Jim Faherty on the Infamous Dead Kennedys 1985 Orlando Show

Episode Overview

• The discussion centers on the "Music and Mayhem" exhibit, which kicks off with the story of a legendary Dead Kennedys concert in Orlando.
• Promoter Jim Faherty provides a firsthand account of the chaotic and infamous show he organized in the mid-1980s.
• The conversation explores how the extreme demand for live punk music in Orlando at the time created a forgiving environment for such chaotic events.
• Faherty shares specific details about the challenges he faced, from booking the show on Super Bowl Sunday to finding a suitable venue and managing an unexpectedly massive crowd.

Key Concepts

• The historical significance of early punk rock shows in developing the Orlando music scene.
• The concept of "mayhem" as a defining characteristic of the early punk movement and a central theme of the museum exhibit.
• The challenges faced by independent promoters in the 1980s, including securing venues for controversial bands and managing crowd control without proper infrastructure.
• The role of deception in securing a venue, as the promoter rented a hall under the guise of a 16th birthday party.
• The stark contrast between crowd sizes in established scenes like Pittsburgh versus the untapped, high-demand market in 1980s Orlando.

Quotes

• At 00:14 - "the exhibit's called Music and Mayhem, so I think that Mayhem, uh, you know, for those who are completely unfamiliar with this, I think that'll be a good sort of, um, you know, introduction to that world." - Jeremy Wilkman explaining how the chaotic story of the Dead Kennedys show perfectly introduces the theme of the new exhibit.
• At 01:53 - "I rented Syrianese Lebanese Hall under the guise that I was doing a friends of mine's 16th birthday party." - Promoter Jim Faherty revealing the creative but risky tactic he used to secure a venue for the Dead Kennedys.
• At 02:29 - "The icing on the cake was sitting there crying and watching someone carry the actually, the kitchen sink out of the venue." - Jim Faherty describing the most surreal and unbelievable moment of chaos during the infamous concert.

Takeaways

• A chaotic or seemingly disastrous event can become a powerful, legendary story. The "mayhem" itself created the memorable narrative that has lasted for decades, highlighting that imperfections often make for the most compelling history.
• Understanding and serving a starved market can overcome significant logistical failures. The audience's intense hunger for live music in Orlando created a high tolerance for chaos, allowing the scene to grow despite the promoter's early challenges.
• Resourcefulness is essential, but be prepared for the consequences. While renting a venue under false pretenses solved an immediate problem, it directly contributed to the ensuing mayhem when the crowd size vastly exceeded the venue's capacity and expectations.