They’re Not Joking: A Tribute To Dead Serios
Various Artists
Ghoul Tone records, 2015
Reviewed by Bart Savagewood
Maybe you’re not from here. So your lack of understanding is understandable. Dead Serios are currently back 
together after a many year hiatus, and better than ever. So what could be more fitting for the 30 year anniversary for heavy metal’s clown princes of thrash than a tribute from many of the artists they directly had a hand in inspiring? That’s exactly what this is and better than most anyone could have predicted or hoped for. This collection of ten songs rocks, rattles and oozes into places you’d never expect Dead Serios songs to go, not of their own accord exactly. This speaks volumes to how far-reaching the influence of this little band from the Harbor City is.
Skurvy the Clown, in many ways Dead Serios’ bastard heirs to lowbrow humor, kick off the disc with the best known, most radio played of all DS tunes, “Butterbean Queen.” There’s some Beastie Boys style three-men-on-the mic rapping and some great beat-boxing (is it even called that anymore?) by Brendon Keith to give it a spin. The lead is wonderfully chaotic and over the top before returning to more lyrical wonderment of the once teenaged pop doll, Tiffany.
“Pizza Face” is given the total power ballad treatment by Nightfall, and you know, I’m favoring it. If you want a slow song to make out to on a crowded gym floor at a middle school dance like it’s 1987, this version will do ya. Bring your own time machine.
Katty Shack take us to the islands with ska (punk) and reggae-ish treatment of “No Pipe for Potato Head.” Before DS found confidence in their sense of humor they penned the occasional, more serious minded number. Such is “Harbor City,” punched up here by Ty Oglesby with the help of UFO’s Paul Chapman on lead guitar.
Glitter Dollz head into the garage with their oily, tuff gurl reading of “Bad Luck.” It’s a slippery, rough and tumble rocker. “People Need Ozzy” gets the most severe redressing by Fretless Rock, tearing up an instrumental version like a demented string quartet. Lazaras sinks their rotten teeth into the holiday classic, “Dead Under the Tree.” Dead Serios themselves even tracked the long unrecorded, live staple, “Buster’s Got a Booger,” finally giving the number it’s due. Joey Image of The Misfits fame makes an appearance and is great. So is DigiSex Gimp.
One of the great things on this disc is wildly and widely varied the interpretations are. And that’s what a great tribute disc ought to have. Re-imaginings and inversions of songs so they’re new all over again.
In terms of impact and influence, you’d be hard pressed to find a bigger thumbprint on the Space Coast’s sound-scape. You could see DS headline at a club, see them open up for touring MTV acts. Talk to them afterward, and they were accessible. You could ask them how something was done, and for the most part, they’d tell you and they would help you as best they could. If there’s an original band you saw live ’round this way in the late 80’s or 90’s, and they were playing and writing their own songs, booking DIY tours further away than Jacksonville, and absolutely playing for keeps every time they went on stage, then they were influenced in some way by Dead Serious, and that’s no joke.
All proceeds of this disc go to benefit the Genesis House.