Watch Jools Holland rehearse for his future as Britain's favorite late night talk show host by interviewing Jello Biafra in 1980!
Forgive me for concentrating on finishing my book. Will you accept this consolation prize, filmed at Oki Dog?
Good afternoon, Napalm Nation! I know, I normally post at 1AM, when I’ve discovered many of you share my nocturnal schedule — that’s typically when I clock out from the writing half of my now-dual professional life. The rest of you get a pleasant surprise in your email box when you arise for the day’s toil.
But a buncha you are likely headscratchin’ over my slow output here at The ‘Stack this month. I understand — I’m already in violation of my New Year’s resolution. You can blame The Book.
I planned to post a lot more this week, seeing as how I began the week five entries away from finishing all basic writing. But I have never been a good judge of how much I am capable of taking on. I should have known the end of this year-long journey would require every bit of my energy and attention, on top of trying to work every shift I can get at my new part-time job, smilin’ and dialin’!
But today, I am officially two entries away from the finish line. And as soon as I hit “post” on this, I am fixin’ to (a handy Texas phrase y’all should probably learn) pull on my Gripfasts and head down to Stubb’s BBQ to see Circle Jerks, Descendents and The Adolescents, a rare live rock ‘n’ roll outing for Yerz Troolee, at least since I began this extravaganza.
And while we are a month out from finishing The Book, the final stages should be less intense than the basic writing. I can bring you more of the cool shit you read The Tim “Napalm” Stegall Substack for, such as my serialized novel, or concluding the Jesse Dayton interview and beginning some new ones that have backed up with Wreckless Eric, DOA’s Joey Shithead, and Pearl Harbour. I also have a ton of records, books and films to review, and there’s the long-promised revival of my old “Radio Napalm” podcast as a regular feature exclusive to paying subscribers.
Also, with losing a certain major income stream, Austin-centric material will now be featured here. I have a review of Jefferson Trout’s excellent debut LP coming up, and a feature article on Broken Gold. Also, two-thirds of Thee Headcoats — avid ‘Stack subscriber Bruce Brand and Billy Childish, himself — have both been in contact after all our recent enthusiasm for their peculiar whatsis. Both have agreed to submit to my Mike Wallace routine at a future date, so stay tuned!
Meanwhile, I’d like to offer, as some sorta consolation prize (before I lose any more @$#*?!! subscribers!!)(One paying subber who’d never opened any of his emails even had the nerve to tell his bank “product not as advertised,” in trying to get his annual payment back! Cheeky git! Gotta read before you make such claims!) this clip I found while researching my book. IRS Records, when promoting their forthcoming domestic issue of Dead Kennedys’ brilliant 1980 debut LP Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables, decided to film an interview with This ‘Stack’s longtime pal Jello Biafra. The setting was Darby Crash’s fave eatery Oki Dog, where Biafra laid waste to a burger and fries. The inquisitor? Squeeze pianist Jools Holland, apparently rehearsing for his future as Britain’s favorite late night talk show host.
It’s all pretty humorous and informative, at once, with Holland’s cheeky Cockney routine already in place and Biafra being his usual sarcastic spewing-a-million-facts-at-once Brainiac self. I can testify to what a great interview Jello is, and he does not disappoint here. Right off the bat, he explains the name Dead Kennedys was not a slap to the Kennedy family, but to the “religion that sprang up after the Kennedy assassinations. I think Elvis Presley has kind of taken the place of that religion now. If you drive into a gas station in middle America, you can find fairly ornate porcelain Elvises for $70 each, and people buy them.” Or explaining his tactics on such songs as “Kill The Poor”: “I like to slip in behind villains causing certain problems and expose them from that way, rather than just say I think this is bad.” Not methodology, say, Crass would have employed, had they written the song.
All in all, a greatly entertaining clip, totally subverting the normal record company promo devices. Stay tuned to the end! Until next week, ciao!
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I remember coming across this interview on YouTube years ago when I was surfing for interview and live footage of Biafra. Thanks for reminding me it existed. Remind me to tell the story about how my wife almost drunk-dialed him once… ;)