played hard and fast punk that matched the raw energy of the West-coast scene with twists such as Ray's surf-guitar influences and Jello's nasal machine-gun vocals and political fervor. They released their first single, "California Über Alles", in 1979 and first album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, in 1980 on Jello's own Alternative Tentacles record label. Fresh Fruitis considered a punk classic.
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