Artists: Dead Kennedy’s, Mannequin Death Squad
Venue: The Northcote Theatre, Melbourne, Australia (Naarm, Woiwurrung country)
Date: 19th September 2025
Review By: Dave Collopy & Ziggy Thunders
Photos By: Dave Collopy
We’re back again at the Northcote Theatre and on this wild Friday night we’re testing the walls of this fine establishment with a ferocious line up of legendary punk band Dead Kennedy’s and Melbourne’s very own thrash pop duo Mannequin Death Squad.
Having been friends with Mannequin Death Squad’s Elly and Dan for years, it was a delightful surprise to arrive at the venue and receive AAA passes for a show I never imagined attending. Meeting them in their green room was an incredible experience that made us feel warmly welcomed and cherished.
As we moved to the photo pit, the room buzzed with excitement and cheers as the SQUAD took the stage. The opening line of Seventeen was sung, and the music exploded from the amps and drums. Dan’s evolution as a drummer and musician since I first met him in 2009 was evident, with his powerful beats driving the set.
Elly’s guitar tone and playing were phenomenal, blending modern punk with 80s thrash influences, complemented by her melodic, hard-hitting, and cheeky vocals, with Dan providing backup from behind the kit. With a twist that surprises any newcomers to MDS, Dan switched to guitar while Elly took over the drums. During the heavy parts of the set, their energy transformed, delivering hard-hitting drums and intricate guitar work that captivated the crowd.
Witnessing their impressive trajectory in the industry is inspiring. With just the two of them, they’re paving a strong path for DIY music, reminiscent of the punk bands of the 80s.
Standing in the middle of a SOLD OUT Northcote Theatre with a giant Dead Kennedy’s logo illuminated on a giant screen across the stage surrounded by hundreds of excited fans spanning multiple generations is such a pinch me moment. This would be Dead Kennedy’s first time back in Australia in seven years and given the current state of everything, locally and globally, I feel like their songs’ messages are important and still relevant to what’s going on – even forty years after they were released. We need that ferocious energy now more than ever – and tonight unleashed that.
From the first hits of the drums as Dead Kennedy’s charged into Forward to Death chaos followed as the crowd in this fine establishment launched into a massive mosh pit which only grew in intensity over their set. The four members were a force to be reckoned with, East Bay Ray on guitars shredding out the punk riffs soaked in gritty attitude, Klaus Fluroide laid down the highly energetic bouncy basslines, Steve Wilson threw down the fast tempo drums that rattled everyone’s skulls and honoured the memory of longtime Dead Kennedy’s drummer, D.H Peligro who sadly passed in 2022. Lastly we have Skip Greer who commanded the stage with disarming charisma and vocals that nailed the rage and sarcasm perfectly.
Pulling from their four records (the last of which was released in 1986 – can we take a moment to appreciate how timeless your tunes have to be to be touring off the back of them over forty years later) Dead Kennedy’s served up a stellar setlist, heavy on tracks from Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables which celebrated its 45th anniversary a few weeks back. Kill The Poor had the entire venue shouting along, an updated take on MTV Get Off The Air brought it into the modern age with MP3 Get Off the Web – a sarcastic takedown of our influencer-social media-streaming driven ways had the crowd in hysterics as Skip hammed it up onstage. Let’s Lynch The Landlord somehow felt cathartic and a bit too real to be singing along to and hearing the sold out venue shout Nazi Punks Fuck Off sent a strong message. California Uber Alles whipped the crowd into a frenzy and their punk rock cover of Viva Las Vegas had the crowd starting up the ‘disco dance party.’ Holiday In Cambodia was heavy on the crowd participation with the venue screaming the chorus and ending on the relentless track Chemical Warfare after briefly leaving the stage after fooling the crowd they’d finished was the perfect skull rattling ending.
Go and see the Dead Kennedy’s live. Spin their records. Scream their lyrics – and just because this one in particular bears repeating – Nazi Punks Fuck Off.
Gig Gallery
The biggest THANK YOU ever to Dan and Elly from Mannequin Death Squad for having us, this was absolutely wild to experience. THANK YOU Dead Kennedy’s, SBM Presents, Northcote Theatre and all of the crew involved in making tonight so incredible.