Former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra suffered a stroke from high blood pressure on March 7th. His condition is stable and rehabilitation is imminent.
Former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra is in hospital after suffering a stroke. As announced through his social media channels and the Alternative Tentacles label, the musician suffered a hemorrhagic stroke caused by high blood pressure on March 7th.
His condition is currently considered stable, but a longer rehabilitation period is ahead.
“My left leg just collapsed underneath me.”
The 67-year-old musician described the incident himself in a message to his fans via Instagram. Accordingly, on the morning of March 7th, he collapsed while getting out of bed and suddenly lost control of the left side of his body. “I jumped out of bed because I had to go to the bathroom and my left leg just collapsed underneath me,” Biafra explained.
His left arm also no longer worked, so he was unable to break the fall. It was only when he tried and failed to get up that he realized he had suffered a stroke. He was then taken to a hospital, where he has been receiving medical care ever since.
About the statement from Jello Biafra:
According to his label, Biafra is now in stable condition. Nevertheless, extensive rehabilitation lies ahead. In his own statement, the musician was combative: He still has “a lot of great things in him”, but now he has to concentrate on recovery first.
Reactions from the environment
The social media post garnered numerous well wishes for the singer. Offspring guitarist Noodles wrote: “Heal quickly my friend. The world needs you.”
The band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard commented, “Sending you love JB,” and ex-Playmate and singer Bebe Buell wrote, “Get well quickly – we need you in the fight!! Sending you all my love.”
Black Pantera wished him “all the best”.
The Dead Kennedys
Jello Biafra, whose real name is Eric Reed Boucher, became a defining figure in the US punk movement at the end of the 1970s as the singer of the Dead Kennedys. The band released several influential albums between 1980 and 1986, including the debut Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables.
After the group’s dissolution, Biafra remained active as a musician, spoken word artist and political activist. He also still runs his independent label Alternative Tentacles to this day. The Dead Kennedys have been on the road without him since their reunion in 2001.
