NOFX

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NOFX

Background information
Origin San Diego, California, USA
Genre(s) Punk rock, Skate punk,[1] Pop punk,[2][3] Ska punk[4]
Years active 1983–Present
Label(s) Mystic, Epitaph, Fat Wreck Chords
Website www.nofxofficialwebsite.com
Members
Fat Mike
El Hefe
Eric Melvin
Erik Sandin
Former members
Scott Sellers
Scott Aldahl
Dave Allen (deceased)
Dave Casillas
Steve Kidwiller

NOFX (pronounced "no ef-ex") is an American punk rock band. The band formed in Los Angeles, California (now based in San Francisco), in 1983.[5]

Since 1991 (and after several line-up changes) El Hefe (Aaron Abeyta) has played lead guitar and trumpet. The band rose to popularity in 1994 with their album Punk in Drublic which was certified gold.[6]

NOFX has released 10 studio full lengths, 15 EPs,[7] and many 7" singles. The group has independently sold over 6 million records worldwide,[8] making them one of the most successful independent acts of all time. The band is also set to air their own show on Fuse TV entitled "NOFX: Backstage Passport."[9]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early years (1983–1990)

In 1983, guitarist Eric Melvin started to play with his friend Dillon. Later he met bassist/vocalist Mike Burkett (Fat Mike) and started the band under the name NOFX, after a Boston hardcore punk band called Negative FX.[10] At this time, they were joined by drummer Erik Sandin. NOFX’s first recording was a demo from 1983, produced by Germs drummer Don Bolles, which did not sell any copies. They released their self-titled debut EP NOFX on Mystic Records in 1985, which was later re-released in 1992 as part of the Maximum RocknRoll CD. The band’s lineup had undergone numerous changes; however, the original three members had reunited. For a year, Erik Sandin left the band and was replaced by Scott Sellers, and later by Scott Aldahl. Dave Allen was in the band for about four months, until he died in a car accident. In 1986, the band released So What if We’re on Mystic! Dave Casillas joined the band on second guitar in 1987 and was featured on the EP The P.M.R.C. Can Suck on This!, attacking the PMRC’s campaign for music censorship. The original cover was an edited S&M photo; the cover for the re-released version was changed to a photo of Eric Melvin.

NOFX 1995 release HOFX, pressed on splatter-colored vinyl.
NOFX 1995 release HOFX, pressed on splatter-colored vinyl.

Dave then left the band and was replaced by Steve Kidwiller (a.k.a. ‘Steve the Caucasian’). They recorded Liberal Animation in 1988 (before Dave was replaced by Steve) with Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion. Although the title and some of the album’s lyrics mocked vegetarianism and animal rights, Fat Mike says that he became a vegetarian after writing the Liberal Animation album.[11] The album was re-released in 1991 on Gurewitz’s label Epitaph Records. NOFX released their second album S&M Airlines on Epitaph Records in 1989.

[edit] Epitaph Years (1991-2002)

1991 saw the release of Ribbed. By that year, Steve Kidwiller left the band, and Aaron Abeyta (a.k.a. El Hefe) joined to round out the group. With Abeyta, the band recorded the EP The Longest Line, followed by White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean, released in 1992. (The original intended title, White Trash, Two Kikes, and a Spic, was changed because Eric Melvin’s grandmother was upset about the racial epithets.[12])

In 1994, punk rock entered the mainstream with the success of The Offspring’s Smash and Green Day’s Dookie, and NOFX had a commercial breakthrough with the release of their album Punk in Drublic, NOFX's best-selling album to date. Somehow the album went Gold without any radio airplay or aired music videos, although a video has been made for the song "Leave It Alone". Due to the success of Punk in Drublic, NOFX received many offers to sign with major labels, but they turned the offers down. The following year, the band released their first live album I Heard They Suck Live!!.

Punk in Drublic was followed by 1996’s slower Heavy Petting Zoo. The album did not approach the success of their predecessor, although it was the first NOFX record to achieve a position on the US Billboard charts, peaking at number 63. The band stated, "Weird record. I thought it was the coolest record when we finished it, but a few months later I wasn't so sure. Some of those songs are kinda weird. I like the cover a lot though. I think it sold well in Belgium."[13]

In 1997 the band released So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes, a return to faster punk, as exemplified by the frenetic opening track, “It’s My Job to Keep Punk Rock Elite.”

