"Police Truck"
Single by Dead Kennedys
A-side(s)	"Holiday in Cambodia"
Released	May 1980
Format	7"
Genre	Hardcore punk
Length	2:24
Label	Cherry Red/Alternative Tentacles
Writer(s)	Jello Biafra/East Bay Ray
Producer(s)	Dead Kennedys
Dead Kennedys singles chronology
"California Über Alles" (1979) "Holiday in Cambodia" (1980) "Kill the Poor" (1980)

"Police Truck" is a song by the Dead Kennedys. The song was originally released in May, 1980, as the B-side of the "Holiday in Cambodia" single and later released in June 1987 on the DKs' compilation album, Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death. The song is a satirical attack on the actions of oppressive police officers, and takes a first person view from the authorities themselves. The song mentions controversial acts, such as beating up drunks and kidnapping prostitutes. Image File history File linksMetadata Dead_Kennedys_-_Holiday_In_Cambodia_US_picture_cover. ... A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... The Dead Kennedys (often known by their initials DK, as in decay) are a punk band from San Francisco, California. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Original US 45 rpm single picture cover: The Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia Holiday in Cambodia is a single by the hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys released in May of 1980. ... It has been suggested that Childrens gramophone records be merged into this article or section. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Alternative Tentacles is an independent record label based in San Francisco, California and was established in 1979. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Eric Reed Boucher (born June 17, 1958) is more widely known by the stage name Jello Biafra. ... Raymond Pepperell, better known as East Bay Ray, is the lead guitarist for the well known West Coast punk band Dead Kennedys. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... The Dead Kennedys (often known by their initials DK, as in decay) are a punk band from San Francisco, California. ... California Ãœber Alles (B-side The Man with the Dogs) was the first single by the Dead Kennedys. ... Kill the Poor (B-side Insight) is a single by the hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys released in October of 1980. ... The Dead Kennedys (often known by their initials DK, as in decay) are a punk band from San Francisco, California. ... See also: Musical groups established in 1980 Record labels established in 1980 list of years in music 1980s in music. ... In recorded music, the terms A-side and B-side refer to the two sides of 7 inch vinyl records on which singles have been released since the 1950s. ... Original US 45 rpm single picture cover: The Dead Kennedys - Holiday In Cambodia Holiday in Cambodia is a single by the hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys released in May of 1980. ... See also: 1986 in music, other events of 1987, 1988 in music, 1980s in music and the list of years in music // January 3 - Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ... Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death is an album by the Dead Kennedys. ...

The song was one of the Kennedys' early popular songs. "Police Truck" is built around a hardcore version of a surf beat (similar to the one heard in the early instrumental surf-rock singles such as The Chantays' "Pipeline"), and highlighted by East Bay Ray's echoed guitar leads and the descending chorus "ride, ride, how we ride." "Police Truck", like many of the band's songs, serves as an example of the Dead Kennedys' ability to portray a disturbing scenario through humorous lyrics. The Chantays were a surf rock band from the early 1960s, best known for only one hit, the instrumental Pipeline (1963, see 1963 in music). ... Raymond Pepperell, better known as East Bay Ray, is the lead guitarist for the well known West Coast punk band Dead Kennedys. ...

The song later appeared in the soundtrack of the popular skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, after being licensed by the former Dead Kennedys. This licensing caused criticism from many Dead Kennedys fans, who used it to assert that East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, and D.H. Peligro are no longer committed to the band's anti-corporate beliefs, unlike vocalist Jello Biafra. However, Alternative Tentacles gave approval for the song to appear in the game. Biafra denies that this happened. [1] The song appears in the game Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s with altered lyrics (for example- the word "drunks" at the beginning of the song is replaced by "punks" and the part involving the gang rape of a prostitute has been overhauled entirely). A video from the final release of the game can be seen here. Tony Hawks Pro Skater (1999) (called Tony Hawks Skateboarding in Europe) is a skateboarding video game, and the first in the Tony Hawks series. ... Raymond Pepperell, better known as East Bay Ray, is the lead guitarist for the well known West Coast punk band Dead Kennedys. ... Geoffrey Lyall, better known as Klaus Flouride, was best known as the bassist for the San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys from the groups inception in June 1978 until the bands breakup in December 1986, although he also produced four solo albums during the 1980s and 1990s. ... D.H. Peligro D.H. Peligro (b. ... Eric Reed Boucher (born June 17, 1958) is more widely known by the stage name Jello Biafra. ...