View source for Jello Biafra

{{short description|American singer and activist (born 1958)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Jello Biafra
| image             = Jello Biafra 2014.jpg
| background        = person
| caption           = Biafra performing at the 2014 [[Fun Fun Fun Fest]]
| birth_name        = Eric Reed Boucher
| alias             = {{hlist|[[1000 Homo DJs|Count Ringworm]]|[[Brujeria (band)|Jr. Hozicon]]}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1958|6|17}}
| birth_place       = [[Boulder, Colorado]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Punk rock]]|[[spoken word]]|[[hardcore punk]]}}
| years_active      = 1976–present
| label             = [[Alternative Tentacles]]
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Lard (band)|Lard]]|[[Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine]]}}
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[Dead Kennedys]]|[[The Witch Trials|Witch Trials]]|[[Tumor Circus]]|[[The No WTO Combo|No WTO Combo]]|[[Brujeria (band)|Brujeria]]}}
| website           = 
| occupations       = {{hlist|Singer|speaker|politician}}
}}

'''Eric Reed Boucher''' (born June 17, 1958), known professionally as '''Jello Biafra''', is an American singer, spoken word artist and political activist. He is the former lead singer and songwriter for the [[San Francisco]] [[punk rock]] band [[Dead Kennedys]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vaziri |first=Aidin |date=December 18, 2023 |title=Dead Kennedys' punk classic 'Fresh Fruit' achieves gold status after 43 years |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/dead-kennedys-fresh-fruit-gold-status-18561506.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222015830/https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/dead-kennedys-fresh-fruit-gold-status-18561506.php |archive-date=December 22, 2023 |access-date=March 19, 2024 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>

Initially active from 1979 to 1986, Dead Kennedys were known for rapid-fire music topped with Biafra's sardonic lyrics and biting social commentary, delivered in his "unique quiver of a voice".<ref>{{cite web|first=Jon|last=Young|url=http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=dead_kennedys|title=Dead Kennedys|website=TrouserPress.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063955/http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=dead_kennedys |archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=February 2, 2018}}</ref> When the band broke up in 1986, he took over the influential [[independent record label]] [[Alternative Tentacles]], which he had founded in 1979 with Dead Kennedys bandmate [[East Bay Ray]]. In a 2000 lawsuit, upheld on appeal in 2003 by the California Supreme Court, Biafra was found liable for breach of contract, fraud, and malice in withholding a decade's worth of royalties from his former bandmates and ordered to pay over $200,000 in compensation and punitive damages; the band subsequently reformed without Biafra.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Biafra Drops Suit Against Ex-Bandmates |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/67364/biafra-drops-suit-against-ex-bandmates |date=July 13, 2004 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511090807/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/67364/biafra-drops-suit-against-ex-bandmates |url-status=dead}}, Billboard, 2004</ref> Although now focused primarily on spoken word performances, Biafra has continued as a musician in numerous collaborations. From 1979 to 1981, he contributed to the San Francisco punk zine ''[[Damage (punk zine)|Damage]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Damage |url=https://rockmagarchive.com/?page_id=249 |website=The Rock Mag Archive |publisher=rockmagarchive.com |access-date=12 May 2024}}</ref> He has also occasionally appeared in cameo roles in films.

Politically, Biafra is a member of the [[Green Party of the United States]]<ref name = "Green"/> and supports various political causes. He ran for the [[2000 Green National Convention|party's presidential nomination]] in the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]], finishing a distant second to [[Ralph Nader]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalgreens.org/history/chronology/2000 |publisher=Global Greens |title=Global Green Party History Chronology – 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616180058/http://www.globalgreens.org/history/chronology/2000 |archive-date=June 16, 2013 |access-date=September 4, 2012 |quote=With 295 votes, Nader received 92% of the convention total, followed by ten votes each for Jello Biafra and Stephen Gaskin |url-status=dead}}</ref> In [[1979 San Francisco mayoral election|1979]] he ran for mayor of [[San Francisco]], California. He is a supporter of a free society and utilizes shock value and advocates [[direct action]] and pranksterism in the name of political causes.<ref name="Green">{{cite journal|first=Jello|last=Biafra|url=http://www.greens.org/s-r/22/22-02.html|title=Jello Biafra for President|journal=Synthesis/Regeneration|issue=22|date=Spring 2000|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref> Biafra uses [[Absurdism|absurdist]] media tactics, in the leftist tradition of the [[Yippies]], to highlight issues of [[civil rights]] and [[social justice]].

==Early life==
Eric Reed Boucher was born in [[Boulder, Colorado]], the son of [[Virginia Boucher]] (née Parker), a librarian, and Stanley Wayne Boucher, a [[psychiatric]] [[social worker]] and poet.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailycamera/obituary.aspx?pid=167349278|title=Stanley Boucher Obituary: View Stanley Boucher obituary|publisher=Legacy.com|access-date=August 3, 2014|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222051832/http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailycamera/obituary.aspx?pid=167349278|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Bibliographic Directory of Librarians in the United States and Canada}}</ref> His sister, Julie J. Boucher, was Associate Director of the Library Research Service at the [[Colorado State]] Library; she died in a mountain-climbing accident on October 12, 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrs.org/boucher.php|title=Julie J. Boucher Memorial Award for Intellectual Freedom|publisher=Lrs.org|date=October 12, 1996|access-date=August 3, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026113233/http://www.lrs.org/boucher.php|archive-date=October 26, 2012}}</ref>

As a child, Boucher developed an interest in international politics that was encouraged by his parents.  He became a fan of [[rock music]] after his parents accidentally tuned in to a rock radio station.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alternativetentacles.com/bandinfo.php |title=Bands |publisher=Alternative Tentacles |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316144308/http://www.alternativetentacles.com/bandinfo.php |archive-date=March 16, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> As a teenager, his high school [[guidance counselor]] advised him to spend his adolescence preparing to become a dental hygienist.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Jello Biafra Talks Politics, Music and The Music Business – Janky Smooth|date = April 7, 2015|url = http://www.jankysmooth.com/jello-biafra-interview-politics-music-business-interview-janky-smooth/|access-date = August 31, 2015|archive-date = December 8, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208222920/http://www.jankysmooth.com/jello-biafra-interview-politics-music-business-interview-janky-smooth/|url-status = live}}</ref>

==Musical career==
===Colorado bands===
In 1977, he worked as a [[roadie]] for a local band called the Ravers (who later changed their name to [[the Nails]]), helping set up their equipment at shows, including as an opener for the [[Ramones]].<ref name="punknews.org">{{cite web|title=Interviews: Jello Biafra on what makes up Jello Biafra |url=https://www.punknews.org/article/65388/interviews-jello-biafra-on-what-makes-up-jello-biafra |date=December 8, 2017}}</ref> The job ended shortly after the Ramones show, when the Ravers were offered a record contract and left Colorado.<ref name="punknews.org"/> Boucher credits seeing [[Joey Ramone]] as inspiration to become a singer, and the Ramones lyrics for inspiring the use of humor in his own songs.<ref>Biafra, Jello. "Joey Ramone." ''Machine Gun in the Clown's Hand''. San Francisco: Alternative Tentacles. 2002. [http://www.alternativetentacles.com/octopodes/765/ygK579NSlQpElm7tXKA/Jello_Biafra-Joey_Ramone.mp3 MP3 link] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603233632/http://www.alternativetentacles.com/octopodes/765/ygK579NSlQpElm7tXKA/Jello_Biafra-Joey_Ramone.mp3 |date=June 3, 2011 }}</ref>

