Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band Dead Kennedys. It was first released on September 2, 1980, through Cherry Red Records in the United Kingdom, and later issued by Jello Biafra's own Alternative Tentacles label in the United States. It is the only "Dead Kennedys" album to feature drummer Bruce Slesinger and guitarist Carlos Cadona. Recording and release. 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. Reception. Among contemporary reviews, Jon Young of "Trouser Press" found that the style and content of the album derived from the Sex Pistols and "will sound dated to the trend-conscious", but concluded that the album "may be the only legitimate companion piece to the  Pistols' "Never Mind the Bollocks"." Young concluded that the album "works largely because of Jello Biafra, a distinctive and remarkable singer" who "thrives on extreme attitudes." Andy Gill of "NME" compared the album to music by the British punk group U.K. Subs, writing that Dead Kennedys "hardly come across as anything but smarter, both musically and intellectually ... Despite [the Dead Kennedys'] grasp of dynamics and their highly-ordered arrangements, there's really only one track here which makes effective use of their mannerisms and devices, and that's 'Holiday in Cambodia', already available in single form, and probably the biggest  (musical) reason for this album's presence in the charts." Robert Christgau of "The Village Voice" stated that he found Biafra poor as a vocalist, likening his singing to Tiny Tim's. The album was included in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". In 2013, "NME" ranked it at number 365 in its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Section::::"Fresh Fruit for Rotting Eyeballs". "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. Personnel. Dead Kennedys Additional performers Production Sales. In 2010, it was certified diamond by the Independent Music Companies Association which indicated sales of at least 250,000  copies throughout Europe.