He began his career in music in January 1977 as a roadie for the punk rock band The Ravers (who later changed their name to The Nails), soon joining his friend John Greenway in a band called The Healers. The Healers became well known locally for their mainly improvised lyrics and avant garde music.
In the autumn of that year, he began attending the University of California, Santa Cruz.
In June 1978, Biafra responded to an advertisement placed in a store by guitarist East Bay Ray, stating 'guitarist wants to form punk band', and together they formed the Dead Kennedys.
