DEAD KENNEDYS WALL ART GIANT 3D PIN BADGE

This extra large limited edition pin badge is the work of Tony Dennis of Tape Deck Art. Part of a collection of oversized badges which are intended to be wall hung, the designs are taken from actual pins from the 1970s and 1980s which were collected by the self-taught British artist.

Age marks have been added to some of the designs to make the badges look more authentic. Colour disfiguration and rust marks add to the look of badges that have been well loved and well worn for many years.

About the Artwork

Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, in 1978. The band was one of the defining bands of the American punk scene during the band's initial eight-year run.

The band's lineup initially consisted of lead guitarist East Bay Ray, bassist Klaus Flouride, lead vocalist Jello Biafra, drummer Ted and rhythm guitarist 6025; 6025 left in 1979, and Ted left the following year after the band recorded their acclaimed first album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980). The band's longest-serving drummer was D. H. Peligro, who replaced Ted in 1981 and remained until his death in 2022. Dead Kennedys recorded the EP In God We Trust Inc. (1981), followed by three more studio albums, Plastic Surgery Disasters (1982), Frankenchrist (1985), and Bedtime for Democracy (1986), the latter of which was recorded and released shortly after announcing their breakup in January 1986. Most of the band's recordings were released on Alternative Tentacles, an independent record label founded by Biafra and East Bay Ray.

Following Dead Kennedys' dissolution, Biafra continued to run Alternative Tentacles, and went on to collaborate and record with other artists, including D.O.A., NoMeansNo and his own bands Lard and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, as well as releasing several spoken word performances. In 2000 (upheld on appeal in 2003), Biafra lost an acrimonious legal case initiated by his former Dead Kennedys bandmates over songwriting credits and unpaid royalties. In 2001, the band re-formed without Biafra; various singers have since been recruited for vocal duties. Although Dead Kennedys have continued to perform over the years, they have not released any more studio albums since Bedtime for Democracy.

Dead Kennedys' lyrics were usually political in nature, satirising political figures and authority in general, as well as popular culture and even the punk movement itself. During their initial incarnation between 1978 and 1986, they attracted considerable controversy for their provocative lyrics and artwork. Several stores refused to stock their recordings, provoking debate about censorship in rock music; in the mid-1980s, vocalist and primary lyricist Jello Biafra became an active campaigner against the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). This culminated in an obscenity trial between 1985 and 1986, which resulted in a hung jury and also hastened the band's demise.

About the Artist

Tony Dennis paints and creates oversized badges, selling them in galleries in the UK, Europe and the United States.

In 2018, Tony worked with French graffiti artist Invader and produced 10 giant pin badges for his LA exhibition Into the White Cube. The badges produced were showcased in the LA Times.

In 2020, Tony released 20 giant Prodigy badges after the band commissioned them. All badges sold out within four minutes of going on sale.

Tony has worked with the Hard Rock chain and produced giant badges for their Dublin hotel.

Buyers include Noel Gallagher, Maxim from The Prodigy, Taron Egerton and Paddy Considine.

All badges are handmade by the artist and produced in the UK.

• Limited edition of 50 pieces
• Hand signed and numbered*
• 20 diameter x 2d cm
• Hand painted in acrylic paints using stencils
• Artwork printed onto a gloss laminate vinyl and wrapped onto a hand spun aluminium badge
• Powder coated and hand finished
• UV protected
• Wall fixings included

*The image of the back of the badge is representative. The limited edition number that you receive will likely differ from that shown.

Dispatch

Product is made to order with a lead time of two to three weeks. If needed urgently as a present please contact us by email to check if we have stock - mail@oioitheshop.co.uk

IF THIS GIANT PIN BADGE IS PART OF YOUR LARGER ORDER WE WILL DISPATCH ALL ITEMS TOGETHER.