Eric Reed Boucher was born on the 17th June 1958, in Boulder, Colorado USA, and as Jello Biafra is most famous as a former member of Dead Kennedys, San Francisco’s punk rock band in which he served as the lead singer as well as a songwriter. Jello Biafra is also the co-founder of independent record label Alternative Tentacles. Besides music, Jello is also known as a member of the Green Party of the United States, including being its candidate for the 2000 Presidential election.
Have you ever wondered how much wealth this uncommon man has accumulated so far? How rich Jello Biafra is? According to sources, it is estimated that the total amount of Jello Biafra’s net worth, as of late 2016, is $500,000 and includes ownership of an independent record label Alternative Tentacles. It has all been primarily acquired throughout his music career, which has been active since 1976.
Jello Biafra Net Worth $500,000
Jello Biafra was born to Virginia, a librarian, and psychiatric social worker Stanley Wayne Boucher, and is of mostly American descent, but also has some Jewish ancestry. Jello’s interest in music and politics dates back to his early childhood when he started listening to rock music, and passionately watched the news. He attended the University of California, Santa Cruz where he studied acting and the history of Paraguay, however, he abandoned formal education in order to pursue a music career. In late 1976, Jello joined the punk rock group The Ravers (later renamed to The Nails), as a member of its road crew. Soon after, Jello teamed up with John Greenway’s The Healers, a local band infamous for its rather improvised lyrics and specifically “avant garde” style. These engagements marked the beginning of Jello Biafra’s music career and provided the basis for his overall net worth.
In 1978, Jello Biafra alongside East Bay Ray founded the Dead Kennedys. In the beginning he used the stage name Occupant, but soon afterwards he changed it to the now widely known Jello Biafra, a mix of Jell-o, the brand name of gelatin desserts and Biafra, a shortened version of the Republic of Biafra, a short-lived breakaway Nigerian state.
Besides being the frontman of the band, Jello also wrote the band’s songs, with the nature of his lyrics being quite political and sociological with a vast dose of criticism and sarcasm. In 1979, the band’s first single “Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables” hit the charts. However, due to the song’s controversial lyrics the band faced distribution problems, so Jello Biafra decided to found his own, independent record label in 1979 – Alternative Tentacles – and in 1980 the band’s debut same-named studio album was released. This venture added to Jello’s overall net worth.
Jello Biafra and the Dead Kennedys caught the focus of the media when in 1985 they released their “Frankenchrist” album featuring H.R. Giger’s Work 219: Landscape XX as the album cover. This unique painting of rows of penises in anal intercourse brought Jello to court as he faced the “harmful matters to minors” distribution charges. Prior to the 1986 Kennedys’ breakup, the band released four studio albums in total including, apart from those mentioned above, “Plastic Surgery Disasters” (1982) and “Bedtime for Democracy” (1986) including several hit singles such as “California Über Alles” and “Holiday in Cambodia”. All these engagements helped Jello Biafra to earn controversial status among artists as well as to increase his overall net worth.
Apart from his music career, during which he has also performed with Lard, D.O.A. and The Melvins, Jello Biafra also made some efforts towards politics. In 1979 he ran for mayor of San Francisco, with his platform including several rather unconventional points, such as forcing businessman to wear clown suits, citywide ban of motor vehicles and holding auctions for high-ranking government positions. Although ironic and unusual, Jello Biafra was ranked No.4 among the top 10 candidates. In 2000, Jello Biafra was drafted as the New York State Green Party’s presidential candidate, but bowed to Ralph Nader.
When it comes to his personal life, Jello Biafra was married to Theresa Soder, the lead singer of punk band The Situations, known under her stage name Ninotchka. The marriage, which began with a wedding ceremony held in a graveyard, lasted from 1981 to 1986. Jello Biafra currently lives in San Francisco, California.
Holiday in Cambodia, Nazi Punks Fuck Off, California Über Alles, Dead Kennedys, Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine, Lard, Teenage Time Killers, Revolting Cocks, The No WTO Combo, Pigface
Movies
Tapeheads, Terminal City Ricochet, Bikini Bandits Experience, Lovedolls Superstar, Skulhedface, William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, American Drug War: The Last White Hope, Highway 61, Anarchism in America, Retardead, X: The Unheard Music, Plaster Caster, Death & Texas, Body Count: Murder 4 Hire, Pan...
