In the mid-'90s, just after Kurt Cobain's death and when bands like Green Day and the Offspring saturated the radio, punk-rock fans saw a lot of their heroes defect to the dark side. Punk is more than just a style of music; it's about having the freedom to say and do whatever you want without having to answer to or appease any authority. The kids cried foul when the Gorilla Biscuits turned into CIV, their universe was shattered when Jawbreaker signed to Geffen, and hearts were broken when Bad Religion left the indie label they created to sign with Atlantic.
Of course, we here know that it doesn't matter what label a band is on: If the music's good, it's good. San Francisco's NOFX was courted by dozens of major labels and denied
every offer. The NOFX business model is one to be respected and admired: Start an independent label, sign bands you love, answer to no one,
make enough money to buy a house, a car, feed your kids and get wasted,
answer to no one.
Friday, January 28, 2011, NOFX is coming to Revolution in Fort
Lauderdale. In anticipation of their show and in honor of their 27-year
career, here are five of our favorite NOFX tracks.
"Lori Meyers"
- From 1994's classic album Punk in Drublic, this song tells a story about preteen lust and makes a bold statement about women's sexual rights. Featuring guest vocalist Kim Shattuck from the Muffs.
"The Separation of Church and Skate"
- From 2003's War on Errorism, it's a rant against the softening of punk-rock culture. "The kids who used to live for beer and speed now want their fries and Coke/Cursing and flipping birds are not allowed/In fact let's keep noise levels down."
"The Decline"
- From 1999, this 18-minute odyssey predates Green Day's American Idiot. Inspired by punk icons the Sub-Humans' 17-minute song "From the Cradle to the Grave."
"My Orphan Year"
- After years of singing about amyl nitrates, trannies, and fart jokes, Fat Mike gets painfully sincere.
