Dead Kennedys founding guitarist East Bay Ray has been sadly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, with the punk veteran planning to continue performing for as long as his health allows.
The band’s management announced the diagnosis on Tuesday, September 22nd through Dead Kennedys’ social media accounts, with no further details surrounding Ray’s diagnosis have been made public (per Billboard).
“Ray says he plans to continue performing and touring with Dead Kennedys for as long as his health allows, and expresses his appreciation to everyone for their continued support,”
For now, that means Dead Kennedys’ upcoming run of US shows remains on the books.
East Bay Ray Plans To Keep Touring With Dead Kennedys
The band are scheduled to return to the stage at Seattle’s Showbox on October 6th, followed by Portland’s Roseland Theater on October 7th.
They’ll then head home to San Francisco for a show at the Regency Ballroom on October 9th alongside fellow punk veterans Flipper and The Avengers, before the current run wraps in Riverside, California on October 11th.
Born Raymond Pepperell, East Bay Ray co-founded Dead Kennedys in San Francisco in 1978 and has remained closely tied to the band throughout its history.
His distinctive guitar playing became central to the Dead Kennedys sound, bringing surf-rock influences and other textures into the frantic punk heard across songs including ‘Holiday in Cambodia’, ‘California Über Alles’ and ‘Kill the Poor’.
The band released their debut album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, in 1980, followed by records including Plastic Surgery Disasters and Frankenchrist before initially splitting in 1986.
Dead Kennedys returned without original vocalist Jello Biafra in 2001, with Ray and bassist Klaus Flouride among the founding members involved in the reunion.
The news follows a difficult period for members of the classic Dead Kennedys lineup. Biafra suffered a haemorrhagic stroke earlier this year, while longtime drummer D.H. Peligro died in 2022.
Despite his diagnosis, Ray’s message is clear: he intends to keep playing with Dead Kennedys while his health permits.
RELATED
MORE IN Music
