Pull My Strings
Encyclopedia
Pull My Strings is a song by the Dead Kennedys
, written by lead singer Jello Biafra
and drummer Ted
specifically for the 1980 Bay Area Music Awards. The song would not find its way onto a record until 1987's Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
.
The song, recorded live at the awards show, begins with the band playing the opening chords to "California Über Alles
", one of their more famous songs. After the first few bars, Biafra yells out "Hold it!" and sarcastically tells the audience that they're becoming a New Wave
band because they "need to prove [they're] adults now". Klaus Flouride
begins to play another bass line, and a new song begins.
Biafra begins singing about him not being able to afford a car thanks to his self respect, and decides to sell out to the record companies to make some money ("I'm tired of self respect, I can't afford a car, I wanna be a pre-fab superstar"). He decides to become one of the cookie cutter new wave acts breaking into pop music at the time. The chorus implies that the musicians in the new wave bands need to be dumb and have a large penis, and are able to be pulled by strings like a puppet because they've sold their souls to the record labels, who basically can now mold them in whatever they (the labels) want them to be.
One of the targets of the Dead Kennedys in the song appears to be The Knack
, who hit big around that same time with "My Sharona
". Twice in the course of the song, in its middle and at its end, a bridge is played to the tune of "My Sharona", with Biafra singing the word "drool" to the tune of it and replacing "My Sharona" with "my payola
". Biafra also makes a sarcastic reference to the hypocrisy and drug abuse of the American bourgeoisie, referencing famous comedian Bob Hope
with the line "And when I'm rich and meet Bob Hope, we'll shoot some golf and shoot some dope".
The song was written because the band was invited to play at the 1980 Bay Area Music Awards (or Bammies), to play their hit "California Über Alles". However, they instead wrote this song solely for the show, and were never invited back. Also, this was the only time they ever played the song, despite its popularity.
During their performance, the Dead Kennedys wore white shirts with the letter S painted on the front. On the recording of the song, once "Pull My Strings" begins the audience can be heard cheering in response to the band members pulling their black neckties from behind their backs in front of them, making a dollar sign.
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
, written by lead singer Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
and drummer Ted
Ted (musician)
Bruce Slesinger, better known by his stage name Ted, was the first drummer for the Dead Kennedys,. He drummed for the band from July 1978 to February 1981. He played the drums on their first album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables...
specifically for the 1980 Bay Area Music Awards. The song would not find its way onto a record until 1987's Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death
-Personnel:* Jello Biafra - vocals, producer, artwork, compiler* East Bay Ray - guitar, echoplex, producer, mixer* Klaus Fluoride - bass, backing vocals * D.H...
.
The song, recorded live at the awards show, begins with the band playing the opening chords to "California Über Alles
California Über Alles
"California Über Alles" was the first single by the Dead Kennedys. The record was released in June 1979 on Optional Music with "The Man with the Dogs" as the b-side...
", one of their more famous songs. After the first few bars, Biafra yells out "Hold it!" and sarcastically tells the audience that they're becoming a New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band because they "need to prove [they're] adults now". Klaus Flouride
Klaus Flouride
Geoffrey Lyall , better known as Klaus Flouride, is best known as the bassist for the San Francisco, California, punk rock band Dead Kennedys from the group's inception in June 1978 until the band's break-up in December 1986, although he also produced four solo albums during the 1980s and...
begins to play another bass line, and a new song begins.
Biafra begins singing about him not being able to afford a car thanks to his self respect, and decides to sell out to the record companies to make some money ("I'm tired of self respect, I can't afford a car, I wanna be a pre-fab superstar"). He decides to become one of the cookie cutter new wave acts breaking into pop music at the time. The chorus implies that the musicians in the new wave bands need to be dumb and have a large penis, and are able to be pulled by strings like a puppet because they've sold their souls to the record labels, who basically can now mold them in whatever they (the labels) want them to be.
One of the targets of the Dead Kennedys in the song appears to be The Knack
The Knack
The Knack was an American New Wave rock quartet based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", an international number one hit in 1979.-Founding :...
, who hit big around that same time with "My Sharona
My Sharona
"My Sharona" is the debut single by The Knack, released in 1979 from their album Get the Knack. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart where it remained for six weeks and was #1 on Billboards Top Pop Singles of 1979 year-end chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry...
". Twice in the course of the song, in its middle and at its end, a bridge is played to the tune of "My Sharona", with Biafra singing the word "drool" to the tune of it and replacing "My Sharona" with "my payola
Payola
Payola, in the American music industry, is the illegal practice of payment or other inducement by record companies for the broadcast of recordings on music radio, in which the song is presented as being part of the normal day's broadcast. Under U.S...
". Biafra also makes a sarcastic reference to the hypocrisy and drug abuse of the American bourgeoisie, referencing famous comedian Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
with the line "And when I'm rich and meet Bob Hope, we'll shoot some golf and shoot some dope".
The song was written because the band was invited to play at the 1980 Bay Area Music Awards (or Bammies), to play their hit "California Über Alles". However, they instead wrote this song solely for the show, and were never invited back. Also, this was the only time they ever played the song, despite its popularity.
During their performance, the Dead Kennedys wore white shirts with the letter S painted on the front. On the recording of the song, once "Pull My Strings" begins the audience can be heard cheering in response to the band members pulling their black neckties from behind their backs in front of them, making a dollar sign.