Album: Plastic Surgery Disasters / In God We Trust Inc.

Rating: 4/5

If you only buy one Dead Kennedys album, it’s gotta be ‘Plastic Surgery Disasters‘, which captured this legendary San Francisco punk band at the top of their game. It now includes ‘In God We Trust, Inc.’, a short collection of DK gems, making it nearly impossible to pack more energy onto a single CD. Right out of the gate, this album is raw, explosive, and relentlessly confrontational. The band’s unmistakable sound is as “in your face” as Jello Biafra’s scathing lyrics, which damn American society in hilarious fashion. No one is spared, as each song takes aim and fires away at one type of fraud or another. The government, religion, materialism, violence, cops, doctors, the rich, elitists, racists, homophobes, posers, jocks, science, and politicians- all face the firing squad of Biafra’s scorn.

Somewhere in the fray, there’s a bullet or two aimed at every one of us, and when we’re hit, it’s just as easy to laugh at ourselves. The lyrics are cynical and often sarcastic, but extremely smart and at times, even prophetic. They’re as relevant today as they were then- if not more so. Musically, Plastic Surgery Disasters is, in my opinion, DK’s most adventurous and technically brilliant work. It’s also their most “refined” album, production-wise, but it stops well short of commercial glossiness. It’s a true punk classic…

Left Arm Tattoos: Spiderweb, skull bracelet, Hellcat logo, large skull.

Right Arm Tattoos: Rose and large skull which now covers his ex wife’s name “Brody”.

P U N X tattooed on his knuckles , along with a spider on his neck and “U.S THUGS” on his belly.

Tim Armstrong has also had quite a bit inked on the top of his head, which looks to be a giant spider web with a large skull and jester face, possibly more.

Because you’re desktop has lost its luster, and needs a kick in the pants.

Get ya popcorn ready…along with ya best leather jacket!

The full lineup is unconfirmed, but so far Anti-Flag, Bad Religion, Big D and the Kids Table, Bouncing Souls, Chiodos, Flogging Molly, Lights, NOFX, P.O.S., Shooter Jennings, TAT, The Devil Wears Prada, Thrice, Underoath and Westbound Train have signed on.

June 26, 2009 Pomona, CA
June 27, 2009 San Francisco, CA
June 28, 2009 Ventura, CA
June 30, 2009 Phoenix, AZ
July 1, 2009 Las Cruces, NM
July 2, 2009 San Antonio, TX
July 3, 2009 Houston, TX
July 5, 2009 Dallas, TX
July 7, 2009 Indianapolis, IN
July 8, 2009 Pittsburgh, PA
July 9, 2009 Cleveland, OH
July 10, 2009 Toronto, ON
July 11, 2009 Montreal, QC
July 12, 2009 Hartford, CT
July 14, 2009 Washington, DC
July 15, 2009 Buffalo, NY
July 16, 2009 Scranton, PA
July 17, 2009 Camden, NJ
July 18, 2009 Uniondale, NY
July 19, 2009 TBA, NJ
July 21, 2009 Boston, MA
July 22, 2009 Virginia Beach, VA
July 23, 2009 Charlotte, NC
July 24, 2009 Orlando, FL
July 25, 2009 Miami, FL
July 26, 2009 Tampa, FL
July 28, 2009 Atlanta, GA
July 29, 2009 Cincinnati, OH
July 30, 2009 Milwaukee, WI
July 31, 2009 Detroit, MI
August 1, 2009 Chicago, IL
August 2, 2009 Minneapolis, MN
August 3, 2009 St. Louis, MO
August 4, 2009 Kansas City, MO
August 7, 2009 Boise, ID
August 8, 2009 Salt Lake City, UT
August 9, 2009 Denver, CO
August 12, 2009 Calgary, AB
August 14, 2009 Vancouver, BC
August 15, 2009 Seattle, WA
August 16, 2009 Portland, OR
August 19, 2009 Fresno, CA
August 20, 2009 San Francisco, CA
August 21, 2009 Sacramento, CA
August 22, 2009 San Diego, CA
August 23, 2009 Los Angeles, CA

May 27, 2009 New York Alligator Lounge
May 28, 2009 Pittsburgh, PA 31st St Pub
May 29, 2009 Belleville, IL Illegal Tone
May 30, 2009 Starkville, MS Gillespie Center
June 1, 2009 Hot Springs, AR The Exchange
June 3, 2009 Denton, TX Dan’s Silver Leaf Bowling For Soup
June 4, 2009 Denton, TX Dan’s Silver Leaf Bowling For Soup
June 6, 2009 Ft. Worth, TX Aardvark Bowling For Soup
June 7, 2009 Albuquerque, NM TBA
June 9, 2009 San Diego, CA Radio Room
June 11, 2009 Los Angeles, CA Juanita’s
June 12, 2009 San Jose, CA Nickel City Arcade
June 13, 2009 Oakland, CA Stork Club
June 14, 2009 Portland, OR The Twilight
June 15, 2009 Seattle, WA Funhouse
June 16, 2009 Spokane, WA Cretin Hop
June 17, 2009 Missoula, MT Filling Station
June 18, 2009 Casper, WY Sonic Rainbow
June 19, 2009 Denver, CO Gothic Theater
June 20, 2009 Laramie, WY JJ’s
June 22, 2009 Minneapolis, MN TBA
June 23, 2009 Madison, WI TBA
June 24, 2009 Chicago, IL Reggie’s Teen Idols, Squirtgun
June 25, 2009 Lafayette, IN The Muse Teen Idols, Squirtgun
June 26, 2009 Columbus, OH Bernie’s Teen Idols
June 27, 2009 Baltimore, MD Sonar- Insubordination Fest
June 28, 2009 Philadelphia, PA Khyber Teen Idols
June 29, 2009 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s Teen Idols
June 30, 2009 Boston, MA Middle East Upstairs Teen Idols