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
Theme From a NOFX Album
NOFX Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After 15 years we're still having fun
Now we're over 30 still looking so purty at least we got a beat up accordian
That's Erik our drummer his father's a plumber
He drank enough booze to get Rhode Island drunk
Now he's straight but still smelly he's got one big belly
From livin the good life provided by punk
Singin singin singin
Gimme some Bushmills I'll sing you this song
Open another big box of cheap wine we're over 30 we're doing just fine
El Hefe is not satanic he's one hip hispanic
He grew up with one dozen cousins and kin
He wears baggy pants he knows how to break dance
You've seen him do every impersonation
That's Melvin on six string "Some tell me I can't sing"
Oh I think you can just don't do it round me
Stick with what you know
Playing guitar solo with Hetson and Watt in punk karaoke
Singin singin singin
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
Gimme some Bushmills I'll sing you this song
Open another big box of cheap wine we're over 30 we're doing just fine
My name is Fat Mike I'm obsessed with big lesbians
I've been a punk rocker for most of my life
I sing kinda flat I'm not really so fat
But that's how I hit them with a hook or slice
"I'm Kent I do sound" look he's getting so round
"I'm Timmy The Turtle" he counts as he clicks
"I'm Jay I don't care" someone please cut his hair
"I'm Limo from Scotland so give me haggis"
Singin singin singin
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
Gimme some Bushmills I'll sing you this song
Open another big box of cheap wine we're over 30 we're doing just fine
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
Gimme some Bushmills I'll sing you this song
Open another big box of cheap wine we're over 30 we're doing just fine
Theme From a NOFX Album by NOFX is a self-referential song about the band and their experience as punk rockers. The opening line "We're professional punkers we come from the suburbs" sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is about how the band members are still having fun after 15 years in the music industry. The lyrics also mention how the band members have aged but still "look so purty" and can still play their music using their old beat-up accordion.
The song also introduces each band member, their personalities, and their quirks. For example, Erik, the drummer, is introduced as having a father who is a plumber and a belly from living the good life provided by punk. El Hefe, the guitarist, is described as one hip Hispanic who grew up with one dozen cousins and kin, while Melvin on six string confesses that some people have told him he can't sing. Fat Mike, the lead singer, shares that he is obsessed with big lesbians and that he sings kinda flat but can still hit a hook or slice.
Overall, Theme From a NOFX Album is a fun, satirical song that not only introduces the band's members but reflects on their experience as a punk band.
Line by Line Meaning
We're professional punkers we come from the suburbs
We are highly experienced musicians in the punk genre and we originate from suburban areas
After 15 years we're still having fun
Despite having been in the business for over a decade, we still enjoy what we do
Now we're over 30 still looking so purty at least we got a beat up accordian
Even though we are now in our thirties, we still maintain our youthful appearance and we also have an old, but cherished, accordion as part of our musical arsenal
That's Erik our drummer his father's a plumber
Erik is our percussionist and his father works as a plumber
He drank enough booze to get Rhode Island drunk
Erik has consumed enough alcohol to make an entire state (Rhode Island) inebriated
Now he's straight but still smelly he's got one big belly
Though Erik is now sober, he still has body odor and has developed a notable beer belly
From livin the good life provided by punk
Erik's inclination towards punk rock contributed to his extravagant lifestyle
Singin singin singin
We are constantly singing and making music
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
We enjoy consuming beer and marijuana as part of our musical routine
Gimme some Bushmills I'll sing you this song
We like to drink whiskey while playing our music
Open another big box of cheap wine we're over 30 we're doing just fine
We drink inexpensive wine and we are content with our career progress despite our age
El Hefe is not satanic he's one hip hispanic
El Hefe, one of our members, is not associated with satanic beliefs and he exudes a cool, modern Latin American vibe
He grew up with one dozen cousins and kin
El Hefe was raised in a household with a dozen family members
He wears baggy pants he knows how to break dance
El Hefe sports loose-fitting pants and can perform breakdancing moves skillfully
You've seen him do every impersonation
El Hefe is capable of imitating a wide variety of people and characters
That's Melvin on six string "Some tell me I can't sing"