In 1999, the band released The Decline, an 18-minute single-track EP which served as a fiery and cynical social commentary. The Decline, at 18 minutes, 23 seconds, is the second-longest punk song ever recorded (after Crass’s 22-minutes Yes Sir, I Will).[14]

NOFX released the full-length album Pump Up the Valuum in 2000. It would be their final album on Epitaph, as the band decided to move on to Fat Mike’s own label Fat Wreck Chords.

2002 saw the band record BYO Split Series, Vol. 3, a split album with Rancid in which Rancid covered NOFX songs and NOFX covered Rancid songs.

[edit] Recent History (2003-Present)

In 2003, NOFX released The War on Errorism, an album of political songs. It became the start of their anti-George W. Bush campaign, and a rallying point for leftist punks. Fat Mike organized the website punkvoter.com, compiled two chart-topping Rock Against Bush CDs, and kicked off a Rock Against Bush U.S. tour. In February 2005, the band launched the NOFX 7" of the Month Club, a subscription-based service which saw the release of one new EP almost monthly, from February 2005 to March 2006 (a total of 12 releases). The cover art for these EPs was chosen from fan-submitted entries. The first 3000 subscribers to the club received all of their records on colored vinyl. Fat Wreck Chords later released full sets of the EPs.

NOFX performing at "The Wall" in Taipei, Taiwan.
NOFX performing at "The Wall" in Taipei, Taiwan.

On March 14, 2006, the EP Never Trust a Hippy was released. This EP was followed on April 18 by the full-length album Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing. On September 12, 2006, the video game EA Sports NHL07 was released, featuring Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing on its soundtrack, produced by Bill Stevenson and Fat Mike. Also in 2006, NOFX's song "Kill All The White Man" was played briefly in the action movie Crank, and was credited as such in the film's soundtrack.

In January 2007, the band recorded three nights of shows in San Francisco, California, for a live album entitled They've Actually Gotten Worse Live!, released November 20, 2007. The live album is described on the press release as “their sloppiest, drunkest, funnest, best sounding recording ever … and they even made sure not to play any songs off their 1995 live album I Heard They Suck Live.”[15]

NOFX launched a world tour in September 2007, which included concerts in Israel (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa). During their final concert in Israel (7 September in Haifa), vocalist Fat Mike inadvertently struck guitarist Eric Melvin with his bass guitar during the performance of “Bottles to the Ground,” breaking the guitar’s neck, and leaving a bloody gash on Melvin’s forehead. (The band completed their scheduled set amidst the audience’s cheers for Melvin’s good humor and perseverance.) This tour was the basis of the band's recent TV show, NOFX: Backstage Passport.

During the same world tour NOFX played four shows in South Africa (one in Cape Town, one in Durban, two in Johannesburg); the band's first concerts on the African continent. The tour of South Africa followed successful tours by bands Frenzal Rhomb, Lagwagon, and Mad Caddies, all of which are signed to Fat Wreck Chords.

[edit] Music style and influences

The band’s sound is diverse, utilizing elements of melodic hardcore, skate punk, ska, and other music genres. Their lyrics generally satirize issues such as politics, society, racism, sexism, homophobia, class inequalities, the music industry, and religion.

They cite their influences as Adrenalin O.D., Rich Kids on LSD, Sex Pistols, Bad Religion, and The Subhumans.[16]

[edit] Relationship with the media

For years the band has consented to very few interviews and have only made a few music videos, citing the fact that they do not need any more exposure and that people were exploiting them.[17] In recent years Fat Mike has consented to more interviews, including four different interviews with Nardwuar between 2002 and 2006.[18] The band has also refused permission for their music videos to be played on MTV, VH1, and similar music channels, although they made a live appearance on NBC’s Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 2004.[19] The credits on the album Heavy Petting Zoo call on MTV, along with major labels, to "Leave them the fuck alone."

Fat Mike has also repeatedly conducted friendly interviews with the Australian Broadcasting Corporations' Youth radio station Triple J on its breakfast show with Jay and the Doctor. Jay and the Doctor are both members of Frenzal Rhomb, an Australian punk band that has played many tours and festivals with NOFX, and have their music distribution outside Australia handled by Mike's Fat Wreck Chords label[20].

A NOFX sticker can be seen in part 1 of the two part episode "Spring Breakout" of Zoey 101 on the dresser in Chase, Michael and Logan's dorm.

