2 days ago
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Dead Kennedys have decided to stay on this year’s Punk in the Park bill despite backlash, though the veteran punk band has said it won’t participate in the festival in the future.
Last year, it came to light that the owner of the festival series, Cameron Collins of Brew Ha Ha Productions, donated to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2024. That prompted bands such as Destiny Bond to drop, while the Dropkick Murphys pledged to never play the fest again and cut ties with Brew Ha Ha.
In the wake of online fallout, Collins responded in a statement that his political views “don’t neatly fit into a single box or party affiliation” and was seemingly undeterred in bringing the fest back in 2026 for at least three editions: April 18th in Pittsburgh; May 2nd in Orlando; and May 23rd in Vallejo, California.
Dead Kennedys were apparently unaware of Collins’ donations to the Trump campaign when they signed up for the Pittsburgh and Vallejo dates, and have since issued a statement explaining that they will honor those shows while vowing not to play any further Punk in the Park festivals:
“We’ve become aware that the owner of Brew Ha Ha Productions, the company behind Punk In The Park, made financial contributions in support of the Trump administration.
Our first reaction was to cancel our upcoming appearances. However, we do not feel it would be fair to our supporters who have already purchased tickets & made plans to attend these shows.
Dead Kennedys have always stood firmly against authoritarianism, racism, and fascism. That has not changed.
After these scheduled appearances, we will not be participating in future Punk In The Park events.”
In response, former Dead Kennedys Jello Biafra proceeded to roast the band in a statement to Stereogum:
“They’re taking the money $$$, and THEN pulling out? The real Dead Kennedys would never have let this happen in the first place. One more sordid reason I don’t ever want to play with them again.”
Biafra left Dead Kennedys in 1986. The band has operated as a legacy touring act ever since, led by original members East Bay Ray and Klaus Flouride.
English (US) · 