Shortly after graduating high school, he formed a band called the Healers, with John Greenway and third musician. Boucher has described the Healers' music as "banging on instruments we didn't know how to play when our parents weren't home". While never playing a show, the band made recordings, including an early version of "[[California Über Alles]]", but did not want any of it to be released to the public.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jello Biafra: "I'm not a drug addict, I'm not religious, music is my… |url=https://www.kerrang.com/jello-biafra-im-not-a-drug-addict-im-not-religious-music-is-my-higher-power-and-i-never-know-whats-coming-next |date=January 14, 2021}}</ref> Some of their music was made available on a 2009 compilation of late 1970s Colorado punk bands titled ''Rocky Mountain Low'', including the original version of "California Über Alles", which [[Maximum Rocknroll]] described as experimental improv in their review.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/mrr_314|title=Maximum Rocknroll 314 (2009 July)|access-date=June 17, 2025|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

Boucher left Boulder to attend the [[University of California, Santa Cruz]] but dropped out after the first quarter of the school year.<ref>{{cite news|title=Punk legend Jello Biafra at 60: Still in San Francisco, and speaking his mind |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/music/article/Punk-legend-Jello-Biafra-at-60-still-in-San-12991118.php |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=June 14, 2018 |last1=Hartlaub |first1=By Peter}}</ref>

===Dead Kennedys===
[[File:Jello-Biafra.jpg|thumb|Biafra performing with Dead Kennedys]]
In June 1978, Boucher responded to an advertisement placed in a store by guitarist [[East Bay Ray]], stating "guitarist wants to form punk band",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/congress/2503/interview10.html |title=Interview with Jello Biafra |publisher=Webcitation.org |access-date=August 3, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091020024641/http://geocities.com/CapitolHill/Congress/2503/interview10.html |archive-date=October 20, 2009}}</ref> and together they formed Dead Kennedys. He began performing with the band under the stage name Occupant,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wilson|first1=Dave|title=Rock Formations: Categorical Answers to how Band Names Were Formed|date=2004|publisher=Cidermill Books|isbn=0974848352|page=214|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tOpB23GGxAIC&q=%22jello+biafra%22+occupant&pg=PA214|access-date=June 1, 2017}}</ref> but soon began to use the stage name Jello Biafra, a combination of the brand name [[Jell-O]] and the short-lived African state of [[Biafra]].

Biafra initially attempted to compose music on guitar, but his lack of experience on the instrument and his own admission of being "a fumbler with my hands" led Dead Kennedys bassist [[Klaus Flouride]] to suggest that Biafra simply sing the parts he envisioned to the band.<ref name="re/search">V. Vale, ''Incredibly Strange Music, Vol. 2'', RE/Search Publications, 1995</ref> Biafra sang his riffs and melodies into a tape recorder, which he brought to the band's rehearsal and/or recording sessions. By all accounts, including his own, Biafra is not a conventionally skilled musician,<ref name="re/search"/> though he and his collaborators ([[Joe Keithley|Joey Shithead]] of [[D.O.A. (band)|D.O.A.]] in particular) attest that he is a skilled composer<ref name="shithead">Keithley, Joe. ''I, Shithead''. [[Arsenal Pulp Press]], 2004.</ref> and his work, particularly with Dead Kennedys, is highly respected by punk-oriented critics and fans.
{{listen
 | pos          = right
 | filename     = Holiday in Cambodia.ogg
 | title        = Holiday in Cambodia
 | description  = "Holiday in Cambodia" by Dead Kennedys from ''Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables''
 | format       = [[Ogg]]
}}

The first single by Dead Kennedys was "[[California Über Alles]]". The song, which spoofed California governor [[Jerry Brown]], was the first of many political songs by the group and Biafra. Its popularity resulted in being covered by other musicians, such as [[the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy]] (who rewrote the lyrics to parody [[Pete Wilson]]), [[John Linnell]] of [[They Might Be Giants]] and [[Six Feet Under (band)|Six Feet Under]] on their ''[[Graveyard Classics]]'' album of cover versions. Not long after, Dead Kennedys had a second and bigger hit with "[[Holiday in Cambodia]]" from their debut album ''[[Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables]]''. ''[[AllMusic]]'' cites this song as "possibly the most successful single of the American hardcore scene"<ref>Mason, Stewart. "[{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t2757927|pure_url=yes}} Holiday In Cambodia: Song Review]". ''Allmusic''. Retrieved January 25, 2006.</ref> and Biafra counts it as his personal favorite Dead Kennedy's song.<ref name="Progressive"/>

Dead Kennedys received some controversy in the spring of 1981 over the single "[[Too Drunk to Fuck]]". The song became a hit in Britain, and the [[BBC]] feared that it would manage to be a big enough hit to appear among the top 30 songs on the national charts, requiring a mention on ''[[Top of the Pops]]''. However, the single peaked at number 36 in the charts.<ref>{{cite web | title=Dead Kennedys - Singles | publisher=Officialcharts.com | url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/dead%20kennedys/ | access-date=September 5, 2014}}</ref>

The EP ''[[In God We Trust, Inc.]]'' contained the song "[[Nazi Punks Fuck Off!]]" as well as "We've Got A Bigger Problem Now", a rewritten version of "California über alles" about [[Ronald Reagan]]. Punk musician and scholar [[Vic Bondi]] considers the latter song to be the song that "defined the lyrical agenda of much of hardcore music, and represented its break with punk".<ref>{{cite book|first=Vic|last=Bondi|authorlink=Vic Bondi|title=Feeding Noise Back Into the System: Hardcore, Hip Hop, and Heavy Metal|publisher=Brandeis University|location=Boston, Massachusetts|date=May 1, 1993|page=5}}</ref> The band's most controversial album, ''[[Frankenchrist]]'', brought with it the song "MTV Get Off the Air," which accused [[MTV]] of promoting poor quality music and sedating the public. The album also contained a controversial poster by Swiss [[surrealism|surrealist]] artist [[H. R. Giger]] entitled ''[[Penis Landscape]]''.

Dead Kennedys toured widely during their career, starting in the late 1970s. They began playing at San Francisco's Mabuhay Gardens (their home base) and other Bay Area venues, later branching out to shows in southern Californian clubs (most notably the [[Whisky a Go Go]]), but eventually they moved to major clubs across the country, including [[CBGB]] in New York. Later, they played to larger audiences such as at the 1980 Bay Area Music Awards (where they played the notorious "[[Pull My Strings]]" for the only time), and headlined the 1983 Rock Against Reagan festival.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Spencer|last=Ackerman|url=http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=online&s=ackerman061404|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040628105334/http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=online&s=ackerman061404|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2004|title=Reagan's Punk Rock. Reagan Youth|magazine=[[The New Republic]]|date=June 14, 2004}}</ref>

On May 7, 1994, punk rock fans who believed Biafra was a "[[Selling out|sell out]]" attacked him at the [[924 Gilman Street]] club in [[Berkeley, California]]. Biafra claims that he was attacked by a man nicknamed Cretin, who crashed into him while [[moshing]]. The crash injured Biafra's leg, causing an argument between the two men. During the argument, Cretin pushed Biafra to the floor and five or six friends of Cretin assaulted Biafra while he was down, yelling "Sellout rock star, kick him", and attempting to pull out his hair.<ref name="Goldberg">{{cite magazine|first=Michael|last=Goldberg|title=Jello Biafra Attacked|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=July 14, 1994}}</ref> Biafra was later hospitalized with serious injuries.<ref group="nb">[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3666|pure_url=yes}} ''Allmusic''], having had both his legs broken. However, a July 1994 issue of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' claims that his injuries included "extensive damage to the ligaments of one knee as well as a superficial head wound."</ref> The attack derailed Biafra's plans for both a Canadian spoken-word tour and an accompanying album, and the production of ''[[Pure Chewing Satisfaction]]'' was halted. However, Biafra returned to the Gilman club a few months after the incident to perform a spoken-word performance as an act of reconciliation with the club.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Jack Gilman (director), Jello Biafra, Ian MacKaye, Lars Frederickson, Matt Freeman|url=http://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/title/2928/ |title=924 Gilman St DVD: Let's Talk About Tact and Timing |publisher=Microcosm Publishing |location=Portland, Oregon|date=2008|access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053526/http://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/title/2928/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Biafra has been a prominent figure in the Californian punk scene and was one of the third-generation members of the San Francisco punk community. Many later hardcore bands have cited Dead Kennedys as a major influence.<ref group="nb">Biafra's spoken word work has been less influential to other artists than his music. However, Biafra's spoken word work is often mentioned by [[Sean Kennedy (author)|Sean Kennedy]] as being a major influence on his work: "Episode 2". ''SKTFMTV''. By Sean Kennedy. Perf. Sean Kennedy, Jello Biafra. [http://sktfmtv.rantmedia.ca/ Rantmedia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060203233939/http://sktfmtv.rantmedia.ca/ |date=February 3, 2006 }}.</ref> Hardcore punk author [[Steven Blush]] describes Biafra as hardcore's "biggest star" who was a "powerful presence whose political insurgence and rabid fandom made him the father figure of a burgeoning subculture [and an] inspirational force [who] could also be a real prick ... Biafra was a visionary, incendiary [performer]."<ref>{{cite book|first=Steven|last=Blush|title=American Hardcore: A Tribal History|publisher=[[Feral House]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=2001|pages=102–103|isbn=0-922915-71-7}}</ref>

