Jello Biafra pays tribute to “unforgettable” Useless Kennedys drummer D.H. Peligro

Former Useless Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra has penned a eulogy for the band’s late drummer, D.H. Peligro, who handed away over the weekend.

The singer took to the web site of his label, Alternative Tentacles, to share the tribute on Sunday evening (October 30). In it, he described his longtime bandmate as “unforgettable” and “gifted”.

“Even behind the drum equipment, he had presence,” Biafra wrote. “All animal intuition, he by no means performed something fairly the identical method twice. He was a born showman.”

He went on to recall his first encounter with Peligro, watching his band SSI play at defunct San Francisco venue the Deaf Membership. Peligro, in Biafra’s eyes, “stole the present” together with his efficiency that evening. “A free spirited African American pressure of nature… with this shit consuming grin, a bandana on his head, and two kick drums, singing his ass off,” Biafra recalled.

Peligro joined the Useless Kennedys in 1981, changing Bruce “Ted” Slesinger. In line with Biafra’s eulogy, he secured his place within the band on his call-back audition on account of being “the one who’d performed his homework” on the band.

“[Dead Kennedys guitarist, East Bay] Ray mentioned he’d discovered ‘In-Sight’ from listening to it as soon as in his automobile on the radio,” Biafra wrote. “Now we had extra hearth and really feel than ever earlier than, and the remaining is historical past.”

Though Biafra left the Useless Kennedys in 1986, and maintains a contentious relationship with the band as a complete to today, he remained mates with Peligro, and admired each his private efforts in rehabilitation and his inventive endeavours together with his personal band – additionally named Peligro.

“We laughed about lots of stuff the opposite guys [in the band] didn’t,” Biafra mentioned. “We had our personal distinctive bond.”

Peligro handed away on Friday October 28, 2022, on the age of 63. Biafra’s tribute provides to many who have are available in following the information of Peligro’s loss of life. Pink Scorching Chili Peppers bassist Flea, who performed with Peligro briefly within the band circa 1988, described the late drummer as his “brother”.

“You're the truest rocker, and an important a part of RHCP historical past,” he wrote on Instagram.

Dave Lombardo, the previous drummer of Slayer, wrote on Twitter that his drumming for the band was “impressed” by Peligro’s enjoying. “Sending my deepest sympathies to his household, bandmates and all these affected by this tragic, premature loss,” he wrote.

Superchunk and The Mountain Goats drummer Jon Wurster described Peligro as “one of many greats”, whereas The Remedy alum Lol Tolhurst wrote that Peligro was “a beautiful man and an superior drummer”.