Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is the debut studio album by the punk rock band Dead Kennedys, released on September 2, 1980, through Cherry Red Records in the United Kingdom, and I.R.S. Records in the United States.
It was later issued by Jello Biafra‘s own Alternative Tentacles label in the United States. It is the only Dead Kennedys studio album to feature drummer Bruce Slesinger and (on one track) guitarist Carlo Cadona.
The photo on the front cover, showing several police cars on fire, was taken during the White Night riots of May 21, 1979, that resulted from the light sentence given to former San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White for the murder of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk. When Biafra ran for mayor, one of his policies had been for a statue to be erected to Dan White, and for eggs, tomatoes and stones to be available nearby for pelting it. In addition, the band’s version of “I Fought the Law” has rewritten lyrics making reference to the incident.
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Eyeballs is the accompanying 55-minute documentary, directed by Eric S. Goodfield, that is included with the Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables 25th Anniversary Edition. It features a brief history of Dead Kennedys‘ early years up to their first UK tour, never before seen live performances, interviews with Klaus Flouride and East Bay Ray, comments by music journalists, and insights from the key people involved with the recording of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. The video omits references to the origins of songs that would include a mention of Jello Biafra, although his 1979 run for mayor is highlighted.
Tracklist:
SIDE ONE
- Kill the Poor (Biafra cover)
- Forward to Death
- When Ya Get Drafted
- Let’s Lynch the Landlord
- Drug Me
- Your Emotions (by Ray)
- Chemical Warfare
SIDE TWO
- California Über Alles” music: Biafra; lyrics: Biafra, John Greenway
- I Kill Children
- Stealing People’s Mail
- Funland at the Beach
- Ill in the Head (by Biafra)
- Holiday in Cambodia (Music: Dead Kennedys Lyrics: Biafra)
- Viva Las Vegas (Elvis Presley cover with altered lyrics. Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman)
Dead Kennedys
Jello Biafra: lead vocals
East Bay Ray: lead guitar
Klaus Flouride: bass, backing vocals
Ted: drums
Additional performers
6025: rhythm guitar on “Ill in the Head”
Paul Roessler: keyboards on “Drug Me” and “Stealing People’s Mail”
Ninotchka (Therese Soder): keyboards on “Drug Me”, backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
Dirk Dirksen: backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
Bobby Unrest: backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
Michael Synder: backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
Bruce Calderwood (Bruce Loose): backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
Barbara Hellbent: backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
HyJean: backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
Curt: backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
Chi Chi: backing vocals on “Chemical Warfare”
Production
Norm: production
East Bay Ray: production
Oliver DiCicco and John Cuniberti: engineering, mixing
Kevin Metcalfe; Paul Stubblebine: mastering
Judith Calson: front cover photography
Winston Smith: artwork
Annie Horwood: artwork
Jello Biafra: artwork
