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Pioneering punk rocker delivers political message

Oct. 10, 2004

KALAMAZOO--Jello Biafra, former lead singer of the punk rock band The Dead Kennedys, delivers a spoken-word performance, "Government Follies and Mistruths," Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. in Shaw Theater at Western Michigan University. The event is free and open to the public.

"One of the worst forms of censorship is what people are not being told," says Biafra.

Biafra's performance will incorporate poetry, commentary, comedy, theater and performance art. It will cover a broad range of social topics and political issues including censorship, the actions of the Bush Administration, punk rock's glory days, American imperialism, the decriminalization of drugs and Biafra's personal involvement in the Green Party.

Since the 1986 breakup of the Dead Kennedys, Biafra has been producing albums and managing the Alternative Tentacles record label, which The Dead Kennedys founded in 1979. Alternative Tentacles has become an outlet for many non-mainstream bands. Biafra has released seven spoken word albums on his own and has collaborated with many artists to produce numerous other albums. His latest album, "Never Breathe What You Can't See," is a collaboration with The Melvins and is scheduled for release Oct. 19.

Jello Biafra's Oct. 12 performance is sponsored by the College Green Party at WMU, a registered student organization For more information, contact the College Green Party's Tim Hurttgam at <timhurttgam@yahoo.com> or (269) 276-1023.

Media contact: Thom Myers, 269 387-8400, thom.myers@wmich.edu

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