The self-proclaimed band that defies and actually invites criticism will make its second Utah appearance next week. The Dead Milkmen, a Philadelphia band the Deseret News once named the worst live act of 1987, will appear at Salt Lake's Speedway Cafe, 505 W. 500 South, on Monday, July 2.
Such a dubious honor might offend most bands, but Dead Milkmen drummer Dean Malory (stage name: Dean Clean) said the quartet actually thrives on negative criticism and uses it as venom for its vituperative attacks on "the figures that need to get their balloons burst."Targets of earlier Dead Milkmen LPs include mindless dance club drones (1987's "Instant Club Hit"), fraternity and sorority members (1989's "Brat in the Frat") and organized religion (their current single is "Methodist Coloring Book").
According to Malory, the band's new LP, "Metaphysical Graffiti" - which mocks Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" LP in both its title and cover art - is typical of the Dead Milkmen scruff-rock, or "sarcasta-billy," sound.
"It's loud and makes fun of people we like to make fun of," Malory said in a phone interview. "Though the title comes from Led Zeppelin, it's not just a Zeppelin parody record."
Malory said the band is proud of its current effort - which includes the loony "In Praise of Sha Na Na" and "Now Everybody's Me" (featuring the line "I hate Edie Brickell!").
"We feel like it's one of our more consistent efforts, and we particularly like the sound (which now includes vocalist Rodney Anonymous on keyboards). It sounds like something we'd be proud of."
Also typical (and something of which the band is proud) is the furor the album, plus the single and its subsequent video, have caused, he said, but that's nothing new for the band that once parodied James Brown's violent antics (in their misunderstood "RC's Mom" single).
"The (`Methodist Coloring Book') video was originally banned from MTV because of several images that they thought might be offensive. For example, the maggots-on-the-face scene (reminiscent of Yes' "Owner of a Lonely Heart") was highly offensive, or so they thought."
Imagery involving burning churches and crucifixes were deleted or sped up so as to be unnoticeable before the network would accept the clip, Malory said.
Aesthetically pleasing to the band was the album cover art, he said. "We wanted it to look like the Zeppelin cover, so we want to smash up some model buildings.
"We went to a local hobby shop to get some equipment and we found they already had something like we wanted. I think it was called `Urban Renewal,' or something like that."
Additionally Zeppelin-esque was the recording of the single, Malory said. "Evidently there was one of their songs that involved Robert Plant saying something about holding off recording because of a plane flying overhead, and they left it in.
"During our recording, Rodney had something similar happen and we wanted to leave it in. Our producer (Brian Beattie) came in and told us that it happened with Led Zeppelin too, and the album it's on is `Physical Graffiti,' so it's kind of fitting."
Opening for the band is Don't Mean Maybe and local act Dinosaur Bones. Tickets for the show cost $8 ($10 the day of show) and can be purchased from Bandaloops, Stargazer, Raunch Records and all Soundoff locations. Doors open at 8:30 p.m.