After Dead Kennedys disbanded, Biafra's new songs were recorded with other bands, and he released only spoken word albums as solo projects. These collaborations had less popularity than Biafra's earlier work. However, his song "That's Progress", originally recorded with [[D.O.A. (band)|D.O.A.]] for the album ''Last Scream of the Missing Neighbors'', received considerable exposure when it appeared on the album ''[[Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1]]''.

====Obscenity prosecution====
In April 1986, police officers raided Biafra's house in response to complaints by the [[Parents Music Resource Center]] (PMRC).<ref>{{cite news|first=Ted|last=Drozdowski|url=http://www.providencephoenix.com/archive/music/97/07/10/JELLO.html|title=Bullshit detector|newspaper=[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|Providence Phoenix]]|date=July 10–17, 1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060304152601/http://www.providencephoenix.com/archive/music/97/07/10/JELLO.html |archive-date=March 4, 2006|access-date=January 24, 2006}}</ref> In June 1986, L.A. deputy city attorney Michael Guarino, working under City Attorney [[James Hahn]], brought Biafra to trial in Los Angeles for distributing "harmful material to minors" in the Dead Kennedys album ''[[Frankenchrist]]''.<ref group="nb">Guarino alleged that a family claimed that the poster had harmed their children. This was the first instance of a musician on trial for obscenity. Many sources cite the trial of [[2 Live Crew]] as the first, but that trial was three years after Biafra's.</ref> However, the dispute was about neither the music nor the lyrics from the album, but rather the print of the H. R. Giger poster ''Landscape XX'' (''[[Penis Landscape]]'') included with the album.

Music author [[Reebee Garofalo]] argued that Biafra and Alternative Tentacles may have been targeted because the label was a "small, self-managed and self-supported company that could ill afford a protracted legal battle."<ref>{{cite book|first=Reebee|last=Garofalo|title=Rockin' Out: Popular Music in the USA|publisher=[[Allyn & Bacon]]|location=Boston, Massachusetts|date=1997|pages=433–434|isbn=0-205-13703-2}}</ref> Facing the possible sentence of a year in jail and a $2,000 fine, Biafra, [[Dirk Dirksen]], and Suzanne Stefanac founded the No More Censorship Defense Fund, a benefit featuring several punk rock bands, to help pay for his legal fees, which neither he nor his record label could afford. The jury deadlocked 5 to 7 in favor of acquittal, prompting a mistrial; despite a motion to retry the case, the judge ordered all charges dropped.<ref>{{cite news|title=Deadlock in Biafra Trial Results in Dismissal|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-28-me-2818-story.html|agency=[[Associated Press]]|newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=August 28, 1997}}</ref> Dead Kennedys disbanded during the trial, in December 1986, due to the mounting legal costs; in the wake of their disbandment, Biafra made a career of his spoken word performances.

Biafra has a [[cameo role]] in the 1988 film ''[[Tapeheads]]''. He plays an [[FBI]] agent who arrests the two protagonists (played by [[Tim Robbins]] and [[John Cusack]]). While arresting them, his character asks "Remember what we did to Jello Biafra?" lampooning the obscenity prosecution.

On March 25, 2005, Biafra appeared on the U.S. radio program ''[[This American Life]]'', [http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/285/Know-Your-Enemy "Episode 285: Know Your Enemy"], which featured a phone call between Jello Biafra and Michael Guarino, the prosecutor in the ''Frankenchrist'' trial.

''Porn Rock: The Obscenity Trial of Jello Biafra'', a play written by Lawrence Meyers, was staged in Los Angeles in February 2025, depicting the obscenity prosecution and its implications.<ref name="PORN ROCK">{{cite web |last1=Scheffler |first1=Daniel |title=PORN ROCK |url=https://www.spin.com/2025/03/porn-rock-trial-of-jello-biafra/ |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]] |access-date=April 17, 2025 |date=March 5, 2025}}</ref>

====Lawsuit and reunion activities====
In October 1998, three former members of Dead Kennedys sued Biafra for nonpayment of royalties. The other members of Dead Kennedys alleged that Biafra, in his capacity as the head of [[Alternative Tentacles]] records, discovered an accounting error amounting to some $75,000 in unpaid royalties over almost a decade. Rather than informing his bandmates of this mistake, the suit alleged, Biafra knowingly concealed the information until a [[whistleblower]] employee at the record label notified the band.<ref>''Dead Kennedys v. Biafra'', 46 F.Supp.2d 1028 (1999)</ref>

According to Biafra, the suit resulted from his refusal to allow one of the band's most well-known singles, "[[Holiday in Cambodia]]", to be used in a commercial for [[Levi's]] Dockers; Biafra opposes Levi's because of his belief that they use unfair business practices and [[sweatshop|sweatshop labor]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Kimberly|last=Chun|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2001/05/11/kim.DTL&type=music|title=Everything's Better With Jello|newspaper=[[The San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=May 11, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417164137/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fgate%2Farchive%2F2001%2F05%2F11%2Fkim.DTL&type=music |archive-date=April 17, 2008 }}</ref> Biafra maintained that he had never denied them royalties and that he himself had not even received royalties for re-releases of their albums or "posthumous" live albums which had been licensed to other labels by the Decay Music partnership. Decay Music denied this charge and have posted what they say are his cashed royalty checks, written to his legal name of Eric Boucher.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deadkennedys.com/check.htm |title=Welcome To The Official Website For Dead Kennedys |publisher=Deadkennedys.com |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213131/http://www.deadkennedys.com/check.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Biafra also complained about the songwriting credits in new reissues and archival live albums of songs, alleging that he was the sole composer of songs that were wrongly credited to the entire band.

