Chickenshit Conformist
Encyclopedia
"Chickenshit Conformist" is a song by the Dead Kennedys
; released on their 1986 album Bedtime for Democracy
. It accuses punk rock
of becoming "a closed-minded, self-centred social club", and accuses the punks
of becoming "chickenshit conformist[s] like [their] parents."
The song also mentions the phenomenon of people being "harder core than thou for a year or two, then it's time to find a real job"; a topic Jello Biafra
addressed years later on his spoken word albums, noting that the individuals who are the most hardcore
tend to be the ones who end up becoming the most conservative
and pro-establishment later in life.
Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys are an American punk rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1978. The band became part of the American hardcore punk movement of the early 1980s. They gained a large underground fanbase in the international punk music scene....
; released on their 1986 album Bedtime for Democracy
Bedtime for Democracy
Bedtime for Democracy is the fourth album released by Dead Kennedys. Songs on this album cover such common punk subjects as conformity, Reaganomics, the military, and even criticizing aspects of their own punk movement. The title of the album is a reference to the 1951 comedy film, Bedtime for...
. It accuses punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
of becoming "a closed-minded, self-centred social club", and accuses the punks
Punk subculture
The punk subculture includes a diverse array of ideologies, and forms of expression, including fashion, visual art, dance, literature, and film, which grew out of punk rock.-History:...
of becoming "chickenshit conformist[s] like [their] parents."
The song also mentions the phenomenon of people being "harder core than thou for a year or two, then it's time to find a real job"; a topic Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
addressed years later on his spoken word albums, noting that the individuals who are the most hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
tend to be the ones who end up becoming the most conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
and pro-establishment later in life.