Shut up. Jello Biafra at Studio A, May 10

May 10th, 2007

Top, a Jello Biafra spoken-word album. Next, the Smitten is Dead "Shut Up" remix. Above, from the cover of the Geezer’s Take that You Wankers release. Below, remixer of "Shut Up" DAVE the Drummer. At bottom, the Kennedys…

Biafra will be presenting a spoken-word performance on Thursday, May 10 at Studio A in downtown Miami. The former Dead Kennedy’s front man whose latest spoken-word album, In The Grip Of Official Treason, was released in October of 2006, may not, on the surface, seem to have a whole lot to do with techno. So where is the connection?

The answer is in acid techno. The London underground, squat-party, techno scene consisting of djs/producers like Chris Liberator, DDR, and Paul Harding — all who formerly played in punk or post-punk bands in the late ’80s and early ’90s and some others in the crew like DAVE the Drummer and Guy "The Geezer" McAffer have paid a little respect to Biafra by placing a sample in what has become a classic acid techno tune on Smitten Recordings. The London acid techno label run by Steve Smitten chugged along from 1995-2002, and has gotten new legs because certain tracks have been remixed and appear on the Stay Up Forever crew’s homage label, Smitten is Dead. On Smitten No. 46, the Geezer released "Shut Up." Which was followed later, on Smitten is Dead, with a remix by Dave the Drummer and a new version by Guy McAffer who teamed up with Aaron Liberator. The track features Biafra from the Ice-T track "Shut Up, Be Happy" and acid techno headz can sing along:

America is now under marshal law. / All constitutional rights have been suspended. / Stay in your homes. / Do not attempt to contact love ones, insurance agents, or attorneys. / Shut up. / Do not attempt to think or depression may occur. / Stay in your homes. / Curfew is at 7 PM sharp after work. / Anyone caught outside the gates of their suveillance sectors after curfew will be shot. / Remain calm, do not panic. / Your neighborhood watchofficer will be by to collect urine examples in the morning. / Anyone caught intefering with the collection of urine examples will be shot. / Stay in your homes, remain calm. / The number one enemy of progress is questions. / National security is more important than individual will.

Biafra, it is well-known, is a collector of strange and vintage vinyl. I wonder if he has the Smitten release? Either way, he should be content in the knowledge that the tune is recognized by the acid techno subculture for its warping bassline, wicked aciiied, and of course, the message. Breaking out of, as he calls it, the "little self-important punk underground," his spoken-word stuff is an extension of his absolute rage against the political status quo, the wool-over-the-eyes media, and the hypocritical corporate elite in today’s society.

Read a good Jello Biafra interview.

Events Info:

Entry Filed under: All Posts