In May 2000, a jury found Biafra and Alternative Tentacles liable by not promptly informing his former bandmates of the accounting error and instead withholding the information during subsequent discussions and contractual negotiations. Biafra was ordered to pay $200,000, including $20,000 in [[punitive damages]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=17130 |title=Dead Kennedys Plan New Archival Releases Following Judgement Against Former Lead Singer Jello Biafra |website=Mi2N.com |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=May 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526185731/http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=17130 |url-status=dead }}</ref> After an appeal by Biafra's lawyers, in June 2003, the California Court of Appeals unanimously upheld all the conditions of the 2000 verdict against Biafra and Alternative Tentacles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phillaw.com/casepdfs/Dead%20Kennedys%20Superior%20Court.pdf |title=Westlaw :''Dead Kennedys vs. Biafra'' |publisher=Phillaw.com |access-date=August 3, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227000532/http://www.phillaw.com/casepdfs/Dead%20Kennedys%20Superior%20Court.pdf |archive-date=February 27, 2012 }}</ref> Furthermore, the plaintiffs were awarded the rights to most of Dead Kennedys recorded works—which accounted for about half the sales for Alternative Tentacles.<ref>[http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/jello-biafra-gets-shot-down-by-dead-kennedys/ JELLO BIAFRA Gets Shot Down By DEAD KENNEDYS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202190146/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/jello-biafra-gets-shot-down-by-dead-kennedys/ |date=February 2, 2018 }} Blabbermouth.com, accessed January 3, 2017</ref> Now in control of the Dead Kennedys name, Biafra's former bandmates went on tour with a new lead vocalist.<ref name=Penalty>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/28168 |title=Jeff Penalty leaves the Dead Kennedys |website=www.punknews.org|date=March 20, 2008 |access-date=July 17, 2011 |archive-date=May 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521100001/http://www.punknews.org/article/28168 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a May 2025 interview with ''[[Guitar World]]'', [[East Bay Ray]] discussed a potential reunion with Jello Biafra saying that he and [[Klaus Fluoride]] were open to a reunion however it would never happen and that Biafra was to blame. He said that over the years lucrative offers such as one in 2017 from [[Riot Fest]] were proposed to the band but Biafra was against it. “It’s not an issue for me or Klaus. It’s Biafra that turns down any offers for us to do something; we don’t have any problem.” East Bay Ray went on criticize Biafra's post Dead Kennedys career and how Biafra took credit for writing most of the band's songs in which he took exception to Biafra's claims by saying “We actually wrote as a band, where in effect, due to the chemistry between us, it was a case of two and two equaling five. None of us has had a solo career that was bigger than Dead Kennedys, which, to me, shows the power of a bunch of talented people getting together and creating something that was far greater than the sum of its parts. Jello didn’t bring in the songs. I know he’s created the myth that he wrote them all, but the question here is that if he did, why didn’t he ever do anything significant after leaving the band?,” adding, “[[Iggy Pop|Iggy]] left [[the Stooges]] and had a career; ditto [[Lou Reed]] with [[the Velvet Underground]] or [[Morrissey]] with [[the Smiths]]. Where’s Biafra’s solo career with a bunch of great songs? The songs were written in numerous different ways. “Holiday in Cambodia” started as a jam in the rehearsal studio” he said.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dead Kennedys’ East Bay Ray: Jello Biafra Won’t Reunite With Us Despite Lucrative Offers |url=https://consequence.net/2025/05/dead-kennedys-jello-biafra-wont-reunite/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR43ZRsml_c4QMnJl9l_jFfYf8k-pRkAIMWPeRuOQjgnY0iaVCU783wwOHt4cQ_aem_xRDdYh9x3cmG2HR0n-aMvA|website=Consequence | date=May 7, 2025 |access-date=May 8, 2025}}</ref>

Biafra, in a 2012 interview with the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'', stated he was not happy with the current direction of his former bandmates, nor did he want to restart Dead Kennedys for [[nostalgia]] purposes:

<blockquote>We haven't talked in a dozen years. In their hearts they've become [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and I just wouldn't do something like that unless we can bring back the real thing. In a way getting me back into the band would be their worst nightmare, like make them rehearse. When people tell me that I owe it to the fans to regurgitate nothing but old music with the people I used to play with, that's totally the opposite of what punk and Dead Kennedys means to me. The true spirit of the whole thing is to keep going, keep moving and make more new stuff. Nobody was more cynical than the original punks about nostalgia and retro because of all the rage on TV and people started to get nostalgic in goofy ass ways for the sixties and they were thinking, "Yeah, that will never happen to us." That's not what I'm here for, sorry. It's not as if the people who come to the Guantanamo School of Medicine shows wanting nothing but old Dead Kennedys songs don't leave with a smile on their face once they've heard the new songs. It's not like I've forgot how to write this shit.<ref name="TBT">{{cite web |last1=Spears |first1=Steve |title=Jello Biafra talks about Dead Kennedys reunion |url=https://www.tampabay.com/content/jello-biafra-talks-about-dead-kennedys-reunion/2058581/ |website=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |access-date=May 13, 2025 |date=August 24, 2012}}</ref></blockquote>

===Other bands===
In the early 1980s, Biafra collaborated with musicians Christian Lunch and [[Adrian Borland]] (of [[The Sound (band)|the Sound]]) and [[Morgan Fisher]] (of [[Mott the Hoople]]) for the [[electropunk]] musical project [[the Witch Trials]], releasing one self-titled EP in its lifetime.

In 1988, Biafra, with [[Al Jourgensen]] and [[Paul Barker]] of the band [[Ministry (band)|Ministry]], and [[Jeff Ward (musician)|Jeff Ward]], formed [[Lard (band)|Lard]]. The band became yet another side project for Ministry, with Biafra providing vocals and lyrics. According to a March 2009 interview with Jourgensen, he and Biafra are working on a new Lard album, which is being recorded in Jourgensen's El Paso studio.<ref>{{cite web
 |url = http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Al+Jourgensen%3A+Sex-O+Olympic-O/
 |title = Al Jourgensen: Sex-O Olympic-O
 |publisher = [[SuicideGirls.com]]
 |date = March 12, 2009
|access-date = March 12, 2009
|archive-date = March 16, 2009
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090316193551/http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Al%2BJourgensen%3A%2BSex-O%2BOlympic-O/
 |url-status = live
 }}</ref> Jourgensen also claimed in 2021 that Biafra was in the works on a new Lard album. While working on the film ''[[Terminal City Ricochet]]'' in 1989, Biafra did a song for the film's soundtrack with [[D.O.A. (band)|D.O.A.]]. As a result, Biafra worked with D.O.A. on the album ''[[Last Scream of the Missing Neighbors]]''. Biafra also worked with [[Nomeansno]] on the soundtrack, which led to their collaboration on the album ''[[The Sky Is Falling and I Want My Mommy]]'' the following year. Biafra also provided lyrics for the song "Biotech is Godzilla" for Sepultura's 1993 album ''[[Chaos A.D.]]''.

In 1999, Biafra and other members of the [[anti-globalization]] movement protested the [[WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 protest activity|WTO Meeting of 1999]] in [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]]. Along with other prominent West Coast musicians, he formed the short-lived band [[No WTO Combo]] to help promote the movement's cause. The band was originally scheduled to play during the protest, but the performance was canceled due to riots. The band performed a short set the following night at the Showbox in downtown Seattle (outside the designated area), along with the hip-hop group [[Michael Franti|Spearhead]]. No WTO Combo later released a CD of recordings from the concert, entitled ''[[Live from the Battle in Seattle]]''.

As of late 2005, Biafra was performing with the band the Melvins under the name "Jello Biafra and the Melvins", though fans sometimes refer to them as "the Jelvins". Together they have released two albums, and worked on material for a third collaborative release, much of which was premiered live at two concerts at the [[Great American Music Hall]] in San Francisco during an event called Biafra Five-O, commemorating Biafra's 50th birthday, the 30th anniversary of the founding of Dead Kennedys, and the beginning of legalized same-sex marriage in California. Biafra was also working with a band known as [[Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine]], which included Ralph Spight of [[Victims Family]] on guitar and Billy Gould of [[Faith No More]] on bass. This group debuted during Biafra Five-O.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

In 2011, Biafra appeared in a singular concert event with an all-star cast of Southern musicians including members from [[Cowboy Mouth]], [[Dash Rip Rock]], Mojo Nixon, and [[Down (band)|Down]] entitled, "Jello Biafra and the New Orleans Raunch & Soul All Stars" who performed an array of classic Soul covers to a packed house at the 12-Bar in New Orleans, Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web
 |url = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFF59BD316B3ED29A
 |title = Jello Biafra & the New Orleans Raunch & Soul All Stars
 |publisher = WisdomStudios.com
 |date = May 12, 2011
|access-date = May 12, 2011
|archive-date = July 7, 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130707200635/http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFF59BD316B3ED29A
 |url-status = live
 }}</ref> He would later reunite with many of the same musicians during the Carnival season 2014 to revisit many of these classics in Siberia, New Orleans. A live album from the 2011 performance, ''[[Walk on Jindal's Splinters]]'', and a companion single, ''Fannie May''/''Just a Little Bit'', were released in 2015.

