VIO-LENCE Launch Music Video For Cover Of DEAD KENNEDYS’ ‘California Über Alles’
August 20th, 2020
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San Francisco, California-based thrash metal band Vio-Lence have filmed a music video for their cover of The Dead Kennedys’ ‘California Über Alles’. Directed by Scott Kirkeeng, the clip can be viewed below.
Vio-Lence issued ‘California Über Alles’ as a digital single on August 20th, 2020 through Metal Blade Records.
Dead Kennedys released the original version of ‘California Über Alles’ as a single in June 1979, and re-recorded the song for September 1980 debut studio album Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables.
Regarding their rendition of ‘California Über Alles’, Vio-Lence commented: “Being musicians in the Bay Area Thrash Metal scene, Vio-Lence believes it is important to acknowledge the music that had a huge influence on thrash metal – which was Bay Area punk rock. With that in mind, Vio-Lence looked to one of the most influential bands of that scene – The Dead Kennedys – and their iconic song ‘California Über Alles’ to perform. ‘California Über Alles’ is a song Vio-Lence has been wanting to perform live for some time. We decided that since we weren’t going to be able to do that this year, and since fans haven’t heard any recordings from Vio-Lence since 1994, that now was a good time to bring it to our fans.
“We recorded it in our rehearsal studio with our new line-up of Phil Demmel, Perry Strickland, Christian Olde Wolbers, Bobby Gustafson, and Sean Killian. So we hooked up the recording equipment and got to work. On a good day, it was about 95 deg. F, which was a motivator to nail our takes to minimize the time we had to sweat. Once the song was recorded, Christian headed home to Venice and got to work mixing and mastering the recording. We all agree that he did a great job, giving the song excellent sound without losing the raw rehearsal studio sound that we wanted to keep.
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“Once recorded, the band moved onto the task of filming a video for the song. We met with Scott Kirkeeng, Senior Producer with East Peak Media, to discuss ideas. With Scott heading the production, Dan Brown editing, and Tatiana Peavy working the music playback, the video shoot began. We spent the day filming at The Back Lounge, a bar owned by Phil and Marta Demmel. The location must be kept confidential for fear of the California Secret Police locking us up for life. The band invited 10 friends, including Chris Collins (the guy wearing the helmet camera in the ‘World In A World’ video) and family members (including Sean’s son, Seamus), to join in the fun as masked zombie metal maniacs. Nurse Marta ‘Demmon’ showed up to give the band a shot of ‘OBEE-D-ENCE’, which was emphatically rejected.
“We had a great time recording and filming the video and song, and we hope you enjoy the Vio-Lence version of ‘California Über Alles’.”
The band are currently writing material for a new Vio-lence record, which is slated for release in early 2021 via Metal Blade.
Vio-Lence’s line-up is as follows:
Sean Killian (vocals)
Phil Demmel (guitar, ex-Torque / ex-Machine Head)
Christian Olde Wolbers (bass, ex-Fear Factory)
Perry Strickland (drums)
Bobby Gustafson (live guitar, Satans Taint / ex-Overkill)
Third studio record Nothing to Gain was released in November 1993 via Bleeding Hearts Records.
Promotional photograph by James Willard.
