"Live at the Deaf Club" is a live album released by the influential American punk rock band Dead Kennedys. The album was originally recorded at the Deaf Club in San Francisco in March 1979. At that time, the Deaf Club was a social gathering place for the deaf, but it was also an unofficial punk rock venue.
The live performance showcases the raw energy and uncompromising style of Dead Kennedys, which played a pivotal role in the development of hardcore punk. The performance was recorded onto a four-track cassette, and although the recording quality lacked the kind of polish associated with professionally recorded live albums, the raw intensity of the performance was captured effectively.
"Live at the Deaf Club" was not released until 2004, making it one of the last albums to be released by Dead Kennedys. The album features some of the band's earliest songs, many of which would be included in later studio recordings. These include classics such as "Holiday in Cambodia," "Kill the Poor," and "California Über Alles."
In terms of background information, Dead Kennedys emerged from the punk scene in San Francisco in the late 1970s. The band was known for its highly charged political lyrics, satirical views of mainstream culture and media, as well as its aggressive sound. This well-preserved early live recording provides a glimpse into the band's formative stages, capturing the original line-up and their frenetic performances that established them as a definitive act in punk rock history.