In 2025, as part of their ''[[Phantom Island Tour|Field of Vision]]'' Jello Biafra performed a rendition of [[Police Truck]] with [[King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Watch Jello Biafra join King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard on Dead Kennedys' "Police Truck" |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/watch-jello-biafra-join-king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-on-dead-kennedys-police-truck/ |website=[[Brooklyn Vegan]] |access-date=17 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Chelosky |first1=Danielle |title=Watch King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Cover Dead Kennedys With Jello Biafra |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2319578/watch-king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard-cover-dead-kennedys-with-jello-biafra/news/ |website=[[Stereogum]] |access-date=17 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lach |first1=Stef |title=Watch Jello Biafra join King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard for cover of Dead Kennedys classic Police Truck |url=https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/watch-jello-biafra-join-king-gizzard-and-the-lizard-wizard-for-cover-of-dead-kennedys-classic-police-truck |website=Louder Sound |publisher=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] |access-date=17 August 2025}}</ref>

===Alternative Tentacles===
In June 1979, Biafra co-founded the record label Alternative Tentacles, with which Dead Kennedys released their first single, "California über alles".<ref group="nb">In [http://www.phillaw.com/casepdfs/Dead%20Kennedys%20Superior%20Court.pdf Dead Kennedys v. Jello Biafra] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227000532/http://www.phillaw.com/casepdfs/Dead%20Kennedys%20Superior%20Court.pdf |date=February 27, 2012 }}, Cal.App.1 Dist.,2003 A094272, the label was legally formalized in 1981 but it existed informally since 1979. Biafra became the sole owner of the label in 1986.</ref> The label was created to allow the band to release albums without having to deal with pressure from [[major label]]s to change their music, although the major labels were not willing to sign the band due to their songs being deemed too controversial.<ref name="Huey">Huey, Steve. "[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p3666|pure_url=yes}} Jello Biafra]". ''Allmusic''. Retrieved February 20, 2005.</ref> After dealing with [[Cherry Red Records|Cherry Red]] in the UK and [[IRS Records]] in the US for their first album ''Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables'', the band released all later albums, and later pressings of ''Fresh Fruit'' on Alternative Tentacles. The exception was live albums released after the band's break-up, which the other band members compiled from recordings in the band partnership's vaults without Biafra's input or endorsement.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}. Biafra has been the owner of the company since its founding, though he does not receive a salary for his position; Biafra has referred to his position in the company as "absentee thoughtlord".<ref name="Progressive">Vander Molen, Jodi. "[http://www.progressive.org/mag_intvbiafra Jello Biafra Interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060625162455/http://progressive.org/mag_intvbiafra/ |date=June 25, 2006 }}". ''The Progressive''. February 2002.</ref>

Biafra is a collector of unusual [[vinyl records]] of all kinds, from 1950s and 1960s ethno-pop recordings by the likes of [[Les Baxter]] and [[Juan García Esquivel|Esquivel]] to vanity pressings that have circulated regionally, to German crooner [[Heino]] (for whom he would later participate in the documentary ''Heino: Made In Germany''); he cites his always growing collection as one of his biggest musical influences. In 1993 he gave an interview to [[RE/Search|RE/Search Publications]] for their second ''Incredibly Strange Music'' book focusing primarily on these records, and later participated in a two-part episode of [[Fuse (TV channel)|Fuse TV]]'s program ''Crate Diggers'' on the same subject.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jeEEwSQZoQ |title=Jello Biafra (Part 1) &#124; Crate Diggers - YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |date=August 13, 2014 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219165229/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jeEEwSQZoQ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu2_SJcbWNE |title=Jello Biafra (Part 2) &#124; Crate Diggers &#124; Fuse - YouTube |website=[[YouTube]] |date=August 13, 2014 |access-date=February 18, 2017 |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925084920/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu2_SJcbWNE |url-status=live }}</ref> His interest in such recordings, often categorized as [[outsider music]], led to his discovery of the prolific (and schizophrenic) singer/songwriter/artist [[Wesley Willis]], whom he signed to Alternative Tentacles in 1994, preceding Willis' major label deal with [[American Recordings (US)|American Recordings]]. His collection grew so large that on October 1, 2005, Biafra donated a portion of his collection to an annual yard sale co-promoted by Alternative Tentacles and held at their warehouse in [[Emeryville, California]].<ref name="yardsale">{{cite web |url=http://www.alternativetentacles.com/news.php?page=3&news_section=MAIN&window_size=15&sd=E206Wu3H9XDt8-nfY3f |title=News |publisher=Alternative Tentacles |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312061547/http://www.alternativetentacles.com/news.php?news_section=main&page=3&sd=e206wu3h9xdt8-nfy3f&window_size=15 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2006, along with Alternative Tentacles employee and [[the Frisk]] lead singer Jesse Luscious, Biafra began co-hosting ''The Alternative Tentacles Batcast'', a downloadable [[podcast]] hosted by alternativetentacles.com. The show primarily focuses on interviews with artists and bands that are currently signed to the Alternative Tentacles label, although there are also occasional episodes where Biafra devoted the show to answering fan questions.

==Spoken word==
[[File:Jellobiafra.jpg|thumb|left|Biafra in an appearance in Aarau, Switzerland]]

Biafra became a spoken word artist in January 1986 with a performance at [[University of California, Los Angeles]]. In his performance, he combined humor with his political beliefs, much in the same way that he did with the lyrics to his songs. Despite his continued spoken word performances, he did not begin recording spoken word albums until after the disbanding of Dead Kennedys.

His ninth spoken word album, ''[[In the Grip of Official Treason]]'', was released in October 2006.

Biafra was also featured in the British band [[Pitchshifter]]'s song ''[[Deviant (Pitchshifter album)|As Seen on TV]]'' reciting the words of dystopian futuristic radio advertisements.

==Politics==
Biafra has resisted identifying with any particular ideology, saying, "I don't label myself strictly an anarchist or a socialist or let alone a libertarian or something like that,"<ref>{{cite web|first=Robert|last=Wellington|url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/jello-biafra-and-the-guantanamo-school-of-medicine-performing-in-san-jose/2002972/|title=Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine Performing in San Jose|website=NBC Bay Area|date= July 20, 2016|access-date=July 13, 2021}}</ref> In a 2012 interview, Biafra said "I'm very pro-tax as long as it goes for the right things. I don't mind paying more money as long as it's going to provide shelter for people sleeping in the street or getting the schools fixed back up, getting the infrastructure up to the standards of other countries, including a high-speed rail system. I'm totally down with that."<ref name=ghettoblaster>{{cite magazine |url=http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2012/interview-civics-101-with-jello-biafra/ |title=Interview: Civics 101 with Jello Biafra |magazine=Ghettoblaster Magazine |date=December 13, 2012 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826115208/http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2012/interview-civics-101-with-jello-biafra/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Mayoral campaign===
{{main|1979 San Francisco mayoral election}}
{{quote box | width = 22em | quote = For those of them who have seen my candidacy as a publicity stunt or a joke, they should keep in mind that it is no more of a joke, and no less of a joke, than anyone else they care to name.|source = —Jello Biafra, ''Dead Kennedys: The Early Years''<ref>''Dead Kennedys: The Early Years'' (DVD). San Francisco, CA/Oaks, PA: Target Video/MVD, 2002.</ref>}}

