Dead Kennedys formed in San Francisco in 1978 and became known for the song “Holiday in Cambodia.”
The band was founded by guitarist East Bay Ray, vocalist Jello Biafra, bassist Klaus Fluoride, and drummer Ted. Their music combined fast hardcore punk with sharp political satire, while Biafra’s lyrics attacked authoritarianism, consumer culture, and social hypocrisy.
“Holiday in Cambodia” was released as a single in 1980 and became one of the group’s defining songs. Dead Kennedys’ debut album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, followed that year and established the band as a major force in American hardcore punk.
The group’s name and songs often provoke confusion because their targets were political and cultural institutions rather than a single musical scene. Dead Kennedys were part of San Francisco’s punk community, but their influence spread internationally. Biafra later left the band and pursued spoken-word work, activism, and independent-label projects.