Punk Hero

The Dead Milkmen is a satirical punk band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band initially consisted of Joe Genaro (”Joe Jack Talcum”; guitar, vocals), Dave Schulthise (”Dave Blood”; bass), Dean Sabatino (”Dean Clean”; drums), and Rodney Linderman (”Rodney Anonymous”; vocals, synth).

In 1988 came Beelzebubba, which featured what would become the Dead Milkmen’s biggest commercial hit and best-known song, “Punk Rock Girl.” The song’s video won rotation on MTV, and was later featured on MTV’s Beavis and Butt-head show. This album was somewhat more sophisticated, technically and musically, than previous work and featured two music videos, “Punk Rock Girl” and “Smokin’ Banana Peels”. Following in this vein is 1990’s Metaphysical Graffiti, which was even more technical than the last album, but didn’t receive the same attention as Beezlebubba did. The album featured the song “Methodist Coloring Book”; the song and its music video received little rotation.

Up to this point, the band had been recording for Enigma Records and its subsidiary Restless Records. They signed with Hollywood Records, owned by Disney. Their next two albums, Soul Rotation (1992) and Not Richard, But Dick (1993), saw the further polishing of their production. However, many fans felt the band had lost its humor and vitality in an attempt to be more mainstream.

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