Nazi Punks Fuck Off!
Encyclopedia
"Nazi Punks Fuck Off" was the fifth single
by the Dead Kennedys
. The record was released in 1981 on Alternative Tentacles
with "Moral Majority" as the b-side. Both are taken from the In God We Trust, Inc.
EP, although the version of the title track on the EP is a different recording from the single version. British music newspaper Melody Maker
reviewed the EP
in its "Single of the Week" section and wrote: "And fuck off the Nazi punks surely will when they hear this being played at them!"
The single included a free armband with a crossed-out swastika
. The design has since been adapted both as the Dead Kennedys' logo and as a symbol for the anti-racist punk movement.
on the West Coast of the United States began to use Nazi symbolism
for shock effect, and others adopted neo-Nazism
in earnest. Some listeners of the Dead Kennedys' earlier songs "Kill the Poor
" and "California Über Alles
" missed the satirical intent behind those pieces and took Biafra's lyrics at face value.
Despite their harsh view of fascism
, the Dead Kennedys found favor among the nascent Nazi punk
movement as radical right wing polemicists. As a result, their shows began to attract an unwanted audience of neo-Nazis. The Dead Kennedys used "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" to answer these audience members.
Martin Hannett
, who Biafra mentions in the opening of the In God We Trust, Inc. version of the song as having "overproduced" it, was a producer for Joy Division
and Buzzcocks
, among other artists. The comment was not intended to be taken seriously, as Hannett never worked with the Dead Kennedys.
for their 1993 EP
of the same name. The EP consists of four tracks including the title track and a live version of "Aryanisms", a song off their 1992 album Utopia Banished
; and a mix of "Contemptuous", off the same album. The title track, along with the band's staunch anti-fascist
stance, resulted in several of the band's shows being attacked by neo-nazis
in the United States.
A song titled "Koori
Punks Fuck Off" was recorded by Australian punk band TISM
, but never released.
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by the Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
. The record was released in 1981 on Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles
Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label originally based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. It was originally used as the label name by the Dead Kennedys for the self-produced single "California Über Alles", and after realizing the potential for an independent...
with "Moral Majority" as the b-side. Both are taken from the In God We Trust, Inc.
In God We Trust, Inc.
In God We Trust, Inc. is a hardcore punk EP by the Dead Kennedys; it is now reissued with the Plastic Surgery Disasters album. The thrashing, lightning-fast beats and shouted vocals, on the first six tracks, resembles Washington D.C.'s punk bands of the time; more than on any other Dead Kennedys...
EP, although the version of the title track on the EP is a different recording from the single version. British music newspaper Melody Maker
Melody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
reviewed the EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
in its "Single of the Week" section and wrote: "And fuck off the Nazi punks surely will when they hear this being played at them!"
The single included a free armband with a crossed-out swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
. The design has since been adapted both as the Dead Kennedys' logo and as a symbol for the anti-racist punk movement.
Background and Inspiration
In the late 1970s, some members of the punk subculturePunk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
on the West Coast of the United States began to use Nazi symbolism
Nazi symbolism
The twentieth century German Nazi Party was notable for its extensive use of graphic symbolism, most notably the Hakenkreuz , which it used as its principal symbol, and, in the form of the swastika flag, became the state flag of Nazi Germany....
for shock effect, and others adopted neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
in earnest. Some listeners of the Dead Kennedys' earlier songs "Kill the Poor
Kill the Poor
"Kill the Poor" was the third single by the Dead Kennedys. The record was anus in October 1980 on Cherry Red Records with "In-sight" as the b-side. The title track was re-recorded for the band's first album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables , although the single and album versions show little...
" and "California Über Alles
California Über Alles
"California Über Alles" was the first single by the Dead Kennedys. The record was released in June 1979 on Optional Music with "The Man with the Dogs" as the b-side...
" missed the satirical intent behind those pieces and took Biafra's lyrics at face value.
Despite their harsh view of fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
, the Dead Kennedys found favor among the nascent Nazi punk
Nazi punk
A Nazi punk is a neo-Nazi who is part of the punk subculture. The term also describes the related type of music. Nazi punk music sounds similar to most forms of punk rock, but it differs by having lyrics that express hatred of Jews, homosexuals, communists, anarchists, anti-racists and people who...
movement as radical right wing polemicists. As a result, their shows began to attract an unwanted audience of neo-Nazis. The Dead Kennedys used "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" to answer these audience members.
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett
Martin Hannett , sometimes credited as Martin Zero, was a record producer and an original partner in Factory Records with Tony Wilson...
, who Biafra mentions in the opening of the In God We Trust, Inc. version of the song as having "overproduced" it, was a producer for Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
and Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, among other artists. The comment was not intended to be taken seriously, as Hannett never worked with the Dead Kennedys.
Napalm Death cover
"Nazi Punks Fuck Off" was covered by the English Grindcore band Napalm DeathNapalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
for their 1993 EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
of the same name. The EP consists of four tracks including the title track and a live version of "Aryanisms", a song off their 1992 album Utopia Banished
Utopia Banished
Utopia Banished is the fourth album by the UK band Napalm Death. The album was released in 1992 by Earache Records. It is the first album featuring Danny Herrera on drums following the departure of Mick Harris....
; and a mix of "Contemptuous", off the same album. The title track, along with the band's staunch anti-fascist
Anti-fascism
Anti-fascism is the opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals, such as that of the resistance movements during World War II. The related term antifa derives from Antifaschismus, which is German for anti-fascism; it refers to individuals and groups on the left of the political...
stance, resulted in several of the band's shows being attacked by neo-nazis
Neo-Nazism
Neo-Nazism consists of post-World War II social or political movements seeking to revive Nazism or some variant thereof.The term neo-Nazism can also refer to the ideology of these movements....
in the United States.
A song titled "Koori
Koori
The Koori are the indigenous Australians that traditionally occupied modern day New South Wales and Victoria....
Punks Fuck Off" was recorded by Australian punk band TISM
TISM
TISM was a seven piece anonymous alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The group was formed in 1982 and enjoyed a large underground/independent following. Their third album Machiavelli and the Four Seasons reached the Australian national top 10 in 1995...
, but never released.