Daniel Robert Epstein: East Bay Ray

Informative... but nonetheless, I still prefer Jello as a frontman... I feel D.K. is only a mere shadow of what it used to be... of what it meant to me... of what it should be... and I'm not sorry for disliking the present day d.k. as I do... I am only sorry that I can not love them like you do.

Ok, I am biased. But I thought that all fellow SGers would at least appreciate the opportunity to learn more about the band as it stands on August 12, 2003.

And....I promise you I did NOT plan it this way, it was a happy accident:

http://www.deadkennedys.com/news.htm#081203

OK.....who wants THIS to happen? How insane would it be if it did? I can only imagine the place would go mental.

Whoops.....big props to Daniel Robert Epstein for the nice piece!

I can't help but notice that the interviewer failed to ask why they wanted to sell their music, which is pretty much the seminal anti-corporate theme, to Levi for a goddamn jeans commercial, and also that he failed to ask why they sued jello for not promoting them or trying to tell their music to a major label for major distribution, when that would seem to kind of go against the whole punk rock/DIY ideal that they at least used to believe in...

Dk without Jello? Isn't that like Elvis without Elvis?

Oh, break my little heart. Jello did not want to sell out to Levis. Boohoohoo.

"Anarchy for Sale"

At the risk of opening myself up even more (but hey, this is all about discussion and I would hope to think all SGers are open to that)....

*The Dks have never sold their music to Levi's or any other entity for commerical profit. This was a statement made 5 years ago and it has never happened even when they could have done so.

*The DKs never released their via a major label. This was always one point made when the DKs got their catalog back. It never happened.

I just watched the Essential Clash DVD and they are one of my favorite bands of all time and they did both of these things. I kinda see a double standard here.

it was indeed good to hear another side of the story. But that is all it is. Just another side. I've heard their side before, and the truth is no one will ever really know all the bad blood that exists between them, and i don't think we will ever truly know who is right in this situation nor is it any of our business. Blurred lines. Name calling. Both sides are biased. Jello accuses them of just wanting him back in the band so they can make money. They accuse him of dragging them into court. They both victimize themselves and want people to feel sorry for them.

frankly, i'm fine with thinking they're both crazy.

and i think jello is a bit more of the bitter one in this saga, especially considering i couldn't find any insults or name-calling on the dead kennedys page.

but why would i want to pay good money to see some guy i don't know singing dead kennedys songs if it wasn't a teenager in a garage?

i'm sorry if that is mean. i will shut up now. thank you for the interview.

Sad to see such bullshit on SG...

The way you can tell Ray is peddling B.S. is that he's
totally vague about the legal stuff. There may be many
complex points, but it would be easy enough to pick one
or two major points and win us over by showing us the
details. However, since the so-called DK's have something
to hide, it's all vagueness, spin, and slagging Jello's character.
He doesn't need help there, he's always been a loudmouth.

BOYCOTT THE "DEAD KENNEDYS" !!!

I'm one of those people who still isn't sure whetherhe can consider the Jello-less band performing now as the real DKs. When the Misfits regrouped without Glenn danzig, I felt the way. And the new "Doors" without Jim Morrison or their original keyboardist--well, that's pushing it, too.

However, this interview was really well done. It's hard not to feel sympathetic for someone like East Bay Ray, and wish things were going better for him. I've read a lot of stories about people who were in punk bands in their teens and 20s who came to realize later in life that that was the most important thing they ever did. And when the rest of the world comes around and sees how great such bands were in retrospect, it's too late. Hopefully, something positive will come out of the DK legal troubles.

I know Ray and he is a genuine guy! I believe him when he says they could put it behind them and possibly play with jello again.

Where is the double standard? I love the DK, I love the Clash. However, I will not support the DK or the Clash sales after selling their songs to oppressive corporations.

I have some sympathy for bands signing to a major label. If a band can do it and still retain their dignity, more power to them. But, do not sell, or try to sell, your songs for a company known for their sweatshop labor and prison labor practices, amongst other things. However, I will not but their music from that label.

An example of a musician who has done this and has kept my respect is Zack de la Rocha (lead singer of Rage Against the Machine), He supports the global justice movement. From working on a Zapatista video, to getting kicked off of Saturday Night Live for being too contraversial. Now he is speaking at a benefit concert for Sherman Austin. http://la.indymedia.org/news/2003/08/76999.php

Another example is Dead Prez who was just kicked off of Sony for being to contraversial.

