NOFX, for the higher half of 40 years, have made a profession out of being unapologetically themselves regardless of the price. Whether they’re taking purpose at injustice via witty lyricism or opening up about the darkest traumas of their lives, the band — particularly enigmatic frontman, bassist and chief songwriter Fat Mike — are in some ways the final remaining figures of true punk ethos and contrarianism. Earlier this 12 months, NOFX shared that they’re going to be disbanding in 2023 after embarking on a remaining world tour, the place they will play each tune from their prolific and genre-spanning discography. That consists of their brand-new companion piece to final 12 months’s Single Album, merely titled Double Album, the place NOFX have made good on their promise of delivering the first-ever “good” double album.
With Double Album, NOFX succeed of their mission to create a compelling two-part launch by foregoing elaborate story arcs or ideas, opting to stay to what they know finest: humor and honest vulnerability. Those attributes juxtapose one another brilliantly to show the band’s heartfelt message and agenda. Sonically, NOFX have not missed a beat. Their progressive and unconventional songwriting nonetheless feels recent after many years collectively whereas retaining an awesome deal of accessibility with songs reminiscent of “Darby Crashing Your Party” and “Punk Rock Cliche,” the latter of which was initially written by Fat Mike for blink-182’s 2015 LP California that was scrapped at the eleventh hour.
Read extra: NOFX’s Fat Mike will open the most complete Punk Rock Museum in 2023
Lyrically, Fat Mike stays unafraid of offending the lots with tracks reminiscent of “Is It Too Soon If Time is Relative,” a tune devoted to the late Stephen Hawking, in addition to “Alcopollack,” a hilarious love letter to their longtime reserving agent whereas sparing no expense in documenting tales of debauchery. However, even with the humor and sonics of the document, Fat Mike continues to exorcise the darkest corners of his thoughts and addictions via vulnerability and self-depreciation, that are exhibited in true kind on “My Favorite Enemy” and “Fuck Day Six.” While Double Album won’t be the final document from NOFX earlier than they break up (rumor has it they’ve three extra in the can), it is one more reminder of their significance in punk and a celebration of their devotion to authenticity.
In an unique interview, Fat Mike opens up like by no means earlier than to talk about the creation of Double Album, the technique behind his unconventional songwriting and the imminent disbandment of NOFX.
Do you’re feeling such as you achieved your objective of writing a “good” double album?
Would you say I did? [Laughs.]
I positively assume so, and the motive being is that you just didn’t lean on an elaborate story arc or idea and as an alternative simply confirmed two sides of NOFX that all of us love.
That’s very attention-grabbing that you just say that. I hadn’t considered it that approach. This isn’t a Quadrophenia or no matter — I believed of it extra as The White Album, however needed to do it higher. I do really feel like I achieved this, however I solely assume I achieved it as a result of I didn’t launch [both parts] at the similar time.
It has been attention-grabbing to learn that you just admit the songs on Double Album aren’t essentially as sturdy as the ones on Single Album. In my opinion, they maintain the similar weight since you allowed your self to have extra freedom and enjoyable this time round. Would you agree?
Well, you’re imagined to have extra freedom doing a double album. When you must make a 30-minute nice album, you actually put extra into it, and now you’ve gotten time to work on songs which are extra runts of the litter. I’m simply having enjoyable writing songs about no matter I really feel like, whereas Single Album was actually severe and self-reflective. Releasing the two albums a 12 months aside was fucking the proper transfer.
On Double Album, you continue to dive deep into these self-reflective and susceptible locations with songs like “My Favorite Enemy” and “Fuck Day Six.” It’s commendable how open you might be along with your listeners, however is it ever scary realizing that so many individuals are relying on your honesty always?
It’s not scary in any respect. What I wrestle with all the time, although, is that individuals don’t belief me — it’s the worst factor in my life. I’m completely sincere all the time. I don’t inform lies and by no means have. This is private, however my dad’s second spouse once I was 15 got here into the lounge and noticed my good friend stoned and mentioned, “You guys are stoned,” however I didn’t do medication till I used to be in my 30s. I mentioned, “I don’t smoke pot,” and she didn’t imagine me and mentioned, “You may fool your dad, but you don’t fool me. [From there], I said “Well, fuck you, c**t,” and she went upstairs and informed my dad. For the first time ever, my dad shook me and mentioned “You called my wife a c**t?” I mentioned, “Yeah, I did. I told her I didn’t do drugs, and she called me a liar.” He let me go and went upstairs and ended up yelling at her for calling me a liar. It was one of the solely good issues I acquired from my dad, and since then, I can not lie. When folks don’t belief me, it breaks my coronary heart. I’ve no different alternative [but to] be sincere with my life.