[[1979 San Francisco mayoral election|In the autumn of 1979]], Biafra ran for mayor of San Francisco, using the [[Jell-O]] [[ad campaign]] catchphrase, "There's always room for Jello", as his campaign slogan. Having entered the race before creating a campaign platform, Biafra later wrote his platform on a napkin while attending a [[Pere Ubu (band)|Pere Ubu]] concert where Dead Kennedys drummer Ted told Biafra, "Biafra, you have such a big mouth that you should run for Mayor." As he campaigned, Biafra wore campaign T-shirts from his opponent [[Quentin L. Kopp|Quentin Kopp]]'s previous campaign and at one point vacuumed leaves off the front lawn of another opponent, [[Dianne Feinstein]], to mock her publicity stunt of sweeping streets in downtown San Francisco for a few hours. He also made a whistlestop campaign tour along the [[Bay Area Rapid Transit|BART]] line. Supporters committed equally odd actions; two well-known signs held by supporters said "If he doesn't win I'll kill myself" and "What if he does win?"<ref name="runformayor">Biafra, Jello. "Running for Mayor". ''I Blow Minds for a Living''. San Francisco: Alternative Tentacles. 1991.</ref>

At the time, in San Francisco, any individual could legally run for mayor if a petition was signed by 1500 people or if $1500 was paid. Biafra paid $900 and got signatures over time and eventually became a legal candidate, meaning he received statements put in voters' pamphlets and equal news coverage.

His platform included unconventional points such as forcing businessmen to wear clown suits within city limits, erecting statues of [[Dan White]], who [[Moscone–Milk assassinations|assassinated]] Mayor [[George Moscone]] and City Supervisor [[Harvey Milk]] in 1978, around the city and allowing the parks department to sell eggs and tomatoes with which people could pelt the statues,<ref>{{cite news |last=Silvers |first=Emma |date=November 4, 2014 |title=35 Years Ago Today, Jello Biafra Came In Fourth In the S.F. Mayoral Race |url=https://archives.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2014/11/04/35-years-ago-today-jello-biafra-came-in-fourth-in-the-sf-mayoral-race |work=SF Weekly |location=USA |access-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-date=August 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805180837/https://archives.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2014/11/04/35-years-ago-today-jello-biafra-came-in-fourth-in-the-sf-mayoral-race |url-status=live }}</ref> hiring workers who had lost their jobs due to a tax initiative to panhandle in wealthy neighborhoods (including Feinstein's), and a citywide ban on cars.<ref name="Huey"/> Biafra has expressed irritation that these parts of his platform attained such notoriety, preferring instead to be remembered for serious proposals such as legalizing [[squatting]] in vacant, tax-delinquent buildings and requiring police officers to run for election by the people of the neighborhoods they patrol.<ref name="runformayor"/>

Biafra finished fourth out of a field of ten in the first round of voting, receiving 3.79 percent of the vote (6,591 votes);<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=130138|title = San Francisco Mayor – Nov 6, 1979|publisher = Our Campaigns|access-date = November 25, 2016|archive-date = March 4, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000953/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=130138|url-status = live}}</ref> he failed to advance to the [[Two-round system|runoff]] and Dianne Feinstein won the second round of the voting.

===Presidential campaign===
[[File:Jello Biafra talks about California politicsCC.jpg|alt=|thumb|left|Biafra discussing politics in 2006]]
In [[2000 United States presidential election|2000]], the [[Green Party of New York|New York State Green Party]] drafted Biafra as a candidate for the Green Party presidential nomination, and a few supporters were elected to the party's nominating [[2000 Green National Convention|convention]] in [[Denver|Denver, Colorado]]. Biafra chose death row inmate [[Mumia Abu-Jamal]] as his running mate. The party overwhelmingly chose [[Ralph Nader]] as the presidential candidate with 295 of the 319 delegate votes. Biafra received 10 votes.

Biafra, along with a camera crew (dubbed by Biafra as "The Camcorder Truth Jihad"), later reported for the [[Independent Media Center]] at the Republican and Democratic conventions.

===Post-2000===
After losing the 2000 nomination, Biafra became highly active in Nader's presidential campaign, as well as in [[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] and [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]. During the [[Ralph Nader presidential campaign, 2008|2008 campaign]] Jello played at rallies<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.livedaily.com/blog/2518.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090107101529/http://livedaily.com/blog/2518.html |archive-date=January 7, 2009 |title=Tom Morello, Jello Biafra to appear at Ralph Nader rallies}}</ref> and answered questions for journalists in support of Nader. When [[gay rights]] activists accused Nader of costing [[Al Gore]] the 2000 election, Biafra reminded them that [[Tipper Gore]]'s [[Parents Music Resource Center]] wanted warning stickers on albums with content referencing [[homosexuality]].<ref name=ghettoblaster/>

After [[Barack Obama]] won the general election, Biafra wrote an open letter making suggestions on how to run his term as president.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/31618 |title=Jello Biafra writes open letter to Obama |website=www.punknews.org |date=December 13, 2008 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=June 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605022709/http://www.punknews.org/article/31618 |url-status=live }}</ref> Biafra criticized Obama during his term, stating that "Obama even won the award for best advertising campaign of 2008."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spinner.com/2009/10/20/jello-biafra-calls-out-bush-and-obama-on-the-audacity-of-hype/ |title=AOL Radio – Free Internet Radio – Listen to Millions of Songs, Hundreds of Stations Online |publisher=Spinner.com |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614034644/http://www.spinner.com/2009/10/20/jello-biafra-calls-out-bush-and-obama-on-the-audacity-of-hype/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Biafra dubbed Obama "Barackstar O'Bummer".<ref name=ghettoblaster/> Biafra refused to support Obama in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://215mag.com/jello-biafra-i-didnt-vote-for-obama-in-2008-and-no-way-am-i-voting-for-him-now/ |title=Jello Biafra: "..Didn't Vote For Obama In '08, No Way I'm Voting For Him Now" |publisher=215mag.com |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808053714/http://215mag.com/jello-biafra-i-didnt-vote-for-obama-in-2008-and-no-way-am-i-voting-for-him-now/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Biafra has stated that he feels that Obama continued many of [[George W. Bush]]'s policies, summarizing Obama's policies as containing "worse and worse laws against human rights and more and more illegal unconstitutional spying."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/48637/interviews-jello-biafra |title=Interviews: Jello Biafra |website=www.punknews.org |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-date=August 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809234938/http://www.punknews.org/article/48637/interviews-jello-biafra |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 18, 2015, it was announced that Biafra would be supporting [[Bernie Sanders]] in [[Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign|his campaign]] for the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://berniesanders.com/artists/|title=Artists and Cultural Leaders For Bernie Sanders|publisher=berniesanders.com|access-date=September 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104201830/http://berniesanders.com/artists/|archive-date=January 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> He has strongly criticized the political position of [[Donald Trump]], saying "how can people be so fucking stupid" on hearing the election result.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/jello-biafra-on-donald-trump-victory-how-can-people-be-so-fking-stupid/|title=Jello Biafra On Donald Trump: How can people be so fucking stupid|journal=Blabbermouth|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=August 16, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803182315/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/jello-biafra-on-donald-trump-victory-how-can-people-be-so-fking-stupid|url-status=live}}</ref> He also criticized Trump's cabinet picks, saying of then-Secretary of Energy [[Rick Perry]], "The last person we want with their finger on the nuclear button is somebody connected to this extreme Christianist doomsday cult."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Steve|last=Knopper|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/jello-biafra-on-how-to-resist-trump-why-punk-still-matters-w458690|title=Jello Biafra on How to Stand Up to Trump, Why Punk Still Matters|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=January 3, 2017|access-date=August 16, 2017|archive-date=August 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816235313/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/jello-biafra-on-how-to-resist-trump-why-punk-still-matters-w458690|url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 28, 2020, Jello announced that he would be supporting both [[Elizabeth Warren]] and Bernie Sanders in the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]]. "I personally like Warren slightly better than Bernie because: 1) She’s done her homework. Bernie too, but not to quite the same depth or degree. 2) Think about it—who really has a better chance of actually beating Trump, and helping flip Congress and state legislatures? It’s Elizabeth Warren, hands down." He went on to say that he considered [[Joe Biden]] and [[Mike Bloomberg]] "almost as bad as Trump".<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://alternativetentacles.com/2020/02/28/jello-biafras-2020-presidential-endorsement/|title=Jello Biafra's 2020 presidential endorsement|journal=[[Alternative Tentacles]]|date=February 28, 2020|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=February 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229030611/https://alternativetentacles.com/2020/02/28/jello-biafras-2020-presidential-endorsement/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 12, 2020, Biafra expressed disappointment that Sanders had suspended his campaign for the 2020 Democratic nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://alternativetentacles.com/2020/04/12/what-would-jello-do-part-74-disaster-capitalism/|title=What Would Jello Do? Part 74 - Disaster Capitalism|work=[[Alternative Tentacles]]|date=April 12, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020|archive-date=May 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516040404/https://alternativetentacles.com/2020/04/12/what-would-jello-do-part-74-disaster-capitalism/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Boycott of Israel ===
In mid-2011 Jello Biafra and his band were scheduled to play at the Barby Club in [[Tel Aviv]]. They came under pressure by the pro-Palestinian [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions]] (BDS) campaign, and finally decided to cancel the concert – after a debate which according to Biafra "deeply tore at the fabric of our band ... This whole controversy has been one of the most intense situations of my life – and I thrive on intense situations".

