Dead Milkmen

Beach Party Vietnam

1987 · Restless 72131-1 · USA

Artist
Dead Milkmen
Title
Beach Party Vietnam
Release
Eat Your Paisley
Year
1987
Label
Restless # 72131-1
Format
LP · Album
Language
English
Country
USA
Genre
Rock · Punk Rock
Primary theme
Post-War

Annotation

The Dead Milkmen formed in 1979 - an American punk rock band from Pennsylvania. They had a revolving line-up. This album, Eat Your Paisley!, released in 1986 featured Joe Jack Talcum (guitar, vocals), Dave Blood (bass), Dean Clean (drums), Rodney Anonymous (vocals). The song "Beach Party Vietnam" (Fever Records # 72131-1) took a comedic and tasteless approach to the conflict. It told the story of a boy who "got a letter from his Uncle Sam" and ended up in Vietnam "surfin' with the Viet Cong, cookin' hot dogs with napalm". His girlfriend wanted to give him her ring, but he lost both his arms in the war. This song also featured as the B-side of the single The Thing That Only Eats Hippies released in 1987 - the only single from this album.The reference to surfing, napalm, and a beach party displays the influence of Vietnam War films on American culture. In the film Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by the political liberal and dove Francis Ford Coppola. Captain Kilgore (Robert Duvall) of the Air Cavalry attacks a Vietcong held village while playing Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" on the loud speakers of his helicopter. Once on the ground, Kilgore strips of his shirt and scarf and…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Punk Songs

The Dead Milkmen formed in 1979 - an American Punk Rock band from Pennsylvania. They had a revolving line-up. This album, Eat Your Paisley!, released in 1986 featured Joe Jack Talcum (guitar, vocals), Dave Blood (bass), Dean Clean (drums), Rodney Anonymous (vocals). The song "Beach Party Vietnam" (Fever Records # 72131-1) took a comedic and tasteless approach to the conflict. It told the story of a boy who "got a letter from his Uncle Sam" and ended up in Vietnam "surfin' with the Viet Cong, cookin' hot dogs with napalm". His girlfriend wanted to give him her ring, but he lost both his arms in the war. This song also featured as the B-side of the single The Thing That Only Eats Hippies released in 1987 - the only single from this album. The reference to surfing, napalm, and a beach party displays the influence of Vietnam War films on American culture. In the film Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by the political liberal and dove Francis Ford Coppola, Captain Kilgore (Robert Duvall) of the Air Cavalry attacks a Vietcong held village while playing Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" on the loud speakers of his helicopter. Once on the ground, Kilgore strips of his shirt and scarf and…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

American satirical punk band formed 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Napalm · VC · Draft · Vet

In collections

Punk Songs