February 16, 2005

Calling All Legacy Avengers

From the Alternative Tentacles e-newsletter:

A short time ago East Bay Ray faxed Jello Biafra a proposal to sell the DK's version of "Viva Las Vegas" to one of TV's all-time worst programs on TV's all-time worst network- "American Idol" on Fox. Biafra strenuously objected, pointing out this was even worse and more against the principles of the band than the proposed Levi's commercial the ex-DK's sued Biafra for. True to form, he never heard back from Ray. Now we are getting vague e-mails claiming Ray went behind Jello's back and did indeed sell DK's music and legacy to Fox for "American Idol."

Can anyone out there confirm this actually happened? Did anyone overcome their nausea long enough to tape the show? Please let us know. Biafra hasn't heard from Ray and does not expect to. Obviously this is the worst and stupidest thing to be done to Dead Kennedys yet in the name of a quick dirty buck, but is this true??? We are interested in facts, not gossip and blogs.


Needless to say, it is absolutely vital to protect the legacy of the Dead Kennedys' joke version of a novelty song owned by Warner Brothers. This is particularly true when the co-opting is being done by Amerikkkan Idle, a popular show that the better sort of person rightly holds in contempt, and on a network like Fox, which will, of course, be the first network up against the wall when the Revolution comes.

Sadly, the oppressors have the better class of humans in a bind, because those who regard their souls as sacred temples of taste and breeding would never sully them by watching such a program, so no one who matters has any idea whether or not this particular attack on the DK's legacy even occurred. Therefore, the better class of hipster reaches out to sympathetic souls among the popular culture riff raff who don't realize they're not supposed to watch just any old television program, and who haven't grasped that TV viewing should reflect a broader, more comprehensive political commitment. But if we can walk together, surely we can rock together. So we fight the power as one. It's a beautiful thing.

Posted by Dr. Frank at February 16, 2005 05:11 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Speaking of which, did you get my e-mail about "Oh Just Have Some Faith In Me" being played in the background during a Real World episode? Of course you probably knew about this before I did but I was quite excited to hear any MTX at all on my little brain frying box.

Posted by: Chach at February 16, 2005 05:57 PM

Amerikkkan Idle, I like the wordplay there Frank. I hate that show. I don't care about all of their MoTown wannabe music they do on that show. God forbid anybody bring a guitar on stage and then sing and play something original! Gasp!!

Also, Frank and Chach, did you guys know that Jim Rome's radio show uses MTX songs (and others) for their intro/outro music between commericals? Tomorrow Is A Harsh Mistress is one of them.

For those unfamiliar with Jim Rome, he does a nationally broadcast weekday 3 hour sports show on Fox and ESPN radio stations from 9am-12pm Pacific Time.

Posted by: Zaphod at February 16, 2005 06:19 PM
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