Life After Life (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
Key people | Jim Čert, Jaroslav Erno Šedivý, Jello Biafra (producer/label founder) |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
| Parent | Alternative Tentacles |
Life After Life was a self-proclaimed gypsy punk ensemble from the United States, also described as a psychedelic punk outfit, active between 1993 and 1998 in San Francisco. The lineup featured Czech accordionist and folk vocalist Jim Čert alongside drummer Jaroslav Erno Šedivý, noted for his involvement with the Plastic People of the Universe, together with four American musicians rooted in the Bay Area rock community.
History
During the 1980s, Čert and Šedivý were influential members of the Czech music landscape, recognized for their resistance to the communist regime. Both endured incarceration due to their creation of music deemed "anti-social" by government censors who regulated performance permissions. Documentation from 1989 indicates that Čert also acted as a police informant under coercion.
Following their migration to the United States after the Velvet Revolution, they established Life After Life with local artists, launching as a five-member band on New Year's Eve 1993.
The group caught the attention of San Francisco-based musician and activist Jello Biafra, former lead singer of hardcore punk band Dead Kennedys and founder of the Alternative Tentacles label. Biafra signed them, commending their distinctive musical style. Their initial single "Harrahya" was released ahead of the album Just Trip, which included compositions by Čert, such as "Marijuana," featuring lyrics by pro-marijuana advocate David Peel. The record also contained a bonus track—a cover of Willie Nelson's "Still Is Still Moving to Me," with Biafra providing lead vocals, originally appearing on the Nelson tribute Twisted Willie.
Life After Life dissolved in 1998 when Čert moved back to Prague. Since then, there have been occasional conversations about reuniting.
Discography
Releases
- "Harrahya" / "Doors" (7" single, 1995)
- Just Trip (LP, 1997)
Compilation appearances
- The Day the Needles Stood Still (features "Harrahya," "Doors," and "Mexico" from the 7" sessions)
- Twisted Willie (includes "Still Is Still Moving to Me")