Jello Biafra says frustration with the U.S. legal system is the reason he and his Alternative Tentacles label dropped their remaining lawsuit against his old Dead Kennedys bandmates.
“[We] have thrown up our hands at getting any justice from the three ex-Dead Kennedys’ greed-motivated lawsuits, and the shocking denial of our appeal,” he says in a statement. “The court refused to hear any evidence of the many shady things they have done since the trial.”
Last week it was revealed that band’s outspoken former frontman had withdrawn his final appeal of a San Francisco Superior Court conviction for breach of contract and fraud that awarded more than $200,000 to East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride and D.H. Peligro. The move also leaves the quartet’s Decay Music partnership intact.
“Ending our defense against their main legal attack does not mean I endorse or recommend any Dead Kennedys releases on Decay Music, Manifesto, Plastic Head, Cleopatra, MVD, etc.,” Biafra says, referring to the partnership and companies that have released various Dead Kennedys products in recent years against his wishes. “I can’t. I’m too ashamed.”
The Dead Kennedys broke up in 1986. East Bay Ray, Flouride and Peligro reunited several years ago without Biafra continue to perform under the name
“I’m as proud of Dead Kennedys as I ever was,” Biafra adds. “It seems obvious I love and respect what we accomplished far more than they ever will.”
