Former singer/songwriter for The Dead Kennedys, Jello Biafra is a controversial and celebrated punk pioneer.

The crusader will bring his words to Ames tonight to promote his fifth spoken word album. The show promises to be a scathing condemnation of modern American morals, politics and society.

Neelika Jayawardane, Student Union Board president and graduate student in English, does not know what to expect from the always unpredictable Biafra.

“He speaks his mind,” she said. “You never know where he’ll go with it.”

Jayawardane said that while some people might think Biafra is “just some crazy guy,” he is very informed on many different subjects.

“He’s provocative enough that whether you agree with him or not, he’s very entertaining,” Jayawardane said.

Biafra has always been a controversial figure.

While in The Dead Kennedys, his album “Frankenchrist” was the first recorded work in history to be put on trial for obscenity.

As a result, Biafra found himself forced into the role of a spokesman against censorship and First Amendment rights.

After 16 albums and an attempt at the San Francisco mayor’s position, Biafra is still an activist sought after for his political and social commentaries.

He is the founder of Alternative Tentacles Records and continues to be an advocate for free speech and artistic expression.

Biafra is currently the “main ingredient” in Lard, an ongoing recording project with members of Ministry.

His current album, “If Evolution is Outlawed, Only Outlaws will Evolve,” has been described as “poignant and scathingly funny.”

On the album, Biafra takes on topics such as the media, the Clintons and the “weird but true” case of alleged devil-worshipping youths convicted of murder on the basis that they like to wear black T-shirts.

Angela Hvitved, Lectures Committee Co-Chair and senior in biochemistry and philosophy, said the Committee on Lectures and SUB try to bring in a different type of speaker at the end of the year.

“We like to bring in something that doesn’t necessarily fit our typical academic speaker,” Hvitved said.

Tonight’s performance should offer something for old-school fans of Biafra’s early punk works, those interested in social criticism and fans of spoken word.

Biafra will perform in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union tonight at 7. The show is free.