The band's sound is diverse, utilizing elements of skate punk, hardcore punk, reggae, and other music genres. Their lyrics generally satirize issues such as politics, society, various subcultures, racism, the music industry, and religion, often using a large amount of comedy.
NOFX's first recording was a demo from 1983, produced by The Germs drummer Don Bolles, which did not sell any copies. They released their self-titled debut EP on Mystic Records in 1985, which was later re-released in 1992 as part of the Maximum RocknRoll CD. For a year, Erik Sandin left the band and was replaced by Scott Sellers, then 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 call for censorship of music. The original cover was an edited S&M photo, but the re-released version was changed to a photo of Eric Melvin.
Eric Sandin returned and they recorded Liberal Animation in 1988 (before Dave was replaced by Steve) with Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion. Although the title and some lyrics mocked vegetarianism and animal rights, Fat Mike says that he became a vegetarian after he wrote Liberal Animation. 'If a big enough animal had a chance it would eat you up!' The album was re-released in 1991 on Gurewitz's label Epitaph. Dave then left the band and was replaced by Steve Kidwiller. NOFX had signed to Epitaph by 1989, releasing their second album, titled S&M Airlines. 1990 saw the release of Ribbed. By 1991, Aaron Abeyta (aka El Hefe), joined to round out the group. White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean was released in 1992, which originally had the title White Trash, Two Kikes, and a Spic. The original title was changed because Eric Melvin's grandmother was upset about the racial epithets.
It was not until the 1994 release of Punk in Drublic that the band had a commercial breakthrough, with the album going gold. In the same year, pop punk entered the mainstream with the success of The Offspring's Smash and Green Day's Dookie.
In 1996 they released Heavy Petting Zoo, which wasn't very popular among its fans because it showed a different sound in some tracks. Their 1997 record So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes was faster, with more ska and reggae, and was well received by the public, although its title shocked everybody because it seemed as it was going to be their last album. They soon stated it wasn't true.
In 1999, the band released The Decline, a fiery and pessimistic social commentary. Having a duration of 18 minutes and 23 seconds, it is nearly the longest punk song to date, second only to "Yes Sir, I Will" by Crass, which spans more than 22 minutes.
The coming of a new century marked the end of NOFX in Epitaph Records. In 2000 they released Pump Up the Valuum, which in many people's opinion is a good record but still is missing something.
In 2003, NOFX released War on Errorism, and launched their anti-George W. Bush campaign. Fat Mike organized the website Punkvoter.com, compiled two chart-topping Rock Against Bush compilations, and kicked off a Rock Against Bush United States tour. The band has released many EPs (i.e. Fuck the Kids, The Longest Line) on Fat Mike's own label Fat Wreck Chords. In February 2005, they 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 were 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.
On March 14, 2006, an EP entitled Never Trust a Hippy was released. The EP was followed on April 18 by the album Wolves in Wolves' Clothing. On September 12, 2006, the video game EA Sports NHL07 was released, featuring the title track of the latter album on its soundtrack.
The band recorded three nights of shows in San Francisco, California for the live album, They've Actually Gotten Worse Live! that was released on November 20, 2007.
NOFX aired in 2008 a reality show on Fuse TV called NOFX: Backstage Passport, chronicling their recent worldwide tour full of mishaps and fun stuff.
NOFX released their eleventh full length, Coaster, on April 28, 2009.
NOFX released their twelfth full length, Self/Entitled, on September 11th, 2012.
Official site: http://nofxofficialwebsite.com
Kids of the K‐Hole
NOFX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
just stuck in the k-hole again
an 18 hour holiday
just stuck in the k-hole again, just once again
Mrs. Kitty Ketamine your perseverance may
outlast my ambition to go home
infatuation with your dark side I obey
somewhere between eden and north utopia
somewhere between the astral plain
I've taken residence on symbaritic soil
you won't be seeing me again
you won't be seeing me again
dropping crumbs flying thumbs
won't help me get back home
the home is where the heart is, I've been told
'cause I promised my heart to her
she cooked it medium well
then proceeded to swallow it whole
it may sound good to you
it may sound oh so wrong
just stuck in the k-hole again
winter's broken summer's gone
just stuck in the k-hole again
just once again
The lyrics to NOFX's "Kids of the K-Hole" describe the experience of being under the influence of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic drug often used as a recreational drug. The singer is "stuck in the k-hole again," which refers to the intense dissociative state that can be experienced with high doses of the drug. The line "Everybody needs some time away" suggests that the singer is using the drug as an escape from reality, while "an 18 hour holiday" points to the long-lasting effects of the drug.
The second verse introduces the character of "Mrs. Kitty Ketamine," who represents the drug itself. The singer acknowledges that his infatuation with the drug's "dark side" may outlast his desire to return home. He has become addicted to the "forbidden pleasures" that ketamine provides, which he has grown to both love and loathe. The reference to "somewhere between eden and north utopia" and "the astral plain" further reinforces the idea of escaping reality, while the final line of the verse suggests that the singer's addiction has reached a point of no return.
