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Welcome to Kerrang!'s essential guide to the greatest bands rocking our world. Discover new acts or re-acquaint yourselves with the legends... it all starts here.

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WHEN BASSIST/vocalist "Fat" Mike Burkett got together with guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin to form a band in 1983, he couldn't have known that a quarter of a century later, he'd own one of the most successful punk rock record labels in the world (Fat Wreck Chords); a recording studio in San Francisco (Motor Studios); publish his own magazine ('Punk Rock Confidential'); emerge as one of the most prominent anti-Bush musicians in the world (he started Punkvoter.org in 2003 and released several popular 'Rock Against Bush' compilations); and that his reckless little band would have sold in the region of six million records worldwide. Guitarist Aaron Abeyta, aka El Hefe (translation from Spanish: "The Boss"), didn't join the Californian quartet until 1991, but his trumpet skills added a distinctive new element to the band, and Hefe and Mike soon developed an onstage double act that has had audiences in hysterics ever since - especially when the two hit the stage with one too many cocktails in 'em (which is often). Even when talking politics, they've never taken themselves too seriously; even when faced with huge success they've remained independently minded; even when filling festival stadiums they are entirely lacking in ego (and, frequently, any shred of professionalism); and never once have they lost the ability to write the catchiest songs melodic punk has to offer. As such, NOFX remain one of the most influential, popular, respected and ridiculously entertaining punk rock bands in the world.

Punk in Drublic
Name: Punk in Drublic Label: EPITAPH Year: 1994

Review: 1994 WAS the year we got Green Day's 'Dookie', Bad Religion's 'Stranger Than Fiction', and this, the finest record NOFX have ever - and will ever - make. Catchy, unique, precocious and snotty, 'Punk In Drublic' is consistently the fans' favourite, despite having taken only three weeks to record. These 17 tracks set the pace for independent pop-punk for the rest of the decade. Awesome.

So Long And Thanks for...
Name: So Long And Thanks for... Label: EPITAPH Year: 1997

Review: THE TITLE for their eighth - and possibly most obnoxious - full-length was derived from Douglas Adams' book 'So Long And Thanks For All The Fish', in combination with the fact that the band get slapped so often by stray footwear getting thrown onstage hence 'So Long and Thanks For All the Shoes'. It also includes guitar contributions from Nate Albert of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

White Trash, Two Heebs...
Name: White Trash, Two Heebs... Label: EPITAPH Year: 1992

Review: "LegeNd Has it that the record was originally named 'White Trash, Two Kikes And A Spic' in reference to the band's ethnicities, until Eric Melvin's grandmother heard about it, and nagged them until they changed the title to 'White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean'. Erik Sandin was still recovering from heroin addiction and was sick for much of the recording, although they sound like they haven't a care in the world."

Ribbed
Name: Ribbed Label: EPITAPH Year: 1990

Review: ON THE inlay to 2004's 'The Greatest Songs Ever Written By Us', NOFX refer to 'Ribbed' - produced by Epitaph Records' head honcho/Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz - as "our first decent record". They were thrilled when it sold 8,000 copies in its first year of release. It's a little sloppy, but still remains a loved collection by the older fans.

Maximum Rock N Roll
Name: Maximum Rock N Roll Label: MYSTIC Year: 1992

Review: "ON NOFX's website this is referred to as "a totally crappy, fucked record". Why do they hate it so much? Well, aside from the non-existent production and under-written songs, they actually had nothing to do with the release. Mystic Records combined two early seven-inches and some demos and put it out without even consulting NOFX. Total stinker."

    Key nofx Tracks
  • BOB

    "AT 2005's hilarious Reading Festival appearance, the entire field screamed for this, much to Fat Mike's chagrin. When he finally gave in and played it, the 'Will he ever walk the line?' refrain sparked total chaos. Shortly afterwards, a bugle-playing member of the audience was invited onstage to "play that song you people do before you kill all the foxes"."

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'White Trash, Two Heebs And A Bean', 1992
  • DON'T CALL ME WHITE

    AND HERE'S NOFX tackling the issue of racism... towards white people. And in '94, at the peak of political correctness, that was controversial. 'I ain't part of no conspiracy, I'm just your average Joe', spits Fat Mike, ignoring raised eyebrows. Seems fair to us...