Biafra then decided to travel to Israel and the [[Palestinian Occupied Territories]], at his own expense, and talk with Israeli and Palestinian activists as well as with fans disappointed at his cancellation. In the article stating his conclusions he wrote:
"I will not perform in Israel unless it is a pro-human rights, anti-occupation event, that does not violate the spirit of the boycott. Each musician, artist, etc. must decide this for themselves. I am staying away for now, but am also really creeped out by the attitudes of some of the hardliners and hope someday to find a way to contribute something positive here. I will not march or sign on with anyone who runs around calling people Zionazis and is more interested in making threats than making friends."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alternativetentacles.com/page.php?page=jello_israel |title=Jello Biafra – Thoughts on Visit to Israel |publisher=Alternative Tentacles |date=May 15, 2011 |access-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022155149/http://www.alternativetentacles.com/page.php?page=jello_israel |archive-date=October 22, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Electoral history===
{{Election box begin no change | title = San Francisco mayoral election, 1979 (first round)<br>November 6, 1979<ref>{{cite news |title=Complete Eastbay, S.F. election results |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-complete-eastbay-sf-e/159447997/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=[[Oakland Tribune]] |date=7 November 1979}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  | candidate  = [[Dianne Feinstein]] (incumbent)
  | votes      = 81,115
 | percentage  = 42.15
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
  | party      = Independent (United States)
  | candidate  = [[Quentin L. Kopp]]
  | votes      = 77,784
  | percentage = 40.42
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party      = Nonpartisan candidate
  | candidate  = David Scott
  | votes      = 18,506
  | percentage = 9.60
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party      = Nonpartisan candidate
  | candidate  = Jello Biafra
  | votes      = 6,591
  | percentage = 3.79
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party      = Nonpartisan candidate
  | candidate  = Sylvia Weinstein
  | votes      = 3,529
  | percentage = 2.03
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party      = Nonpartisan candidate
  | candidate  = Cesar Ascarrunz
  | votes      = 1,739
  | percentage = 1.00
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
  | party      = Nonpartisan candidate
  | candidate  = ''Scattering''
  | votes      = 3,198
  | percentage = 1.66
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=Green Party Primary,<br>[[2000 United States presidential election]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - US President - G Primaries Race - Mar 07, 2000 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=112376 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com |access-date=21 November 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Ralph Nader]]
  |votes      = 49,276
  |percentage = 91.08
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Joel Kovel]]
  |votes      = 4,294
  |percentage = 7.94
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jello Biafra
  |votes      = 356
  |percentage = 0.66
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = [[Stephen Gaskin]]
  |votes      = 134
  |percentage = 0.25
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = ''Scattering''
  |votes      = 44
  |percentage = 0.08
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Personal life==
Biafra married Theresa Soder, a.k.a. Ninotchka, lead singer of San Francisco-area punk band the Situations on October 31, 1981.<ref group="nb">Soder can be heard singing background vocals on "Forest Fire" and "Winnebago Warrior" from the Dead Kennedys' album ''[[Plastic Surgery Disasters]]'' and playing synthesizer on "Drug Me" from Dead Kennedys' ''Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables''.</ref> The wedding was conducted by [[Flipper (band)|Flipper]] vocalist/bassist Bruce Loose, who became a [[Universal Life Church]] minister specifically to conduct the ceremony, which took place in a graveyard.<ref name="biafra_marriage">''New Musical Express'' press clipping reproduced in ''Dead Kennedys: An Unauthorized Biography'', Last Gasp, 1983.</ref><!--This reference done from memory, would someone be able to double-check?--> The wedding reception, which members of Flipper, [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], and [[D.O.A. (band)|D.O.A.]] attended, was held at director Joe Rees' [[Target Video]] studios.<ref>{{cite book|first=Henry|last= Rollins|authorlink=Henry Rollins|title=[[Get in the Van|Get in the Van: On the Road with Black Flag]]|publisher=[[2.13.61|2.13.61 Publications]]|location=Los Angeles, California|date=1994|page=24|isbn=978-1-880985-24-3}}</ref> The marriage ended in divorce.<ref>RJ Smith, “Punk Rock on Trial,” [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]], February 2000</ref>

Biafra identifies as [[agnostic]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.podcastone.com/episode/Jello-Biafra | title=PodcastOne: Jello Biafra }}</ref> He has a [[Jewish]] great-grandparent but was unaware of this until he was in his mid-40s. Due to his secular upbringing and lack of knowledge of his distant Jewish ancestry until adulthood, he does not consider himself Jewish.<ref>{{cite web |title=What Does Jewish Rock Look Like? |work=Savage Minds |url=https://savageminds.org/2006/04/28/what-does-jewish-rock-look-like/ |access-date=April 30, 2018 |archive-date=April 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430181857/https://savageminds.org/2006/04/28/what-does-jewish-rock-look-like/ |url-status=dead }} April 28, 2006 – "He's Jewish." She was surprised to hear that The Tongued One was Jewish. Pressing my case, I continued: "Of course, most of your major rock stars are . ... (as later Jewish punks like Mick Jones, Jello Biafra, Joey Ramone, the Circle Jerks—all Jewish—and the Dictators—also all Jewish—would do).</ref><ref>Oy Oy Oy Gevalt! Jews and Punk: Jews and Punk
Michael Croland – 2016 – Social Science For example, in 2006, Jello Biafra of the legendary Dead Kennedys said that he was "not really Jewish" and was "not raised in a religious or ethnically conscious home," even though he "found out recently" that he had "1/8th" Jewish ancestry. As fascinating as it would be to explore some Dead Kennedys songs from the ...</ref>

He lives in [[San Francisco]], [[California]].

==Selected discography==
''For a more complete list, see the [[Jello Biafra discography]].''

