Publisher: PM Press; Author: Alex Ogg; Year: 2014; Format: Book
Finally a legit book on the early days/years of the Dead Kennedys, maybe the most important punk rock band the United States has ever produced (sorry Ramones!). UK based author and connoisseur of everything regarding the early days of punk/hardcore, Alex Ogg, has once again done a damn fine job at gathering and compiling information from as many people as possible, and from every possible angle as well. Now, anybody that is just slightly in the know what has been happening in terms of the relationship between the band members will be well aware that Mr. Ogg must have gone well beyond our imagination in regard to his patience as all versions and opinions from all members needed to be heard and taken into account. I suppose that is why this book concentrates on the days predating the DK's first album, and on the recording and touring after the classic album was released. Of course there is far more to tell when it comes to DK's rich history, but as Alex Ogg puts it in the book, that should be for someone else to tackle. In my opinion no one else could do a better job as Mr. Ogg himself again. This is a great read when it comes to discovering the life stories of each member, how they ended up as a tight unit writing some of the most iconic punk rock songs ever, and what has influenced them before the term "punk" was even coined. At the same time the book provides the reader a glimpse of the early San Francisco scene and the bands and people that made things happening. While this is a relatively short read, you will walk away with a far better understanding and knowledge of how the DK's became a world wide phenomenon.
