In December 1981, 43 years ago, American Punk rock band Dead Kennedys released their infamous In God We Trust, Inc. EP. It was their first release featuring their new drummer D.H. Peligro. The record is a screed against things ranging from organized religion and Neo-Nazis, to the use of pesticide and government indifference that worsened the effects of chemical catastrophes. In God We Trust, Inc. is also the first Dead Kennedys album released after the presidential election of Ronald Reagan and features the band's aversion towards Reagan, for which they would become notorious.
The EP features also "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" which is actually a rewritten version of their early “hitsingle” single "California über alles". Originally a rant against California governor Jerry Brown, the band reworked the song addressing the newly elected president Ronald Reagan. Most songs were based on previous unreleased songs and were recorded live in the studio on 19 June 1981, without any overdubs.
Disaster struck when it was discovered the mastertape containing the whole recording sessions turned out to be malfunctioning so the band was forced to re-record all eight songs on 22 August thats same year.
However in 2003 enhanced restoration techniques allowed for five tracks to be recovered from the master tapes. They were released on DVD together with recorded video footage of those original recording sessions.
Dead Kennedys – In God We Trust, Inc. (12" EP)
A1. 2. 3. 4. 5. B1. 2. 3.
Religious Vomit | 1:04 | |
Moral Majority | 1:55 | |
Hyperactive Child | 0:37 | |
Kepone Factory | 1:18 | |
Dog Bite | 1:13 | |
Nazi Punks Fuck Off | 1:03 | |
We've Got a Bigger Problem Now | 4:29 | |
Rawhide | 2:11 |
Dead Kennedys (Line-up 1981)
Jello Biafra – lead vocals, artwork
East Bay Ray – guitar, backing vocals on "Moral Majority", producer
Klaus Flouride – bass, backing vocals
D.H. Peligro – drums
