Named after America's favorite fruit-flavored gelatin dessert and a short-lived secessionist African state afflicted by war and starvation, Jello Biafra (born Eric Reed Boucher, aliases Occupant, Count Ringworm, Osama McDonald, J Lo) is a punk icon, radical activist, and general shit-starter who fronted San Fran hardcore band Dead Kennedys, founded weirdo record label Alternative Tentacles, and even ran against Ralph Nader for the Green Party's 2000 Presidential nomination.
Now, though, he's hitting the high seas with a bunch of hipsters aboard the Bruise Cruise.
Of course, the Bruiser board of executives is "ecstatic" about Jello joining this cruise's totally rad sea-faring lineup (Fucked Up, Vivian Girls' DJ set, Thee Oh Sees, etc.) describing Biafra as "a man who truly needs no introduction" and "the head prankster of 21st Century Renaissance Men."
But sorta unfortunately, the ex-Kennedys frontman won't be resurrecting his old punk antics, stripping shirtless, stage-diving, or screeching through the tracklist of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. He's gonna be DJ-ing.
"Since his teens, Biafra has been a rabid vinyl junkie," the official cruise press release explains. "So we are thrilled to have him spinning wax for Bruisers from his very own and very personal collection, mixing together soul, garage, surf, punk cuts with other 'incredibly strange surprises.'"
But here's the jumbo Jello Biafra bonus: He'll also be hosting a "surprise lecture" in the Bruise Cruise board room. "It might be a rant," Bruiser execs enthuse. "It might be Q&A. It might be all or none of the above!"
Bruise Cruise with Fucked Up, King Khan & The Shrines, The Togas, Vivian Girls DJ set, Thee Oh Sees, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, DJ Jonathan Toubin, the Soft Pack, the Dirtbombs, Neil Hamburger, Jello Biafra, Mikal Cronin, Vockah Redu, and Anna Seregina. Friday, February 10, to Monday, February 13. Carnival Imagination, boarding at the Port of Miami, 1015 N. America Way, Miami. Visit bruisecruisefestival.com.
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