A pet peeve of mine, not really a strong issue of principle is the band playing without a key figure and still retaining the same name, without explicitly stating the lead singer and lyricist is gone. I am, howver, concerned when the publicity explicitly hides the fact the member is gone. I'm not interested in hearing the Miisfits without Danzig and with a singer that doesn't really appreciate the music. (Although, I did hear of an interesting Misfits cover band incarnation with a member from Black Flag that may hold my interest.) The Doors without Jim Morrison is a joke.

I think it would take a lot on the side of the other members of DK to mend before Jello or the scene will accept them again.

Jello keeps it real. I don't always agree with him. I am a radical anarchist who sympathizes with radical progressives. He's a radical progressive who sympathizes with and supports anarchists (i.e. Chomsky, Zinn). He has always been upfront with his viewpoints and lived up the the principles. Principles which I respect.

I boycott all of the labels that belong to RIAA. http://www.boycott-riaa.com/membership.php
This includes Rhino Records and IRS (who now holds some of the DK material) and also Sony (who holds RATM and some of the Dead Prez material). However, because Zack de La Rocha supports the movement and has not sold his music, I support him and would see him live.

I support artists who support the counter-culture, not the corporate culture.

I support artists who's music i like

I would like to add something inspirational after so much negativity.

I have always supported my local music and art scene. When I was 15 years old, a Sophmore in High School, in a town of 15,000 people, I organized my first music show. It was payed with Christmas and work money. I lost money on that show, but really enjoyed it and all the bands were payed well. I had attracted 2 bands from SF on their way to Eugene and had three local bands play. Later that year, with Birthday and work money, I did it again. This time making a profit of $250 which went to start a non-profit organization. The members of the board were mostly area musicians and artists. We The organization disbanded a year later (we had an untrustworthy member) after throwing a festival and profitting $2000 (after paying $100 a piece for ten bands). That money went to a music scholarship fund. Howeverm we had created a little scene that went on for 4 years,

My point is that an art scene (and a counter-culture) can be created from the grassroots. It is very rewarding. Corporations do not need to be involved.

I hate to chime in with something that has already been brought up but the whole avoidance of the Dockers/Holiday in Cambodia ad was sort of strange. Maybe a follow-up interview to get the his side on that would be good?!?!

Wasn't Brandon Cruz the kid from 'The Courtship of Eddie's Father'?

The DKs were a great, important band. Its a shame to see them devolve into a joke, which is what they are now(no matter who's fault this latest legal battle is). I don't want to see 60-year-old Mick Jagger with The Rolling Stones, and i sure as hell wouldn't walk across the street to see DK without Jello...Hell, I probably wouldn't see them WITH Jello now, sometimes it better to hang it up when you're still relevant.

That said, the interview was decent, but DRE, you should have pressed EBR a little on the actual issues of the case, and challenged him a bit.

I support artists who practice what they preach; who live by the message espoused in their lyrics.

FUCK "the Dead Kennedys",, When exactly did they break up, like 88, hmm maybe even before that. I wouldnt know, because in 88 i was only 7. Not till i was 15 did i know of them, and while i still listen to the records from time to time. that is where it must end.
25th Anniv. Fuck that,,, i thought they where a punk band,,,, oh wait,, they where{/B]... now the remaining assholes are just trying to reap some cash out of the kids who didnt even exist when they did... fuck DK and anyone who goes and sees this New DK live...
if you want to be so fucking nistalgiac, go see Jello talk sometime...def alot more punk then these fruads

I saw the "Dead Kennedys" when they played in coprpus about a year ago... It was nothing but bad kareoke. We threw Fresh Fruits and Rotting Vegtables and Jello Snacks at them... I just dont see how these stupid kids can be fooled by such a pale imatation

FUCK DK!!!!!! Jello was the band. East Bay ray is a fucking theif!

to wildanarchist

I was thinking about this thread recently.

wildanarchist you said:
I support artists who practice what they preach; who live by the message espoused in their lyrics.

You never said anything about whether or not you like their music. So literally this says you support skinhead hate bands because many of them practrice what they preach.