NOFX facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
NOFX
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NOFX performing in 2007
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1983–present |
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NOFX is an American punk rock band that started in Los Angeles in 1983. The main members are Fat Mike (who sings and plays bass), Eric Melvin (rhythm guitar), and Erik Sandin (drums). They have been with the band since the beginning and are on every album. Erik Sandin left for a short time in 1985 but came back a year later. El Hefe joined in 1991 to play lead guitar and trumpet, completing the band's current lineup.
NOFX became very popular in the 1990s when punk rock music was getting a lot of attention. But unlike many other bands, they never signed with a very large record company. NOFX has released fifteen studio albums, sixteen shorter music collections called extended plays (EPs), and many 7-inch singles. Their fifth album, Punk in Drublic (released in 1994), helped them become famous. It is their only album to be certified gold, meaning it sold over 500,000 copies. Their newest album, Double Album, came out on December 2, 2022. The band has sold more than eight million records around the world. This makes them one of the most successful independent bands ever. In 2008, NOFX even had their own TV show on Fuse TV called NOFX: Backstage Passport.
Contents
Band History and Beginnings (1983–1993)
Forming the Band (1983–1987)
In 1983, guitarist Eric Melvin met Mike Burkett, also known as Fat Mike. They decided to start a band and called it NO-FX. This name was inspired by another punk band called Negative FX. Erik "Smelly" Sandin joined them as the drummer.
NOFX made their first recording in 1984. It was a demo tape called Thalidomide Child. It did not sell many copies, and Fat Mike once said that no copies still existed. However, this demo was re-released in 2012. The band then released their first official extended play (EP) called NOFX in 1985.
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The band's members changed a few times before 1991. In 1986, they released another EP called So What If We're on Mystic!.
First Albums and New Labels (1988–1993)
NOFX recorded their first full studio album, Liberal Animation, in 1988. It was produced by Brett Gurewitz from the band Bad Religion. This album was later re-released in 1991 on Brett Gurewitz's own record label, Epitaph Records.
After recording Liberal Animation, a guitarist named Dave Casillas left the band. Steve Kidwiler took his place. The band then released their second album, S&M Airlines, through Epitaph in 1989.
In 1991, NOFX released their third album, Ribbed. Soon after, Steve Kidwiler left the band. Aaron Abeyta, known as "El Hefe," joined the group. With El Hefe, the band recorded the EP The Longest Line. Then, they released their next studio album, White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean, in 1992.
Becoming More Popular (1994–1999)
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In the 1990s, punk rock music became very popular again. Bands like Green Day, The Offspring, Bad Religion, and Rancid were leading this trend. NOFX released their fifth album, Punk in Drublic, in July 1994. This album became one of their most successful. It reached number twelve on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Six years after its release, it earned a gold certification for selling many copies.
One of the songs from the album, "Leave It Alone," was played on some rock radio stations. However, the band decided not to send its music video to MTV. Fat Mike explained that they did not want to be part of the "machine" or the "punk wave" that was happening on TV.
Because Punk in Drublic was so successful, many big record companies wanted to sign NOFX. But the band said no to all of them. They wanted to stay independent.
After Punk in Drublic, NOFX released their album Heavy Petting Zoo in 1996.
New Music and Political Focus (2000–2008)
NOFX released their eighth album, Pump Up the Valuum, in 2000. This was their last album released through Epitaph Records. The band decided to move to Fat Mike's own record label, Fat Wreck Chords.
In 2002, the band recorded a special album called BYO Split Series Volume III with the band Rancid. On this album, Rancid played NOFX songs, and NOFX played Rancid songs.
In 2003, NOFX released their ninth album, The War on Errorism. This album featured many political songs. It marked the beginning of their campaign against President George W. Bush. Fat Mike helped create a website called punkvoter.com. He also put together two popular albums called Rock Against Bush and organized a Rock Against Bush tour across the U.S. A song from the album, "Separation of Church and Skate," was even in the video game Tony Hawk's Underground.
