As NOFX prepares for final shows, drummer reflects on punk band’s 41 years together

Over respective decades, nan California-based punk set NOFX has played countless shows astir nan globe, performing for fans drawn to nan group’s signature sound of mostly melodic songs delivered astatine break-neck speed.

The band’s lyrics are besides celebrated for combining a unsocial operation of individual stories, societal commentary and a clever — often irreverent — consciousness of humour.

But arsenic nan set prepares to play its last shows (which see stops successful Edmonton and Montreal this month) earlier calling it a time this fall, it’s nan band’s “do-it-yourself” accuracy — a guiding rule of punk subculture — that whitethorn beryllium nan astir lasting facet of nan group’s legacy.

“We started successful 1983 and we were conscionable 3 small dumb-asses,” NOFX drummer Erik “Smelly” Sandin told 630 CHED power big Courtney Theriault successful an question and reply that aired Friday morning. “It was conscionable astir having fun.”

The first 10 years were difficult, though Sandin acknowledged they were still fun.

“We weren’t making immoderate money and we weren’t gaining really overmuch traction. Fifteen years into it we were like, ‘Holy crap, this is really benignant of starting to work.’ But it was each astir having fun, pinch nary expectations but playing music.”

NOFX has ne'er signed pinch a awesome explanation and yet nan set has achieved singular commercialized occurrence for an independent group. The group’s beloved 1994 medium Punk successful Drublic, for example, has been certified “gold” successful nan U.S. (500,000 albums sold) and sold complete 1 cardinal copies worldwide.

Sandin said by sticking pinch simply playing euphony and building a profession nan measurement they wanted to, NOFX was capable to spell from playing to 15 group a nighttime to attracting 15,000 group connected immoderate nights pinch supporters singing on to nan band’s songs.

“We’re friends. That’s why we were together truthful long,” he added. “For 15 years we sat successful a van adjacent to each other, broadside by side, playing successful beforehand of 7 group each different night.”

Sandin warned anyone starting a set not to get into it for nan incorrect reasons. He said if musicians embark connected a ngo astir simply having nosy alternatively than focusing connected commercialized success, nan travel will beryllium enjoyable nary matter wherever it leads.

“(If you) want to execute thing different than conscionable fun, … you’re already mounting yourself up for failure, because apt you won’t execute that.”

How punk has changed since nan 1980s

When asked really punk stone and nan punk subculture has changed since NOFX started, Sandin was not hesitant astir describing nan improvement he has witnessed complete nan years.

“It’s go a batch safer, a batch little chaotic, little volatile,” he explained. “When I first sewage into it successful nan early 1980s, it was aggressive, it was scary — a powderkeg waiting to detonate astatine immoderate moment: a fight, a riot aliases conscionable a bully time, you know?”

While he did not touch connected really aliases why it occurred, Sandin said he believes punk civilization has undergone a translator that has seen it go “more sanitized passim nan years.”

“That’s only my opinion. I’m judge nan kids now that are getting into it successful nan past 10 years aliases immoderate astir apt deliberation otherwise.”

Saying goodbye to NOFX for illustration preparing to ‘step off’ a cliff

Sandin said he is not yet judge what nan early holds for him aft NOFX plays its very past show successful California successful October.

He said “it’s scary” and offered an affinity astir nan uncertainty of what comes next.

“It’s for illustration there’s a cliff successful beforehand of maine and I’m astir to measurement disconnected … conscionable hoping I onshore connected my feet,” Sandin said, adding that he dabbles successful different projects and interests too only music. “I cognize everybody’s successful nan aforesaid boat.

“I’m not emotionally and financially fresh for retirement. … Punk stone doesn’t person a pension plan.”

Still, Sandin said he believes it is nan correct clip for NOFX to bring an extremity to nan band’s unthinkable run.

“You can’t support going forever,” he said, adding he has seen immoderate bands instrumentality together that he does not wish to emulate.

“You spot those bands wherever it’s like, ‘You should person hung it up a while ago.'”

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Sandin said it was Mike Burkett, nan band’s vocalist and bassist who is amended known arsenic “Fat Mike,” who first approached different set members astir ending nan band’s run.

He said Burkett said he wanted to see specified a determination because touring has go much exhausting and physically demanding arsenic he gets older.

“We’re not getting immoderate younger,” Sandin conceded. He added that while performing has go much physically challenging for astir of nan band, Burkett’s domiciled arsenic frontman tin besides beryllium much “emotionally taxing.”

“For a singer, it’s a different work completely,” he said, explaining that it is easier for different members to execute erstwhile they are having a bad time aliases going done a difficult clip than it is for nan singer, who inevitably becomes nan attraction of nan crowd’s attention.

“Imagine being a comedian and you conscionable recovered retired your canine died and past you person to entertain people.”

When asked if he would person done thing otherwise complete nan past 41 years if he could do it each again, Sandin was swift pinch a response.

“I would person taken drum lessons erstwhile I first started, because I’ve benignant of pigeonholed myself into 1 style,” he said. “But different than that no.

“We’ve done it each connected our own. We’ve done it wholly in-house. … It’s a testament to what our passion is pinch this, and nan punk stone ethic.”

NOFX will play an outdoor show successful Edmonton’s Ice District erstwhile nan Punk In Drublic Craft Beer and Music Festival arrives successful Alberta’s capital. The show takes spot connected Aug. 10 and Aug. 11.