We've Got A Bigger Probem Now
1981 · Alternative Tentacles VIRUS 5 · San Francisco, California
- Artist
- Dead Kennedys
- Title
- We've Got A Bigger Probem Now
- Release
- In God We Trust, Inc
- Year
- 1981
- Label
- Alternative Tentacles # VIRUS 5
- Format
- LP · Album
- Language
- English
- Country
- San Francisco, California, USA
- Genre
- Punk · Punk
- Primary theme
- Post-War
Annotation
The Dead Kennedys - a hardcore punk band formed in 1978, in San Francisco, California. This EP featured Jello Biafra (vocals), Klaus Flouride (bass, vocals), East Bay Ray (guitar, vocals), and Peligro (drums). The song "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" (Alternative Tentacles # VIRUS 5) focused on the election of Ronald Reagan in 1981 but it also mentioned the Vietnam War and showed concern about Alexander Haig, Reagan's Secretary of State (1981-1982), who served under Nixon during the Vietnam War as White House Chief of Staff (1973-1974) and Henry Kissinger's deputy at the National Security Council (1970-1973). The lyrics suggested that Reagan and Haig might lead the US to more Vietnam style wars, referencing the conflict in El Salvador or Afghanistan. They warned the youth audience that "they'll draft you". This is an updated version of the song California Über Alles released as a single in 1979, but with different lyrics (which do not mention Vietnam). The original song attacked the counter-culture and hippies for becoming too close to the economic and political establishment. But with the Reagan election, as the new title suggested, the Dead Kennedys found it more important to…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
Annotation — Punk Songs
The Dead Kennedys - a Hardcore Punk band formed in 1978, in San Francisco, California. This EP featured Jello Biafra (vocals), Klaus Flouride (bass, vocals), East Bay Ray (guitar, vocals), and Peligro (drums). The song "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" (Alternative Tentacles # VIRUS 5) focused on the election of Ronald Reagan in 1981 but it also mentioned the Vietnam War and showed concern about Alexander Haig, Reagan's Secretary of State (1981-1982), who served under Nixon during the Vietnam War as White House Chief of Staff (1973-1974) and Henry Kissinger's deputy at the National Security Council (1970-1973). The lyrics suggested that Reagan and Haig might lead the US to more Vietnam style wars, referencing the conflict in El Salvador or Afghanistan. They warned the youth audience that "they'll draft you". This is an updated version of the song California Über Alles released as a single in 1979, but with different lyrics (which do not mention Vietnam). The original song attacked the counter-culture and hippies for becoming too close to the economic and political establishment. But with the Reagan election, as the new title suggested, the Dead Kennedys found it more important to…
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
American punk band formed 1978 in San Francisco, California ('Holiday in Cambodia'). [Source: Wikipedia]
Themes
Nixon · Reagan · Haig · Draft · El Salvador · Afghanistan