Jello Biafra is the former lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys, and is currently a musician and spoken word artist. After he left the Dead Kennedys, he took over the influential independent record label Alternative Tentacles, which he ha...
Boulder High School, University of California, Santa Cruz
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Ninotchka (m. 1981–1986)
Parents
Stanley Boucher, Virginia Boucher
Siblings
Julie J. Boucher
Nicknames
Eric Reed Boucher , Jello Biaffra , Count Ringworm , Osama McDonald , Eric Boucher , Occupant
Music Groups
Dead Kennedys (1978 – 1986)
Movies
Tapeheads, Terminal City Ricochet, Bikini Bandits Experience, Lovedolls Superstar, Skulhedface, William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, American Drug War: The Last White Hope, Highway 61, Anarchism in America, Retardead, X: The Unheard Music, Plaster Caster, Death & Texas, Body Count: Murder 4 Hire, Pan...
Star Sign
Gemini
#
Quote
1
For every prohibition you create, you also create an underground.
2
If evolution is outlawed, only outlaws will evolve.
3
Don't HATE the media, BECOME the media!
#
Fact
1
Subject of the song "Jello Biafra" by Wesley Willis.
2
In 1979 he founded the record label Alternative Tentacles in San Francisco, CA.
3
The Dead Kennedys's 1980 debut album "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" is recognized as an influential and seminal album in the early 80's punk rock scene.
4
When running for mayor of San Francisco in 1979 his election slogan was, "There's Always Room for Jello".
5
In 1979, he ran for Mayor of San Francisco, California under his stage name, originally as a "gag' candidate, then as a serious one. His campaign platform included requiring all police officers to live in the neighborhoods they were assigned to patrol. He finished 4th in a field of 10 candidates, with 4% of the popular vote. Shortly afterwords, a law was passed in that city prohibiting running for public office under an assumed name.
6
Levi's allegedly asked to use the introduction of the song "Holiday in Cambodia" for a commercial. However, the offer was never considered as Jello disagreed with many of Levi's practices at that time.
After leaving Dead Kennedys he formed the band Lard.
9
Chose his pseudonym as a commentary on starvation. "Jello" is based on "Jell-o", a brand of gelatin dessert with no natural nutritional value. Biafra was a section of eastern Nigeria that proclaimed independence in 1967. All transport was closed off to the breakaway republic by Nigeria, and mass starvation caused the country to collapse in 1970.
10
He and the ex-members of Dead Kennedys have a very bitter relationship.
11
He was sued in 2001 by ex-members of Dead Kennedys for past royalties and access to The Dead Kennedys' back catalog.
12
His home was raided shortly after the release of Dead Kennedys album, "Frankenchrist" by police. The album outraged religious conservatives, who claimed that it disseminated harmful material to minors. He tells a story about this incident on his spoken word CD, "No More Cocoons".
13
Was very bitter that Dead Kennedys song, "Holiday In Cambodia" was used for a Levi's commercial in 2001. He made statements saying that Levi's uses unfair business practices and sweatshop labor.
14
Is on an F.O.P. (Fraternal Order Of Police) boycott list for his support of Mumia Abu-Jamal, along with other musicians and celebrities.
15
In addition to running for mayor, he also tried to run for President in 2000. He named convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal as his running mate. It was merely a publicity stunt for activism on Mumia Abu Jamal's behalf, as his case is believed by some to be a frame-up and is very controversial.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Democracy Now!
2016
TV Series writer - 1 episode
American Honey
2016
writer: "I Kill Children" - as Eric Boucher
Green Room
2015
writer: "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" - as Eric Boucher
I Love You... I am The Porn Queen
2013
Short "Dot Com Monte", "Invasion of the Mindsnatchers"
Catalunya über alles!
2011
writer: "California über alles"
Foo Fighters: Back and Forth
2011
Documentary writer: "Stealing People's Mail"
Rango
2011
writer: "FORKBOY"
I Melt with You
2011
writer: "Holiday in Cambodia"
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune
2010
Documentary performer: "Love Me I'm a Liberal"
The Social Network
2010
writer: "California Uber Alles"
Nitro Circus
2009
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
2007
Video Game writer: "Holiday in Cambodia"
Planet Terror
2007
writer: "Too Drunk To Fuck"
Grindhouse
2007
writer: "Too Drunk to Fuck"
Punk's Not Dead
2007
Documentary writer: "Holiday in Cambodia"
American Wasteland
2005
Video Game writer: "California Über Alles"
Fierce People
2005
writer: "Kill the Poor"
The Manchurian Candidate
2004
"Kinky Sex Makes the World Go Round"
Wie Feuer und Flamme
2001
writer: "California über alles"
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
1999
Video Game writer: "Police Truck"
SLC Punk!
