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
The Brews
NOFX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going out to terrorize Goyem
Stompin' Shagitz, screwin' shicksas
As long as we're home by Saturday morning
'Cause hey! We're the brews
Sporting anti-swastika tattoos
Oi oi, we're the boys
Orthopedic doctor martens good for
Waffle making, kicking through the shins
Reputation gained through intimidation
Pacifism no longer tradition
Cause hey we're the Brews
Sportin' anti swastika tattoos
Oi Oi we're the Brews
The fairfax ghetto boys skinhead Hebrews
We've got the might, psycho mashuganas
We can't lose a fight as we are the chosen ones
Chutzpah driven, we battle then we feast
We celebrate and separate our milk plates from our meat
The lyrics to NOFX's "The Brews" initially seem like a group of Jewish men boasting about their ability to drink and get rowdy on Friday night. However, a closer look reveals a song that is both satirical and deeply self-aware. The lyrics make references to Jewish traditions, such as the separation of milk plates from meat plates, mocking the staunchly Orthodox Hasidic Jews as O.G. Oi's with a punk twist.
But the song's satire also turns towards those who perpetuate and celebrate violence in the name of cultural pride through the references to anti-Swastika tattoos and skinhead Hebrews from the Fairfax ghetto. The song's message is that pride and cultural unity do not need to be expressed through aggression and violence. Instead, the song celebrates Jewish identity through humor and ironic self-reflection.
"The Brews" is a smart and self-critical song that uses humor to point out prejudices and negative stereotypes. It demonstrates that Jewish people can be proud of their cultural identity without perpetuating harmful notions. Overall, the song shows that it is possible to celebrate one's heritage while still embracing pacifism and a sense of humor.
Line by Line Meaning
Friday night we'll be drinkin' Manaschevitz
On Friday night, we plan on drinking a type of kosher wine called Manaschevitz.
Going out to terrorize Goyem
We are planning to go out and cause chaos among non-Jewish people, or 'Goyem.'
Stompin' Shagitz, screwin' shicksas
Our goal is to physically harm non-Jewish men or 'Shagitz,' and have sexual intercourse with non-Jewish women or 'shicksas.'
As long as we're home by Saturday morning
As Jews, we must observe the Sabbath and be home before Saturday morning.
'Cause hey! We're the brews
We are proud of our Jewish identity.
Sporting anti-swastika tattoos
We display tattoos that oppose the Nazi symbol of the swastika.
Oi oi, we're the boys
Our group consists of rowdy and rebellious young Jewish men.
Orthodox hassidic O.G. Ois
We embrace our Jewish heritage as part of the orthodox hassidic community.
Orthopedic doctor martens good for
Our boots, made by the brand Dr. Martens, are not only good for correcting physical problems but also for causing physical harm.
Waffle making, kicking through the shins
Our boots are versatile and can be used for cooking waffles as well as kicking through a person's lower leg.
Reputation gained through intimidation
We have a reputation for being intimidating and violent.
Pacifism no longer tradition
Our Jewish tradition of pacifism is no longer practiced by us.
The fairfax ghetto boys skinhead Hebrews
We are young Jewish men from the Fairfax district who embrace a violent and rebellious 'skinhead' lifestyle.
We've got the might, psycho mashuganas
We see ourselves as powerful and crazy individuals that cannot be defeated.
We can't lose a fight as we are the chosen ones
As Jews, we believe ourselves to be 'chosen' by God and therefore invincible in fights.
Chutzpah driven, we battle then we feast
Our boldness and audacity drives us to fight strongly and then celebrate and eat heartily.
We celebrate and separate our milk plates from our meat
We are devout Jews who strictly observe religious dietary laws, and do not mix dairy and meat products in our meals.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MIKE BURKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jhun9577
Born in 1983. Skateboarding, hanging with friends, smoking cigarettes (and weed), listening to NOFX. I'd do it all over again!
@dragonclubracing8669
Same but born 86, good times 👌
@renewiering5167
85 and flowing on nostalgia.....
@jackiec498
Was not born but, rather,
C R E A T E D.
ONE MAN WOLF PACK.
ONE PACK WOLF, MAN
PACK ONE, WOLF MAN....
🐐
Always remember the importance of PUNKtuation 🤘🏻🖤🕺🏽💦🏌
@ovechkin100
same bro. 88 myself and lived the 90s and early 2000s skating drinking smoking weed partying loving life.
@chevybigblock3311
👍👍 I was there 81
@scottyoung1996
THE classic NOFX song. Started listening when I was 35 (a little late). 24 years later, 59 and still listening to these righteous a-holes!
@divinedomina7599
I'm 40 today, but we started listening around the same time. Up the punx.
@erikciel2817
better late then never fam! you are on the right way
@savkarajnovic
❤❤