Dead Kennedys are a punk rock band that formed in San Francisco, California, USA in 1978. During its initial eight-year run with original vocalist Jello Biafra, the band attracted controversy for their provocative content and were among the first to define the style of 1980s hardcore punk. Dead Kennedys' lyrics were usually political in nature, satirizing the Reagan Administration and the American establishment in general, as well as popular culture and even the punk movement itself.