1998
writer: "Kill the Poor"
The Big One
1997
Documentary performer: "Convoy in the Sky" 1994
The Second Coming
1997
Short performer: "Are you Drinkin' with me Jesus"
Sepultura: Third World Chaos
1995
Video documentary writer: "Holiday In Cambodia"
Natural Born Killers
1994
writer: "Forkboy"
Terminal City Ricochet
1990
as J. Biafra, Biafra, "Falling Space Junk Hold the Anchovies!", "That's Progress", "Message From Our Sponsor/Object-Subject" / lyrics: "Message From Our Sponsor/Object-Subject" - as J. Biafra
Tapeheads
1988
writer: "In Sight"
Lovedolls Superstar
1986
writer: "One Way Ticket to Pluto" - as J. Biafra
Dead Kennedys: DMPO's on Broadway
1985
Video documentary writer: "Police Truck", Hop With The Jet Set, A Child and his Lawnmower, Moral Majority, MTV Get Off The Air, Life Sentance, Jock O Rama, Goons of Hazard, Riot, Bleed For Me, Nazi Punks Fuck Off, We've Got a Bigger Problem Now
Class
1983
writer: "Holidays In Cambodia" - as Eric R. Boucher
A Night at Halsted's
1982
writer: "Holiday in Cambodia" - uncredited
Neighbors
1981
writer: "Holiday In Cambodia" - uncredited
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
An American in Texas
2016
completed
Mayor
Portlandia
2014
TV Series
Punk
The Hipster Games: Blowing Smoke
2013
Short
President Jello
I Love You... I am The Porn Queen
2013
Short
Francis Alexander / Syd
Lucifer's Crewcut
2011
Short
Jello Biafra
Soviet Unterzoegersdorf: Sector 2
2009
Video Game
Oberzögersdorf White Trash
Retardead
2008
Video
Mayor Anton Sinclaire
Death and Texas
2004
Prison spokesman
Bikini Bandits
2002
Video
Evil Porn Director
The Widower
1999
Vance / Satan
Virtue
1999/II
VR Poker Dealer
The Best of Flipside Video #3
1995
Video
Dead Kennedys
Skulhedface
1994
Video
Boss Glom
Highway 61
1991
Customs Agent #1
Terminal City Ricochet
1990
Bruce Coddle
Tapeheads
1988
FBI Man #1
Lovedolls Superstar
1986
Mr. President
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
An American in Texas
2016
completed
We Live Through These Times
1999
Documentary short
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hit So Hard
2011
Documentary thanks
Wesley Willis's Joyrides
2008
Documentary special thanks
Counter Convention: A Free New York Special
2005
Documentary special thanks
Bush Family Fortunes: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
2004
Video documentary special thanks
The American Astronaut
2001
special thanks - as Jello Biaffra
Save the Headwater's Forests
1997
TV Movie documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Industrial Musicals Movie
2018
Documentary filming
Himself
Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk
2017
Documentary completed
Himself
The Secret Syde: I See Through Your Mind
Documentary filming
Himself
The Colossus of Destiny: A Melvins Tale
2016
Documentary
The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead
2015
Documentary
Records Collecting Dust
2015
Documentary
Jello Biafra
Never Turn Your Back on Sparks
2014
Documentary
Himself
Riot on the Dance Floor
2014
Documentary
Himself
Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey
2014
Documentary
Himself
Heino - Made in Germany
2013
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Art of Punk
2013
TV Series documentary
Clockwork Orange County
2012
Video documentary
A Band Called Death
2012
Documentary
Himself / Interviewee
VHK - akik móresre tanították a halált
2012
Documentary
Himself
Bloodied But Unbowed: Uncut
2011
Documentary
Himself
Freaks in Love
2011
Documentary
Himself
Fix: The Ministry Movie
2011/I
Documentary
Himself
Wild Thing
2010
Documentary
Himself
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune
2010
Documentary
Friend / Musician
Sounds Like a Revolution
2010
Documentary
The Hour
2010
TV Series
Himself
The Weird World of Blowfly
2010
Documentary
Himself
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
2010
Documentary
Himself
Open Your Mouth and Say... Mr. Chi Pig
2009
Documentary
Himself
American Artifact: The Rise of American Rock Poster Art
$500,000