NOFX is currently airing a reality show on Fuse TV about their worldwide tour.[21] The show is entitled NOFX: Backstage Passport.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
1988, re-released in 1991 Liberal Animation Epitaph n/a
1989 S&M Airlines Epitaph n/a
1991 Ribbed Epitaph n/a
1992 White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean Epitaph n/a
1994 Punk in Drublic Epitaph 12 (Heatseekers) Gold
1996 Heavy Petting Zoo Epitaph 63 (Billboard 200)
1997 So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes Epitaph 79 (Billboard 200)
2000 Pump up the Valuum Epitaph 61 (Billboard 200)
2003 The War on Errorism Fat Wreck Chords 44 (Billboard 200), #1 (Billboard Independent Album chart)
2006 Wolves in Wolves' Clothing Fat Wreck Chords 46 (Billboard 200), #2 (Billboard Independent Album chart)

[edit] Live albums

Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
1995 I Heard They Suck Live!! Fat Wreck Chords 198 (Billboard 200)
2007 They've Actually Gotten Worse Live![22] Fat Wreck Chords N/A, #40 (Billboard Independent Album chart)

[edit] EPs

Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
1985 NOFX (EP) Mystic Records n/a
1986 So What If We're on Mystic! Mystic Records n/a
1987, re-released in 1990 The P.M.R.C. Can Suck on This! Colossal Wassail Re-released on Fat Wreck Chords n/a
1992 The Longest Line Fat Wreck Chords n/a
1995 Leave It Alone (EP) Epitaph n/a
1996 Fuck the Kids Fat Wreck Chords n/a
1999 The Decline Fat Wreck Chords #200
2001 Surfer Fat Wreck Chords n/a
2003 Regaining Unconsciousness Fat Wreck Chords 187 (Billboard 200)
2006 Never Trust a Hippy Fat Wreck Chords 186 (Billboard 200)

[edit] Singles

2004 The Greatest Songs Ever Written By Us!!

Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
1992 Liza and Louise Fat Wreck Chords n/a
1994 Don't Call Me White Fat Wreck Chords n/a
1995 HOFX Fat Wreck Chords n/a
1996 All of Me Fat Wreck Chords n/a
1999 Timmy the Turtle Fat Wreck Chords n/a
1999 Louise and Liza Fat Wreck Chords n/a
2000 Pods and Gods Fat Wreck Chords n/a
2000 Bottles to the Ground Epitaph n/a
2001 Fat Club 7 Fat Wreck Chords n/a
2003 13 Stitches Fat Wreck Chords n/a
2005-2006 7" of the Month Club Fat Wreck Chords n/a

[edit] Splits

Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
1988 Drowning Roses/NOFX Split X-Mist Records n/a
2002 BYO Split Series, Vol. 3 BYO Records n/a

[edit] Compilations

Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
1992 Maximum Rocknroll Mystic Records n/a
2002 45 or 46 Songs That Weren't Good Enough to Go on Our Other Records Fat Wreck Chords 80 (Billboard 200)
2004 The Greatest Songs Ever Written (By Us!) Epitaph Records n/a

[edit] Videos

Date of Release Title Label US Billboard Peak US sales
1994 Ten Years of Fuckin' Up Fat Wreck Chords n/a

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ , crossover thrash,Rhapsody.com - Top Skate Punk Bands
  2. ^ Punk Genres - The Subgenres of Punk Rock
  3. ^ NOFX: They've Actually Gotten Worse Live! - PopMatters Music Review
  4. ^ Where The Moshers Are - Time
  5. ^ History
  6. ^ Epitaph Records: NOFX - Punk In Drublic
  7. ^ Allmusic: NOFX EPs & Singles
  8. ^ Bands: Fat Wreck Chords
  9. ^ Fuse.tv - NOFX Backstage Passport
  10. ^ History // NOFX
  11. ^ Flipside 1997 July/August
  12. ^ Flipside 1997 July/August
  13. ^ Epitaph Records: NOFX - Heavy Petting Zoo
  14. ^ Exclaim! Canada's Music Authority
  15. ^ Bands: Fat Wreck Chords
  16. ^ Q & A | Read Answers | NOFX
  17. ^ All About Q&A // Q&A // NOFX
  18. ^ Nardwuar vs Fat Mike
  19. ^ Wilco, Modest Mouse on TV: Wilco : Rolling Stone
  20. ^ Bands: Fat Wreck Chords
  21. ^ Punknews.org | NOFX to air world tour documentary on Fuse
  22. ^ Bands: Fat Wreck Chords

[edit] External links

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v • d • e
NOFX
Fat Mike | El Hefe | Eric Melvin | Erik Sandin
Former members
Scott Sellers | Scott Aldahl | Dave Allen | Dave Casillas | Steve Kidwiller
Studio albums
Extended plays
Compilation and live albums
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