• 1983-1995, 2008-

  Joe GenaroGuitar, vocals, keyboards

  Rodney LindermanKeyboards, whistle

  Dean SabatinoDrums, percussion

  Dave SchulthiseDrums, percussion1983-1995

  Dan StevensBass2008-
• The Dead Milkmen existed on paper before they were ever a live act. The band are well known for their sly humor and, fittingly, started out as something of a joke. Founder Joe Genaro was writing a parody of fan club letters of popular bands, finding the style and tone of them ludicrous and over the top. He invented 'The Dead Milkmen' as a fictitious band for the satirical newsletter to revolve around. This spur-of-the-moment creation inspired Joe and the other members to actually form the band.
• The Dead Milkmen played their first live show at the Harleysville Youth Center in Pennsylvania. The band had never performed all together before, and Dean Sabatino met Rodney Linderman for the first time moments before they began to play. The band recalls an audience of roughly 14 people — dwindling by two after a woman took her daughter away, offended by the band's colorful language.
• The band has stated that they have no explanation for their name, and that Joe Genarod doesn't remember why he picked it.
• The Dead Milkmen had a dramatic encounter with the law during a mid-tour stopover in Tucson, Arizona. As the band pulled into their hotel parking lot, their van was stopped and encircled by a squadron of police cars. The band were told to exit the vehicle one at a time, hands behind their head, while an officer kept his gun trained on the van. The band were handcuffed and patted down before ultimately being let go, the official explanation being a case of mistaken identity. They were never told who or what the police were looking for.
• At one point, the Dead Milkmen toured in a converted ambulance, dubbed the "Jambulance." It was group's first big investment as a band. In an interview with Monster Fresh, Rodney Linderman revealed that they used to turn out the flashing lights, loudly blow whistles out the window, and speed toward their destination screaming "Hospital, emergency!". After putting heavy mileage on the vehicle (200,000 miles, as jokingly estimated by Linderman), the Jambulance was sold to another band.
• Each original band member has a pseudonym used in association with an act. These are: Rodney Anonymous (Rodney Linderman), Joe Jack Talcum (Joe Genaro), Dave Blood (Dave Schulthise), and Dean Clean (Dean Sabatino).

Comments

More Songfacts:

DowntownPetula Clark

When Petula Clark reached #1 in the US with "Downtown" in 1965, she became the first female singer from England to hit #1 in the US during the Rock Era (after 1955).

We're Not Gonna Take ItTwisted Sister

Musically, the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It" is based on the Christmas tune "O Come All Ye Faithful."

You Don't Know How It FeelsTom Petty

MTV reversed the word "joint" in Tom Petty's "You Don't Known How It Feels" so it was unintelligible, but gave the video a VMA anyway.

Just Give Me A ReasonPink

Pink wrote "Just Give Me A Reason" about how one partner can feel jilted over something trivial, like how her boyfriend passes her the butter.

E.T.Katy Perry

Katy Perry's song "E.T." came from a beat originally intended for the rap group Three Six Mafia. When her producer accidentally pulled up the beat, Perry asked to use it.

Cat's In The CradleHarry Chapin

Harry Chapin's wife Sandy wrote the lyrics to "Cat's In The Cradle," which were actually about her first husband.

Editor's Picks

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Evolution Of The Prince SymbolSong Writing

The evolution of the symbol that was Prince's name from 1993-2000.

Facebook, Bromance and Email - The First Songs To Use New WordsSong Writing

Where words like "email," "thirsty," "Twitter" and "gangsta" first showed up in songs, and which songs popularized them.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.