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- The band formed in San Francisco in 1978, but took their cue from the anarchist punk that was coming out of England.
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"California Über Alles" is the debut single by American punk rock band Dead Kennedys. It was the group's first recording and was released in June 1979 on the Optional Music label, with "The Man with the Dogs" appearing as its B-side.
It was part of the German national anthem until the end of World War II, and is closely associated with the Nazis. This song envisions a Nazi regime in California, with Jerry Brown as the Führer. In 1984, the Dead Kennedys released a sequel to this song on their album In God We Trust, Inc. about then-president Ronald Reagan, who preceded Brown ...
Apr 27, 2024 · The inspiration for “California Über Alles” came from Patti Smith’s 1978 song, “Rock N Roll Nigger.” The lyrics of Smith’s song capture the essence of punk rock – “Outside of society, that’s where I want to be.”
Aug 20, 2023 · Biafra was inspired to write the song after attending a Jerry Brown rally during his campaign for governor in 1978. The lyrics of “California Über Alles” depict Brown as a manipulative and authoritarian figure, warning of a dystopian future under his leadership.
Jan 15, 2024 · The phrase’s historical echo, derived from ‘Deutschland Über Alles’—a line appropriated by the Nazis—underscores an unsettling nationalism that the Dead Kennedys swipe and skewer for the Golden State. It’s a sardonic anthem for a republic that might unknowingly march towards dictatorship.
The critique made of Brown in 'California Uber Alles' draws upon his (Brown's) stance on environmental and energy issues in the mid to late 1970s (something he made even more of in the run up to the 1980 election season).
Dead Kennedys were known for their politically charged lyrics, and “California Über Alles” is no exception. The song was originally released in 1979, during a time of cultural and social tension in the United States.
