Alex Ogg, Winston Smith (Illustrator), R — Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables,

There’s little doubt that Dead Kennedys 1980 debut Fresh Fruit For Rotten Vegetable is one of the great, distinct &  fully formed of punk debuts of all time.  It’s up there with the likes of Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, and Crass’s The Feeding of the 5000.  This 2014 book tells the story of this classic albums making, the bands formation, and the time before & just after the records release.

It’s really startling to think that this is really the first book ever to be purely written about this distinctive & highly influential band( save for a 66 page booklet from 2004 called Dead Kennedys: The Unauthorized Version). But as you read through this book, it’s clear to see why, and it’s down to the continued tension between ex & present members of the band, I wont go into details here…but just do a Google search & you’ll see they had one of the more problematic splits & after splits of any band. Really as you read the book it’s amazing that Mr Ogg managed to keep his sanity as he tried to get interviews with each of the bands original line-up…so he must be praised for this alone, as he mangers to get interviews with all the key & important members here.

The book runs at just over 200 pages, with ¾ of the book featuring Ogg’s text, and the other quarter taking in poster, album & ect artwork  by respected  punk collage artists Winston smith. Live pictures from the time, comic strip retelling of key moments in the bands early history, and other relevant visuals/ press clippings.  The books is a not glossy coffee table affair, but more of a newspaper print black & white paper back, which I guess nicely fits the ethos of the punk scene of the time.

The book opens up with how they got together(via an ad in key San Francisco record shop Aquarius Records) the bands formation, and the member’s backgrounds. Then we move onto the bands live debut, & their relationship with infamous punk/ new wave promoter Dirk Dirksen. Through to their early recording sessions, the release of their first single “California Über Alles” , and more high profile shows. Onto singer Jello Biafra running for  mayor of San Francisco in 1979. Through the band getting in contact with uk’s long running independent record label Cherry Red, and the agreement with the label to fund & put out their debut album. Onto the recording of the album it’s self, and related song writing tales. Though to the bands euro & Us Tours directly after the albums release.

All in all it’s well written & well conceived book, and a must have item for anyone interested in this original ‘n’ distinctive band, & their sneering yet creative take on the Punk Rock form. Though it does leave one with the feeling that their needs to be a book on the rest of the band career, from the early 1980’s up to today…but I guess we may never see this happen due to the continual issues between past & presents members of the band.