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
Kill Rock Stars
NOFX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been crowned the newest queen
Kinda like the punk rock Gloria Steinham
You can't change the world by blaming men
Can't change the world by hating men
Just cause I don't know the reason you're so pissed
Don't dare tag me misogynist
Not constructing a separate sect
I wish I could have seen Courtney
Demonstrate some real mysoginy
Can't change the world by hating men
The lyrics of NOFX's song Kill Rock Stars is a commentary on the dynamics of punk rock feminism, embodied in the rise of female icons in the punk rock community, particularly the outspoken feminist and music critic, Kathleen Hanna. The lyrics start off with a sarcastic reference to the irony of calling for the killing of rock stars - a nod to the punk rock ethos of rejecting the mainstream culture and its icons, while simultaneously acknowledging the rise of women in the punk rock scene who were seen as the new rock stars, such as Hanna who was crowned as the "newest queen."
The song critiques the tendency of feminist movements to blame men for everything that is wrong with the world, stating that change cannot be brought about simply by hating men. The singer expresses his confusion over the reason behind Hanna's anger, while asserting that he should not be labeled as a misogynist simply for not understanding her perspective. The song argues instead for mutual respect and understanding between the sexes, rather than creating a "separate sect" of feminism.
The lyrics then take a satirical jab at one of the most prominent female rock stars of the time, Courtney Love. The singer wishes he could have seen Love "demonstrate some real misogyny," an allusion to Love's well-documented volatile behavior, which included accusations of mistreatment towards other women. The song ends with a reiteration of the theme that change cannot be brought about simply by hating men.
Line by Line Meaning
"Kill the rockstars" how ironic, Kathleen
NOFX finds it ironic that Kathleen has been crowned the queen of punk rock, given that their song is about killing rockstars.
You've been crowned the newest queen
NOFX acknowledges Kathleen as the newest and most prominent punk rock figure and symbol.
Kinda like the punk rock Gloria Steinham
NOFX compares Kathleen to the feminist icon Gloria Steinham, but in a punk rock context.
You can't change the world by blaming men
NOFX suggests that blaming men for all the problems of the world will not lead to any real change.
Can't change the world by hating men
NOFX reiterates the point that hating men will not lead to any positive change.
Just cause I don't know the reason you're so pissed
NOFX acknowledges that they may not know the specific reasons for Kathleen's anger and frustration.
Don't dare tag me misogynist
NOFX is offended by the suggestion that they are misogynistic simply because they may not fully understand Kathleen's specific concerns.
I thought the goal here was mutual respect
NOFX thought that the ultimate goal of the punk rock movement was to foster mutual respect and understanding between all individuals, regardless of gender.
Not constructing a separate sect
NOFX believes that dividing and separating individuals by gender (or other characteristics) only serves to further divide people, rather than bringing them closer together.
I wish I could have seen Courtney
NOFX references Courtney Love, a controversial and outspoken female figure in the music industry, who they believe embodies the opposite of what they support.
Demonstrate some real mysoginy
NOFX is sarcastically suggesting that it would have been interesting to see Courtney Love be even more openly misogynistic, as they believe it would have exposed the irony of her actions and given people more reason to criticize her.
Can't change the world by hating men
NOFX ends the song with the same message, reiterating that hating men will not lead to any significant change in the world.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MIKE BURKETT
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