===Dead Kennedys===
* 1980 – ''[[Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables]]''
* 1981 – ''[[In God We Trust, Inc.]]''
* 1982 – ''[[Plastic Surgery Disasters]]''
* 1985 – ''[[Frankenchrist]]''
* 1986 – ''[[Bedtime for Democracy]]''
* 1987 – ''[[Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death]]''

===Spoken word===
* 1987 – ''[[No More Cocoons]]''
* 1989 – ''[[High Priest of Harmful Matter: Tales From the Trial]]''
* 1991 – ''[[I Blow Minds for a Living]]''
* 1994 – ''[[Beyond the Valley of the Gift Police]]''
* 1998 – ''[[If Evolution Is Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Evolve]]''
* 2000 – ''[[Become the Media]]''
* 2002 – ''[[The Big Ka-Boom, Pt. 1]]''
* 2002 – ''[[Machine Gun in the Clown's Hand]]''
* 2006 – ''[[In the Grip of Official Treason]]''

===Lard===
* 1989 – ''[[The Power of Lard]]''
* 1990 – ''[[The Last Temptation of Reid]]''
* 1997 – ''[[Pure Chewing Satisfaction]]''
* 2000 – ''[[70's Rock Must Die]]''

===Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine===
* 2009 – ''[[The Audacity of Hype]]''
* 2011 – ''[[Enhanced Methods of Questioning]]''
* 2012 – SHOCK-U-PY
* 2013 – ''[[White People and the Damage Done]]''
* 2020 – ''Tea Party Revenge Porn''

===Collaborations===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Jello Biafra musical collaborations
|-
! Year
! Album
! Artist
|-
| 1980
| ''[[The Witch Trials]]''
| Jello Biafra with [[East Bay Ray]], [[Adrian Borland]], [[Morgan Fisher]], Christian Lunch
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1989
| ''[[Last Scream of the Missing Neighbors]]''
| Jello Biafra with [[D.O.A. (band)|D.O.A.]]
|-
| ''[[The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!]]''
| [[Ice-T]] (Several samples from Biafra's ''No More Coccons'' album, appear on "Shut Up, Be Happy" and "Freedom of Speech".)
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1991
| ''[[The Sky is Falling and I Want My Mommy]]''
| Jello Biafra with [[Nomeansno]]
|-
| ''[[Tumor Circus]]''
| Tumor Circus was a collaboration between Jello Biafra and members of [[Steel Pole Bath Tub]] and [[Grong Grong (band)|Grong Grong]]. [[Dave Brockie]] and [[Michael Bishop (bassist)|Michael Bishop]] of [[Gwar]] also provide backing vocals on one track.
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Chaos A.D.]]''
| [[Sepultura]] (Biafra appears on the track "Biotech Is Godzilla")
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Prairie Home Invasion]]''
| Jello Biafra & [[Mojo Nixon]]
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Notes from Thee Underground]]''
| [[Pigface]] (Biafra appears on the track "Hag-Seed")
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1997
| ''[[Ixnay on the Hombre]]''
| [[The Offspring]] (Biafra speaks on the opening track "Disclaimer")
|-
| ''[[Let Us Play!]]''
| [[Coldcut]] (Biafra is featured on "Every Home a Prison")
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2000
| ''[[Live from the Battle in Seattle]]''
| [[The No WTO Combo]]
|-
| ''[[Deviant (Pitchshifter album)|Deviant]]''
| [[Pitchshifter]] (Biafra is featured on "As Seen On TV")
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Never Breathe What You Can't See]]''
| rowspan="2" | Jello Biafra with [[the Melvins]]
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Sieg Howdy!]]''
|-
| 2008
| Jezebel/Speed Demon 7"
| Jello Biafra with members of Zen Guerillas
|-
| 2012
| We Occupy
| Jello Biafra with D.O.A.
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Walk on Jindal's Splinters]]''
| Jello Biafra and the New Orleans Raunch & Soul Allstars
|-
| 2016
| In the Age of Corporate Personhood
| Disaster Strikes (Biafra is featured on Age of Corporate Personhood)
|-
| 2019
| bi/MENTAL
| [[Le Butcherettes]] (Biafra is featured on spider/WAVES)
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Carnivore (Body Count album)|Carnivore]]''
| [[Body Count (band)|Body Count]] (Biafra is featured on "The Hate is Real")
|-
| 2022
| Who Are We?
| Al-Qasar (Biafra is featured on "Ya Malak")<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who Are We?, by Al-Qasar |url=https://alqasar.bandcamp.com/album/who-are-we |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=Al-Qasar |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==Filmography==
* 1977 – ''This Is America, Pt. 2''
* 1981 – ''[[Urgh! A Music War]]''
* 1983 – ''[[Anarchism in America (film)|Anarchism in America]]''
* 1986 – ''[[Lovedolls Superstar (film)|Lovedolls Superstar]]'', directed by [[Dave Markey]]
* 1987 – ''Household Affairs'', directed & filmed by [[Allen Ginsberg]]
* 1988 – ''[[Tapeheads]]'', directed by Bill Fishman
* 1990 – ''[[Terminal City Ricochet]]''
* 1991 – ''[[Highway 61 (film)|Highway 61]]'', directed by [[Bruce McDonald (director)|Bruce McDonald]]
* 1994 – ''[[Skulhedface (film)|Skulhedface]]'', directed by Melanie Mandl
* 1997 – ''[[Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore]]'', directed by [[Sarah Jacobson]]
* 1999 – ''The Widower''
* 1999 – ''Virtue''
* 2001 – ''[[Plaster Caster]]''
* 2002 – ''[[Bikini Bandits]]'', directed by Steve and Peter Grasse
* 2004 – ''Death and Texas''
* 2004 – ''[[Punk: Attitude]]''
* 2005 – ''We Jam Econo: The Story of the Minutemen''
* 2006 – ''[[Punk's Not Dead (2007 film)|Punk's Not Dead]]'', directed by Susan Dynner
* 2006 – ''Whose War?'', directed by Donald Farmer
* 2007 – ''[[American Drug War: The Last White Hope]]'', directed by [[Kevin Booth]]
* 2008 – ''[[Nerdcore Rising (film)|Nerdcore Rising]]'', directed by Negin Farsad
* 2009 – ''Open Your Mouth and Say Mr. Chi Pig'', directed by Sean Patrick Shaul
* 2010 – ''A Man Within'', directed by [[Yony Leyser]]
* 2011 – ''I Love You ... I Am the Porn Queen'', short film directed by [[Ani Kyd]]
* 2014 – ''Heino: Made in Germany'', directed by Oliver Schwabe 
* 2014 – ''[[Portlandia (TV series)|Portlandia]]'', season 4, episode 4 – "Pull-Out King"
* 2018 – ''Bathtubs Over Broadway'', directed by Dava Whisenant (as himself)
* 2018 – ''Boiled Angels: The Trial of Mike Diana'', directed by [[Frank Henenlotter]] (narrator)
* 2019 – ''[[The Last Black Man in San Francisco]]'', directed by Joe Talbot

==Notes==
{{reflist|group="nb"}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q334288|c=category:Jello Biafra|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|wikt=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no}}
*[https://alternativetentacles.com/artists/jellobiafra/ Jello Biafra] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230717085745/https://alternativetentacles.com/artists/jellobiafra/ |date=July 17, 2023 }} on [[Alternative Tentacles]]
*{{IMDb name}}

{{Jello Biafra|state=expanded}}
{{Dead Kennedys}}
{{Pigface}}
{{Lard}}
{{Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biafra, Jello}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2000 United States presidential election]]
[[Category:Alternative Tentacles]]
[[Category:Alternative Tentacles artists]]
[[Category:American anti–Iraq War activists]]
[[Category:American anti-war activists]]
[[Category:American human rights activists]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American people of Jewish descent]]
[[Category:American political music artists]]
[[Category:American punk rock singers]]
[[Category:American satirical musicians]]
[[Category:American male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American spoken word artists]]
[[Category:Anti-consumerists]]
[[Category:Anti-corporate activists]]
[[Category:Anti-globalization activists]]
[[Category:Boulder High School alumni]]
[[Category:California Greens]]
[[Category:Dead Kennedys members]]
[[Category:Finance fraud]]
[[Category:Green Party of the United States politicians]]
[[Category:Hardcore punk musicians]]
[[Category:Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine members]]
[[Category:Lard (band) members]]
[[Category:Male actors from Boulder, Colorado]]
[[Category:Musicians from Boulder, Colorado]]
[[Category:Pigface members]]
[[Category:Teenage Time Killers members]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Colorado]]
[[Category:Rock musicians from Colorado]]