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Quote
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For every prohibition you create, you also create an underground.
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If evolution is outlawed, only outlaws will evolve.
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Don't HATE the media, BECOME the media!
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Fact
1
Subject of the song "Jello Biafra" by Wesley Willis.
2
In 1979 he founded the record label Alternative Tentacles in San Francisco, CA.
3
The Dead Kennedys's 1980 debut album "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" is recognized as an influential and seminal album in the early 80's punk rock scene.
4
When running for mayor of San Francisco in 1979 his election slogan was, "There's Always Room for Jello".
5
In 1979, he ran for Mayor of San Francisco, California under his stage name, originally as a "gag' candidate, then as a serious one. His campaign platform included requiring all police officers to live in the neighborhoods they were assigned to patrol. He finished 4th in a field of 10 candidates, with 4% of the popular vote. Shortly afterwords, a law was passed in that city prohibiting running for public office under an assumed name.
6
Levi's allegedly asked to use the introduction of the song "Holiday in Cambodia" for a commercial. However, the offer was never considered as Jello disagreed with many of Levi's practices at that time.
After leaving Dead Kennedys he formed the band Lard.
9
Chose his pseudonym as a commentary on starvation. "Jello" is based on "Jell-o", a brand of gelatin dessert with no natural nutritional value. Biafra was a section of eastern Nigeria that proclaimed independence in 1967. All transport was closed off to the breakaway republic by Nigeria, and mass starvation caused the country to collapse in 1970.
10
He and the ex-members of Dead Kennedys have a very bitter relationship.
11
He was sued in 2001 by ex-members of Dead Kennedys for past royalties and access to The Dead Kennedys' back catalog.
12
His home was raided shortly after the release of Dead Kennedys album, "Frankenchrist" by police. The album outraged religious conservatives, who claimed that it disseminated harmful material to minors. He tells a story about this incident on his spoken word CD, "No More Cocoons".
13
Was very bitter that Dead Kennedys song, "Holiday In Cambodia" was used for a Levi's commercial in 2001. He made statements saying that Levi's uses unfair business practices and sweatshop labor.
14
Is on an F.O.P. (Fraternal Order Of Police) boycott list for his support of Mumia Abu-Jamal, along with other musicians and celebrities.
15
In addition to running for mayor, he also tried to run for President in 2000. He named convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal as his running mate. It was merely a publicity stunt for activism on Mumia Abu Jamal's behalf, as his case is believed by some to be a frame-up and is very controversial.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Democracy Now!
2016
TV Series writer - 1 episode
American Honey
2016
writer: "I Kill Children" - as Eric Boucher
Green Room
2015
writer: "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" - as Eric Boucher
I Love You... I am The Porn Queen
2013
Short "Dot Com Monte", "Invasion of the Mindsnatchers"
Catalunya über alles!
2011
writer: "California über alles"
Foo Fighters: Back and Forth
2011
Documentary writer: "Stealing People's Mail"
Rango
2011
writer: "FORKBOY"
I Melt with You
2011
writer: "Holiday in Cambodia"
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune
2010
Documentary performer: "Love Me I'm a Liberal"
The Social Network
2010
writer: "California Uber Alles"
Nitro Circus
2009
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
2007
Video Game writer: "Holiday in Cambodia"
Planet Terror
2007
writer: "Too Drunk To Fuck"
Grindhouse
2007
writer: "Too Drunk to Fuck"
Punk's Not Dead
2007
Documentary writer: "Holiday in Cambodia"
American Wasteland
2005
Video Game writer: "California Über Alles"
Fierce People
2005
writer: "Kill the Poor"
The Manchurian Candidate
2004
"Kinky Sex Makes the World Go Round"
Wie Feuer und Flamme
2001
writer: "California über alles"
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
1999
Video Game writer: "Police Truck"
SLC Punk!