    Find on iTunes Find It: Punk In Drublic', 1994
  • GREEN CORN

    "NOFX SOUNDING like they just emerged from a basement party at a dodgy squat (it's quite possible that they had). The first time NOFX really nailed their sound, but shades of street punk influences are still evident on the verses."

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Ribbed', 1990
  • I'M TELLING TIM

    TIM YOHANNAN, founder of legendary punk 'zine 'MaximumRockNRoll', was, throughout the '80s and '90s, overlord of the underground and highly critical of those that didn't adhere to his independent, politically correct standards. This little song made a mockery of those who take punk rock too seriously.

    Find on iTunes Find It: So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes', 1997
  • IT'S MY JOB TO KEEP PUNK ROCK ELITE'

    THIS SUPER fast, beautifully harmonised, totally facetious, ironic number is yet another example of NOFX having a laugh in the midst of far too many people taking themselves far too seriously.

    Find on iTunes Find It: So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes', 1997
  • KILL ALL THE WHITE MAN

    "EL HEFE handles vocals (amusingly, in the style of Bob Marley) on a track largely focused on getting literally and figuratively raped by 'the white man'. When the punk kicks the reggae joyfully out of the way at the end, you will dance. "

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'The Longest Line' EP, 1992
  • LEAVE IT ALONE

    "WHEN GREEN Day landed on a major label and MTV, and started their trajectory towards world domination, NOFX showed up with this, beers in hand, skateboards tucked under their arms, shrugging in their trademark nonchalant manner. "

    Find on iTunes Find It: Punk In Drublic', 1994
  • LIZA AND LOUISE

    "THIS CHARMING tale of a woman exploring her new found lesbianism includes the classic line 'I'll never forget the first time you kissed me, now I want you to fist me'. Since even lesbians saw the funny side, separate songs about Liza and Louise appeared on later albums."

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'White Trash, Two Heebs And A Bean', 1992
  • LORI MEYERS

    ALL ABOUT the shock and horror of realising that a childhood friend is doing porn, trying to help her, then being told by said friend to sod off because she's making good money.

    Find on iTunes Find It: Punk In Drublic', 1994
  • MURDER THE GOVERNMENT

    IF A gang of punks decide to go on a killing spree in the White House any time soon, this unabashed 45-second rant is what they'll listen to at the party afterwards.

    Find on iTunes Find It: So Long And Thanks For All The Shoes', 1997
  • STICKIN' IN MY EYE

    "ONE OF NOFX's most memorable moments thanks to a subdued bass intro, the twisting and turning of the main driving riff, Fat Mike sounding genuinely agro and then that harmonising on the chorus."

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'White Trash, Two Heebs And A Bean', 1992
  • THE BREWS

    THIS ENTERTAINING stomper is a live favourite thanks to the call-and-answer chant-along bits and preposterous lyrics about a gang of Jewish skinheads. Oi! Oi! Oi!

    Find on iTunes Find It: Punk In Drublic', 1994
  • THE DECLINE

    ARGUABLY THEIR most powerful moment, here NOFX go epic and spend 18 and a half minutes detailing exactly what's wrong with America. This song is so long it's an entire EP.

    Find on iTunes Find It: The Decline' EP, 1999
  • WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH KIDS TODAY?

    NOFX GO all Nirvana for a minute. Well... a minute and 14 seconds to be precise. This dirty, grinding little number is a shrug of disbelief in the direction of kids who 'don't drink or fuck or fight'. Now that's role-modelling!

    Find on iTunes Find It: 'Heavy Petting Zoo', 1996
  • YOU'RE WRONG'

    "DURING THE comedic "war" NOFX declared on Underoath during Warped Tour 2006, the hedonistic punkers frequently dedicated this to the hardcore Christians during their sets, thanks to opening line 'You're wrong about virtues of Christianity'. Hilarity ensued; Underoath quit the tour early. Whoops!"

    Find on iTunes Find It: Never Trust A Hippy' EP, 2006