Biafra Appeals

Dead Kennedys frontman blasts former bandmates

Ex-Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra blasted his former bandmates this

week, saying he was "totally embarrassed" by their plans to release early

recordings and other rarities without his permission and says he'll fight

$200,000 judgment against him.

In a statement issued through his label, Alternative Tentacles, Biafra said

he has filed a motion for a new trial and will appeal a San Francisco

Superior Court decision awarding the other Dead Kennedys $200,000. Last

year, a jury decided Biafra failed to pay back royalties to the three other

members.

In the statement, Biafra acknowledged an "accounting mistake," and said he

has already paid East Bay Ray, D.H. Peligro and Klaus Flouride back

royalties. Biafra also said he offered them future payment, an offer they

declined.

Legal action began after Biafra opposed allowing Levi's to use the Dead

Kennedys' 'Holiday in Cambodia' for a television commercial.

"I could think of no worse way to stab Dead Kennedys fans in the back than

to turn around and trash everything we ever stood for and allow one of our

best (and my favorite) songs to be used to sell products by a global

corporation with controversial labor practices," said Biafra in the

statement.