11 12 / 2008
Dead Kennedys - I Fought the Law
Saw Milk last night, and while trying to learn more about the murderer Dan White, discovered this DK track with alternate lyrics about him and the lack of state-served justice in the case.
Oh man, loving this and the whipsmart adorable bstriddy who unearthed it.
I interned for former city supervisor Matt Gonzalez from 2001-2004, which, in addition to germinating an innate interest in the most mundane aspects of urban policy, meant a stream of fun parties and interesting bohemian characters in a comfortingly anachronistic vein. One of these was Jello Biafra, who was quite supportive of and affectionate toward MG, and I remember the feeling of “SRSLY!???” the first time I answered the phone at 554-7630 and spoke to him. That was the most interesting aspect of the Gonzalez supervisorship: there was a feeling of revival, of legitimizing the fringe left in the spirit of the counterculture (before the drug-fueled decline), and a strong sense of living out some kind of historic destiny (parallels were inevitably drawn with the Milk candidacy, albeit with different focus.) I loved it because, at the core, I am always a historian. I’ve been a student of local history almost from birth, determined to curate the memories of this strange Atlantis because nobody else seems to stay here (or sober) long enough to do it. But, I’ve recently been reminded that encyclopedic knowledge is a project requiring feeding and watering and I’ve been somewhat neglectful (I forgot the address of Castro Camera!) so a renewed commitment is in order. Less directionless drinking, more time in the History Center for me.
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