A follow up
I posted a couple of months back about the Dead Kennedy’s version of Viva Las Vegas having been used on American Idol. Alternative Tentacles have confirmed this. Here’s what they had to say:
- Yep, it’s confirmed- DKs used by “American Idol”
Footage sent to Alternative Tentacles by angry fans confirms Dead Kennedys’ version of “Viva Las Vegas” was used by Fox TV in the January 26, 2005 episode of “American Idol.”
“Bleech!” said Jello Biafra, “first Levi’s, now this. What strain of corporate herpes will be allowed to foul Dead Kennedys next? I could understand ‘Too Drunk to Fuck’ as a new ‘O’Reilly Factor’ theme, but this is really nauseating. Even ‘Police Truck”s lyrics as the background music to ‘Cops’ would be more fitting justice than this.
What really makes me sick about shows like this and expecially ‘Extreme Makeover’ is how they encourage teens to grow up plastic Barbie and Ken conformists instead of solid subversive citizens.
We are now getting demos- and even DVDs- from pushy stage mothers wanting AT of all people to help make their previous Britney wannabe into an American Idol. ‘Take a look, isn’t she pretty? She’s 14, already a cheerleader, and models, dances, plays on the basketball team, (blah blah blah…) Just wait ’til you hear her sing ‘Redneck Woman.” Where is Tipper Gore when we need her? Or at least a new Body count box set?”
Thanks to everyone who answered our e-mail inquiry, especially the self-described Fox insider who said they would never use anyone’s tunes without written authorization. Hmm…
Helping us prove it happened has now forced East Bay Ray and co. to take action. The final explanation should be very interesting.
