NOFX
Biography:
Since the band’s formation in the early ’80s, NOFX has been a testament to the potential of a punk band on an independent label to enjoy popularity and success. In the ’80s, the band released a handful of EPs an album on Mystic Records, before finding a home on Epitaph Records.
Epitaph is where the band saw its biggest commercial success in 1994, when their album Punk in Drublic went gold. Unlike other bands that were also seeing success at the time, NOFX didn’t head to a major label. Sticking to their ideals, they remained with Epitaph until 2000, when they left Epitaph for Fat Mike’s own label, Fat Wreck Chords.
During the band’s career, they have made a point to avoid all areas of mass media, fostering a relationship that is nonexistent rather than bad. They conduct very few interviews, and while they have made a few videos, they have not given permission for them to be played on mainstream channels like MTV or VH1. As a whole, they tend to attempt to promote themselves in the way of any other underground punk band, rather than to exploit the opportunities that could be available to them – opportunities that would render them contradictions of themselves.
In addition to the blatantly political nature of the band’s lyrics, Fat Mike is also politically active. His label has now released two Rock Against Bush compilations, and he also launched Punk Voter, a collection of punk labels, bands and fans that seeks to educate and inform America’s youth and get them to vote. Specifically, their goal at one time was to vote George W Bush out of office, but even after his reelection, Punk Voter is still actively educating youg voters about issues that affect them.
Discography:
Studio Albums
Liberal Animation - (Mystic Records, 1988) - Rereleased in 1991 (Epitaph)
S&M Airlines (Epitaph, 1989)
Ribbed (Epitaph, 1991)
White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean (Epitaph, 1992)
Punk in Drublic (Epitaph, 1994)
Heavy Petting Zoo (Epitaph, 1996)
So Long and Thanks for All the Shoes (Epitaph, 1997)
Pump up the Valium (Epitaph, 2000)
The War on Errorism (Fat Wreck Chords, 2000)
Wolves in Wolves’ Clothing (Fat Wreck Chords, 2006)
Compilation Albums
45 or 46 Songs That Weren’t Good Enough to Go on Our Other Records (Fat Wreck Chords, 2002)
The Greatest Songs Ever Written (By Us!) (Epitaph, 2004)
Live Albums
I Heard They Suck Live!! (Fat Wreck Chords, 1995)
They’ve Actually Gotten Worse Live! (Fat Wreck Chords, 2007)