Melvin is the member who handles the guitar and he has been told that he is not a great singer
Oh I think you can just don't do it round me
Although Melvin can sing, he is advised not to do so in the author's presence
Stick with what you know
Melvin should continue to play the guitar instead of attempting to sing
Playing guitar solo with Hetson and Watt in punk karaoke
Melvin is skilled enough to perform a guitar solo with other experienced punk rock musicians in a karaoke setting
My name is Fat Mike I'm obsessed with big lesbians
Fat Mike is the author's name and he has a fixation on larger-sized women who prefer other women
I've been a punk rocker for most of my life
Fat Mike has been performing punk rock music for a significant portion of his existence
I sing kinda flat I'm not really so fat
The author does not have a particularly impressive vocal range and is not as overweight as his moniker would suggest
But that's how I hit them with a hook or slice
Despite his vocal limitations, the author is able to deliver impactful hooks and melodies
"I'm Kent I do sound" look he's getting so round
Kent is responsible for the sound engineering and he has become noticeably portly
"I'm Timmy The Turtle" he counts as he clicks
One of our members, Timmy, is known for making clicking sounds as he counts
"I'm Jay I don't care" someone please cut his hair
Jay, another member, has unkempt hair and appears to not tend to personal grooming
"I'm Limo from Scotland so give me haggis"
Limo is a member of our band originally from Scotland and he seeks the traditional Scottish dish, haggis
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
We enjoy consuming beer and marijuana as part of our musical routine
Gimme some Bushmills I'll sing you this song
We like to drink whiskey while playing our music
Open another big box of cheap wine we're over 30 we're doing just fine
We drink inexpensive wine and we are content with our career progress despite our age
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
We enjoy consuming beer and marijuana as part of our musical routine
Gimme some Bushmills I'll sing you this song
We like to drink whiskey while playing our music
Open another big box of cheap wine we're over 30 we're doing just fine
We drink inexpensive wine and we are content with our career progress despite our age
Lyrics Ā© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alangoodwin9418
We're professional punkers
We come from the suburbs
After 15 years, we're still having fun
Now we're over 30, not looking so purty
At least we got a beat up accordion
That's Eric our drummer, his father's a plummer
He drank enough booze to get Rhode Island drunk
Now sober but smelly he's got one big belly
From livin' the good life provided by punk
Singin' singin' singin'
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
Gimmie some bushmills I'll sing you this song
Open another big box of cheap wine
We're over 30 we're doing just fine
Hefe's not satanic he's one hip Hispanic
He grew up with one dozen cousins and kin
He wears baggy pants he know how to breakdance
You've seen him do every impersonation
That's Melvin on six-string "some tell me I can't sing"
Oh I think you can just don't do it 'round me
Stick with what you know playing guitar solo
With Hetson and Watt in punk karaoke
Singin' singin' singin'
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
Gimmie some bushmills I'll sing you this song
Open another big box of cheap wine
We're over 30 we're doing just fine
My name is Fat Mike I'm obsessed with big lesbians
I've been a punkrocker for most of my life
I sing kinda flat I'm not really so fat
But that's how I hit them with a hook or a slice
I'm Kent I do sound "Look he's getting so round"
Like Timmy The Turtle he counts as he clicks
I'm Jay (I don't care) someone please cut his hair
I'm Limo from Scotland so gimme haggis
Singin' singin' singin'
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
Gimmie some bushmills I'll sing you this song
Open another big box of cheap wine
We're over 30 we're doing just fine
Buy me a Becks beer or pass me a bong
Gimmie some bushmills I'll sing you this song
Throw me a qualude, or chop me a line
We're pushing 40 we're doing just fine
Buy me a castle or pass me a bong
give me Glenlivet, I'll sing you this song.
Open another big box of cheap wine,
if you take the low road then I'll take the high
@scummydummy
22 years later, im pushin 40 and doin just fine..
I remember nofx being the first punk band i noticed having real lead solols
@Laetva
23 and a half years later, pushing 40 doin' just fine...
@SlapthePissouttayew
Pushing 60 and still one of my go to albums.
@LukeTheXbot
42 today and I came here for comments like this! You sir, or mam are a champion
@recynd77
Iāve been standing right next to you for the past 27(?) years, my friend. šš¼
@SlapthePissouttayew
@recynd77 That you have!
@houdini-ng9yv
I AM 60 and i totally agree!!!!
@MyCleverName
Can confirm. Logged more than 15 years as a Punk.
@420spoods
40 years old today. I'm doin just FINE!
@area.man.
Enjoy the headfirst slide into old age.