I can see that, however has it ever felt like a sacrifice or a weight to hold to reside as much as what persons are anticipating from you?
Abso-fucking-lutely, I’ve loads of weight on my shoulders, and it’s completely bearable till folks don’t belief me. This [conversation] is like remedy for me proper now. [Laughs.] People don’t perceive my agenda, and I used to be as soon as informed by a therapist that I used to be seeing that nobody would ever perceive me and that I’d at all times be alone. Boy, did that hit me onerous as a result of I don’t need to imagine that, however I do [agree] that nobody will perceive me. I act in good religion all the time. People are like, “Why is he so rich and so successful?” I say that you can be a capitalist and never fuck anybody over. I make music and records that make people happy. The more joy you bring to the world, the more successful you are. Stupid people think they need to step on people to get up the ladder, but you don’t. You just need to put up your own ladder. I’m in the business of telling people to find their passion, and it doesn’t have to be normal because there is no such thing as normalcy. I’m gonna teach people how to be happy. People don’t know what makes them happy — they know what distracts them from happiness.
On Double Album, you’re proving once again that you are not afraid to take risks, and in many ways, you are one of the last living punk icons who still has the punk ethos of being contrarian. Is that something you thought about with this record?
I don’t think of that for records and stuff, but when I did War On Errorism, it was clear where we stood [on George W. Bush], but there were of course bands that didn’t stand by me, which I thought was weird. I grew up going to “Rock Against Reagan” [concerts], and now it was so surprising [to see] when I stood up against Trump, I got so many haters. What a terrible country we have become, but at least we make good movies. [Laughs.]
I have been debating how far I should go [now] because there is [a lot] of antisemitism. The upper class gets people like Kanye West, or people who are malleable, to talk shit about Jews or anyone. I will talk shit to anyone who believes in God, but I don’t mind if you have faith. You can’t have freedom of religion if you put down women or are against homosexuality — fuck you! You can’t let people have hate speech.
Switching gears, what initially stood out after listening to the opening track “Darby Crashing Your Party” is that NOFX can cover so much diverse ground in terms of genre within the framework of punk rock, but you also are able to disguise a ton of complex musical theory and chord changes within your songs that people would never expect. What drives you as a songwriter to never settle for the obvious?
I love this [conversation]. It’s the same theory I have behind stand-up comedy where you have to say something that no one expects, and it’s the same thing with a chord that no one expects. This is art, and this is legacy. I’ve never cared about writing a popular song, and that’s why NOFX has rarely had choruses. Our biggest songs [like] “Linoleum” don’t have choruses –– those are for the fucking weak and for the people who want a radio hit. I just want to tell the best story that I can.
You have recently announced that next year, which also happens to be the 40th anniversary of the band’s formation, will be your last. Was this on your mind for a while?
Yes, that’s true, and everyone in the band was not into it, but it’s not on their shoulders. I don’t enjoy shows like I used to–– I just have to get loaded because we’re just entertainers. I’ve got other shit to do, and though I built NOFX with no pigeonholes, we talk 30% of the time we are onstage to make people feel at home, but it’s been 40 years, and I’m done playing punk rock. We played Edmonton and Toronto, and those were our last shows there, and a lot of people said they were the best shows we ever played because we gave it our 100%, which I can’t say for every show. For this last tour, I’m excited because we’re playing all of our records and every song that we ever wrote. I want people to be so stoked and go out on such a high note. I’ve never been so excited to do a tour, and this truly is our last time playing live. It’s not a joke. We’re not a nostalgia act, and how great is it that people actually care about our new albums? Single Album got [some] of the best reviews we ever got.
With all of that said, have you thought about what you are going to feel like on that final night you are onstage with NOFX for the last time?
No, I will not be capable of make it via the first tune –– I’ll should take a bunch of MDMA, however I [do] play good on that. People at all times say that my band modified their lives, and they at all times say “thank you.” That’s the smartest thing you can ever say as an alternative of asking for an autograph. We haven’t bought 20 million data, however we’ve actual followers. We’re so lucky.
Discussion about this post