The Dead Milkmen Captures The Story Of The Philly-based, College Rock Chameleons

“The Dead Milkmen proved you could be hilarious, political, weird, and successful without losing your edge. Sonnichsen captures the band’s scrappy Philly DNA, sharp intelligence, and fearless satire that shaped generations of punks and nerds alike. This book gets at what made the Milkmen last: wit with teeth, songs with something to say, and a spirit that never softened. Essential reading for fans and students of punk and underground culture.” —MC Lars, rapper

“I was lucky to be a teenage fly on the wall during the earliest days of the Dead Milkmen’s existence. Running around with Dean, Rodney, Joe, and Dave at such a pivotal time in my life helped shape my musical tastes, my sense of wit, and most crucially, inspired a lifetime of questioning authority. This long-overdue telling of the Milkmen’s story is both a heartwarming journey through the past and a revealing overview of one of alternative rock’s most important bands.” —Jon Wurster, drummer and comedian

On June 30, J-Card Press releases Tyler Sonnichsen’s book, The Dead Milkmen. To date, this is the only book about the hilarious and scrappy band from Philadelphia, and includes myriad exclusive quotes, images, and anecdotes. Purchase it here.

The Dead Milkmen emerged from the Philadelphia hardcore scene in 1983, released their debut album Big Lizard in My Backyard in 1985, and quickly became hard-touring college rock chameleons who eviscerated American exceptionalism, Generation X, and even their own left-field MTV success. When alternative rock took over, the scenes and styles they helped forge suddenly had no place for them, and the band dissolved as the internet began changing everything. After the odyssey and death of a founding member, an increasingly fucked-up world brought the veterans back together. Against remarkable odds, the Milkmen have returned to their world-building DIY roots, inspiring a new generation of fans.  

Tyler Sonnichsen, author of Capitals of Punk (2020), lives with his wife and their two cats in Vermont, where he teaches college geography and dreams of being a full-blown professor. Find more of his work at SonicGeography.com.

The Dead Milkmen are a punk band who formed in summer of 1983 in Philadelphia, PA, featuring guitarist Joe “Jack Talcum” Genaro, singer-turned-keyboardist Rodney “Anonymous” Linderman, Dave “Blood” Schulthise on bass, and Dean “Clean” Sabatino on drums. They released their first album, Big Lizard in my Backyard in 1985, making them a college radio hit with the burlesque song “Bitchin’ Camaro.”

They spent the next decade touring consistently and releasing six more eclectic albums, including 1988’s Beelzebubba, which included “Punk Rock Girl,” a leftfield hit on MTV. They broke up in 1994, remaining in Philly and playing music regionally, except for Schulthise, who went back to college and relocated to Serbia in 1998. In 2004, Schulthise died by suicide, prompting a memorial show. In 2008, the Dead Milkmen reunited with Dan(drew) Stevens on bass, adding him as a full member in 2010. Since reforming, they’ve released three full-length LPs and various singles on local labels, and they continue playing festivals and numerous local benefit gigs in Philly every year.

The Dead Milkmen will be J-Card’s eighth book, following successful biographies of Brainiac, the Apples in Stereo, Laughing Hyenas, and more. Every band has a story, and J-Card tells three to four of those stories a year. Books can be ordered directly from the J-Card’s website or wherever books are sold. J-Card also has distribution deals with Revolver/Midheaven and Revelation, which has led to several J-Card titles being stocked in record stores.