1998
writer: "Kill the Poor"
The Big One
1997
Documentary performer: "Convoy in the Sky" 1994
The Second Coming
1997
Short performer: "Are you Drinkin' with me Jesus"
Sepultura: Third World Chaos
1995
Video documentary writer: "Holiday In Cambodia"
Natural Born Killers
1994
writer: "Forkboy"
Terminal City Ricochet
1990
as J. Biafra, Biafra, "Falling Space Junk Hold the Anchovies!", "That's Progress", "Message From Our Sponsor/Object-Subject" / lyrics: "Message From Our Sponsor/Object-Subject" - as J. Biafra
Tapeheads
1988
writer: "In Sight"
Lovedolls Superstar
1986
writer: "One Way Ticket to Pluto" - as J. Biafra
Dead Kennedys: DMPO's on Broadway
1985
Video documentary writer: "Police Truck", Hop With The Jet Set, A Child and his Lawnmower, Moral Majority, MTV Get Off The Air, Life Sentance, Jock O Rama, Goons of Hazard, Riot, Bleed For Me, Nazi Punks Fuck Off, We've Got a Bigger Problem Now
Class
1983
writer: "Holidays In Cambodia" - as Eric R. Boucher
A Night at Halsted's
1982
writer: "Holiday in Cambodia" - uncredited
Neighbors
1981
writer: "Holiday In Cambodia" - uncredited
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
An American in Texas
2016
completed
Mayor
Portlandia
2014
TV Series
Punk
The Hipster Games: Blowing Smoke
2013
Short
President Jello
I Love You... I am The Porn Queen
2013
Short
Francis Alexander / Syd
Lucifer's Crewcut
2011
Short
Jello Biafra
Soviet Unterzoegersdorf: Sector 2
2009
Video Game
Oberzögersdorf White Trash
Retardead
2008
Video
Mayor Anton Sinclaire
Death and Texas
2004
Prison spokesman
Bikini Bandits
2002
Video
Evil Porn Director
The Widower
1999
Vance / Satan
Virtue
1999/II
VR Poker Dealer
The Best of Flipside Video #3
1995
Video
Dead Kennedys
Skulhedface
1994
Video
Boss Glom
Highway 61
1991
Customs Agent #1
Terminal City Ricochet
1990
Bruce Coddle
Tapeheads
1988
FBI Man #1
Lovedolls Superstar
1986
Mr. President
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
An American in Texas
2016
completed
We Live Through These Times
1999
Documentary short
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hit So Hard
2011
Documentary thanks
Wesley Willis's Joyrides
2008
Documentary special thanks
Counter Convention: A Free New York Special
2005
Documentary special thanks
Bush Family Fortunes: The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
2004
Video documentary special thanks
The American Astronaut
2001
special thanks - as Jello Biaffra
Save the Headwater's Forests
1997
TV Movie documentary special thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Industrial Musicals Movie
2018
Documentary filming
Himself
Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk
2017
Documentary completed
Himself
The Secret Syde: I See Through Your Mind
Documentary filming
Himself
The Colossus of Destiny: A Melvins Tale
2016
Documentary
The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead
2015
Documentary
Records Collecting Dust
2015
Documentary
Jello Biafra
Never Turn Your Back on Sparks
2014
Documentary
Himself
Riot on the Dance Floor
2014
Documentary
Himself
Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey
2014
Documentary
Himself
Heino - Made in Germany
2013
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Art of Punk
2013
TV Series documentary
Clockwork Orange County
2012
Video documentary
A Band Called Death
2012
Documentary
Himself / Interviewee
VHK - akik móresre tanították a halált
2012
Documentary
Himself
Bloodied But Unbowed: Uncut
2011
Documentary
Himself
Freaks in Love
2011
Documentary
Himself
Fix: The Ministry Movie
2011/I
Documentary
Himself
Wild Thing
2010
Documentary
Himself
Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune
2010
Documentary
Friend / Musician
Sounds Like a Revolution
2010
Documentary
The Hour
2010
TV Series
Himself
The Weird World of Blowfly
2010
Documentary
Himself
William S. Burroughs: A Man Within
2010
Documentary
Himself
Open Your Mouth and Say... Mr. Chi Pig
2009
Documentary
Himself
American Artifact: The Rise of American Rock Poster Art