In February 2005, NOFX started a special club called the NOFX 7" of the Month Club. Members would receive a new extended play (EP) almost every month for a year. Fans even submitted the artwork for these EPs.
On March 14, 2006, the EP Never Trust a Hippy was released. This was followed by the album Wolves in Wolves' Clothing on April 18. The song "Wolves in Wolves' Clothing" was featured in the video game EA Sports NHL 07. Another NOFX song, "Kill All the White Man," was briefly played in the 2006 action movie Crank.
In January 2007, the band recorded three live shows in San Francisco, California. These recordings became their second live album, They've Actually Gotten Worse Live!, released in November 2007.
NOFX started a world tour in September 2007. This tour was filmed for a TV documentary called NOFX: Backstage Passport, which aired on Fuse TV.
New Albums and Tours (2009–Present)
More Music and Anniversaries (2009–2014)
In February 2009, NOFX celebrated their 25th anniversary. For this special occasion, former members Steve Kidwiler and Dave Casillas rejoined them for three sold-out shows. NOFX released a new album called Coaster on April 28, 2009. They also joined the lineup for the Warped Tour 2009. Later in 2009, they toured Australia and New Zealand with Bad Religion.
NOFX released a new EP called Cokie the Clown on November 24, 2009. It included songs that were not used on the Coaster album. In April 2010, NOFX began their "Fermented and Flailing" tour to support the Coaster album.
On June 21, 2010, NOFX announced a collection album called The Longest EP. This album brought together selected songs from their EPs released between 1987 and 2009. It came out on August 17, 2010.
In November 2010, Fat Wreck Chords released NOFX / The Spits. This was a split EP with the band The Spits, featuring two new songs from each band.
In June 2011, NOFX started their Great White North Tour across Canada. It was their first time playing in St. John's, Newfoundland.
In February 2012, Fat Mike told Rolling Stone magazine that a new album was coming. NOFX released their twelfth studio album, Self Entitled, on September 11, 2012. They also released X'mas Has Been X'd in January 2013 and a special box set for their 30th anniversary in February 2013.
NOFX toured Australia starting in November 2014, playing in many cities.
Recent Albums and Future Plans (2015–Present)
NOFX toured the United States in the summer of 2015 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fat Wreck Chords. On July 19, 2016, the band announced their thirteenth album, First Ditch Effort, which was released on October 7. In April 2016, they released their autobiography called NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories.
In February 2019, Fat Mike announced a new NOFX 7" of the Month Club. This was another subscription service that would release 12 new EPs almost every month. Just like before, fans could submit artwork for these EPs.
On January 12, 2021, NOFX announced their first studio album in almost five years, Single Album, which was released on February 26.
On September 1, 2022, Fat Mike shared on Instagram that NOFX plans to stop making music in 2023. This year will be the band's 40th anniversary. He suggested their final show might be in their hometown of Los Angeles, California.
On September 27, 2022, NOFX announced their next album, Double Album, would be released on December 2, 2022. They also released a song called "Darby Crashing" that day.
NOFX is also planning to release three more albums in the future: Half Album, Everybody Else Is Insane, and NOFX: A–Z.
Music Style and Sound
Music critics describe NOFX's style as mainly punk rock, melodic hardcore, skate punk, ska punk, and pop-punk. In a 2021 interview with Spin magazine, Fat Mike said that NOFX is a melodic hardcore band. He disagreed with critics who called their style pop-punk.
Band Members
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Current members
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Touring members
Former members
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Timeline of Band Members
Discography: Studio Albums
- Liberal Animation (1988)
- S&M Airlines (1989)
- Ribbed (1991)
- White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean (1992)
- Punk in Drublic (1994)
- Heavy Petting Zoo (1996)
- So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes (1997)
- Pump Up the Valuum (2000)
- The War on Errorism (2003)
- Wolves in Wolves' Clothing (2006)
- Coaster (2009)
- Self Entitled (2012)
- First Ditch Effort (2016)
- Single Album (2021)
- Double Album (2022)
See also
In Spanish: NOFX para niños