The final verse brings the focus back to the singer's desire to return home, but he is unable to do so. "Dropping crumbs flying thumbs" refers to unsuccessful attempts to find his way back home. The line "the home is where the heart is, I've been told" contrasts with the singer's physical location, which is somewhere between utopia and the astral plain. His heart belongs to someone else, but they have figuratively consumed it completely. The song ends on a bleak note with the repetition of the chorus, suggesting that the singer is trapped in his addiction and unable to escape the cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody needs some time away
A break from the normal routine is necessary for everyone's mental health.
just stuck in the k-hole again
Caught in the cycle of drug addiction, unable to break free and return to normal life.
an 18 hour holiday
A temporary escape from reality provided by drugs.
just once again
Unfortunately, this is not the first time nor will it be the last time in the drug user's cycle.
Mrs. Kitty Ketamine your perseverance may
Addressing the drug itself as a powerful force that can outlast the user's desire to quit.
outlast my ambition to go home
Drug use has become more important than personal responsibilities and obligations.
infatuation with your dark side I obey
Despite knowing the dangers and risks, the user is still drawn to the addiction to satisfy their desires.
forbidden pleasures, I have grown to love/loath
Addiction bring pleasure but also conflict, regret, and pain.
somewhere between eden and north utopia
The duality of feelings experienced while on drugs, between paradise and chaos.
somewhere between the astral plain
Drugs can create hallucinations and altered states of mind.
I've taken residence on symbaritic soil
The user is living in a dream-world at the expense of their real life.
you won't be seeing me again
The user knows the risks and consequences of drug use, and may not make it out alive to see loved ones again.
dropping crumbs flying thumbs
Attempts at communication (texts, breadcrumbs) are futile when the user is too far gone in their addiction.
won't help me get back home
Excessive drug use can lead to a point of no return, and the user may not ever be able to go back to their previous life.
the home is where the heart is, I've been told
A reminder that true happiness and fulfillment come from loved ones, not drugs.
'cause I promised my heart to her
Despite the attraction to the drug, the user has made a commitment to a significant other or loved one.
she cooked it medium well
Metaphor for how the user has given their heart away, but not fully committed it.
then proceeded to swallow it whole
The loved one has accepted the user and their imperfections, but the user still struggles with addiction.
it may sound good to you
Though drug addiction can be glamorized or romanticized, it is ultimately harmful and destructive.
it may sound oh so wrong
Despite the negative consequences, addiction is hard to resist and can feel enjoyable in the moment.
winter's broken summer's gone
Drug use can create a cycle where time flies, seasons change, and the user is stuck in the same place.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Austin
on Doornails
These two shots are for Derrick
The singer is dedicating these two shots to Derrick.
For rifle, not the handgun
“Rifle” is a song from Lagwagon, a band Derrick played drums for. “the handgun” was likely what he used to commit suicide, hence why the singer is dedicating the two shots to rifle, not the handgun
For coffee and cigarettes
The singer is dedicating these shots to the act of enjoying coffee and cigarettes.
Give it back
It's unclear what the singer wants Derrick to give back.
You know, suicide isn't painless
The singer is pointing out that suicide isn't painless, despite what the famous song suggests.
When you leave everyone in pain
Suicide can cause a lot of pain for the people left behind.
Two shots will never go down the same
Each shot is a unique experience and can never be replicated exactly.
This beating's for Jimmy
The singer is dedicating this beating to Jimmy.
For ultimate devotion
The beating is dedicated to the idea of ultimate devotion.
For your mind of my own
It's unclear what this line means.
Bring out your dead
This line may be a reference to the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where a man goes around collecting dead bodies while saying 'bring out your dead'.
Sedated, flagellated
The singer is describing someone who is sedated and flagellated.
You were the one most loved and hated
The person being described was both loved and hated by people.
Thanks for all that carpet and your songs
The singer is thanking someone for their carpet and their songs.
Oh, this patron's for Jason
The singer is dedicating this patron to Jason.
And this lager's for Andy
The singer is dedicating this lager to Andy.
And these doses are for bomber
The singer is dedicating these doses to someone referred to as 'bomber'.
And this fix is for Bradley
The singer is dedicating this fix to Bradley.
This ritalin's for Lumpy
The singer is dedicating this ritalin to someone referred to as 'Lumpy'.
And this speedball's for friday
The singer is dedicating this speedball to someone on Friday.
This nitrous hit is for Lynn and best friend Dobbs
The singer is dedicating this nitrous hit to Lynn and her best friend Dobbs.
This bowl is for my mom
The singer is dedicating this bowl to their mom.
For drinking more than I did
The dedication is for the singer's mom who drank more than they did.
For posting bail for me in New York
The singer's mom posted bail for them in New York.
And in Hollywood that first time
It's unclear what this line means.
And that joint we smoked was the worst time
The singer is reflecting on a time when they smoked a joint and it ended up being a bad experience.
'Cause doing drugs with parents is just wrong
The singer thinks it's wrong to do drugs with parents.
This song is for winning losers
The singer is dedicating this song to people who may have lost some battles, but have won in the end.
It's for lucky substance abusers
The song is dedicated to people who have been lucky enough to be substance abusers and still have their lives together.
The ones who left their black marks on us all
The singer is acknowledging people who have made an impact on our lives, whether good or bad