NOFX aren’t breaking up, they’re retiring — and it’s probably for the best for everyone involved

As a longtime fan of NOFX and someone who has followed their career for decades, I can’t help but feel a mix of sadness and nostalgia as I read about their farewell tour. Having grown up with their music, I have always admired their energy, creativity, and the unique bond they share as a band.

After four decades as a band, the outspoken and energetic punk group NOFX is bringing their career to an end. This won’t be a dramatic or explosive farewell though. They’re waving goodbye this weekend after performing three final shows at Berth 46 in San Pedro, wrapping up an extensive world tour where they played 40 different songs each night and never repeated the same set twice. This marks the conclusion of four decades spent as one of the most influential punk bands globally, and approximately a decade of the subtle tension that often occurs among close family members or long-term partners.

In his trailer backstage at Chicago’s Riot Fest during the final tour, lead vocalist and bassist “Fat Mike” Burkett, who was surrounded by a documentary crew and sipping on a nearly-empty bottle of Tito’s vodka, recalled that when he played in a punk band from around ’83 to ’88, there was no prospect of earning a living because no punk band had ever managed it before. He explained that they did it purely for the love of music with their best friends, as there was no future in sight. Despite attending college and real estate school, Burkett’s heart always yearned to play music with his companions. It was about expressing what needed to be said without worrying about what others thought.

However, during the 1980s, they struggled to find success in the Southern California punk rock scene, but in the ’90s, NOFX (consisting of Burkett, guitarists Eric Melvin and Aaron “El Hefe” Abeyta, and drummer Erik “Smelly” Sandin) reached unprecedented professional peaks.

The impact and influence of NOFX on the punk rock genre, particularly during the ’90s and 2000s, is undeniable. Their album “Punk in Drublic” from 1994 stands out as a significant milestone. Known for their unique blend of offbeat humor, unapologetic attitude, catchy melodies, and thoughtful lyrics, they earned immense respect within the genre. Alongside fellow SoCal bands like Social Distortion, Bad Religion, and Descendents, NOFX helped shape the sound of West Coast punk rock. Moreover, their success paved the way for subsequent generations of more mainstream-friendly punk rock acts, such as Green Day and the Offspring, to gain widespread popularity.

For over a decade, Burkett, known for his role in one of punk rock’s leading bands and record labels, shifted focus from music to politics. Specifically, he aimed to undermine the re-election bid of President George W. Bush. In the lead-up to the election, he utilized his band’s platform and Fat Wreck Chords, his Bay Area record label, to launch “Rock Against Bush,” a political movement that encouraged punk music fans to vote against the sitting president. This movement included concerts, compilation CDs, merchandise (like the popular “Not My President” shirts), and indirectly NOFX’s 2003 album, “The War on Errorism.

Burkett states, ‘I’ve invested a year and a half of my existence, and I believe I fulfilled my civic duty.’ He went on to share his experiences, which included traveling nationwide, hosting early morning radio shows, participating in the entire Warped Tour, and potentially recruiting hundreds of thousands of kids. Along with several members of Fat Wreck Chords, he put in tremendous effort and hard work. It was incredibly difficult when things didn’t go as planned. If Trump wins, it would be devastating for democracy, but I won’t let it control my life. It’s crucial to stay positive and joyful. Contribute to your community, and find ways to continue making the world a better place, even in challenging times.’

Those familiar with Burkett, whether within or outside the band, generally think that the 2004 election was the first time he truly committed himself to something and ended up failing, which hit him particularly hard. To deal with this defeat, Burkett, who claims he hadn’t used drugs before 1998, resorted more heavily to substance abuse and alcohol at a point when some of his bandmates (all of whom were in their late thirties in 2004) were trying to abandon the party-centric lifestyle.

Despite carrying on fairly smoothly for several years, NOFX encountered issues when the band members noticed that Burkett’s drug use was gradually influencing his judgment, recording sessions, and live performances. This problem has since grown into a significant divide between Burkett and other band members, especially Melvin. The tension became so severe that they organized multiple interventions for Burkett – the most recent one took place in 2020 when he sought treatment at a rehab facility after experiencing distressing symptoms like vomiting and defecating blood at Matt Sanders’ vacation home, who is the singer of Avenged Sevenfold.

Burkett shares, “I stayed at rehab for a month, then remained sober for approximately 10 months, but not fully. During some rehearsals, I used cocaine and drank alcohol beforehand, and around the seventh or eighth month, I was back to partying again. People were saying things like, ‘You’ve improved so much. You’re a nicer person now. You seem happier.’ But in my mind, I thought it was ironic because I was repeating the same old patterns. Whenever they asked about my sobriety, I would reply ‘great!’ because if you check the definition of ‘sobriety,’ it doesn’t just mean ‘not drinking’; it means having control over your life.

Burkett considers his drug use acceptable and feels that, due to careful moderation and regular exercise like cycling (which he does daily for distances between 20-30 miles), he’s in the best health of his life. Interestingly, he only uses drugs during work hours, according to him, as a way to calm his nerves before performances. He thinks stepping away from NOFX and their pre-show ritual involving cocaine and vodka will be beneficial for his overall wellbeing.

For Burkett, the main source of the long-lasting family-like conflicts in NOFX has been his feeling that he isn’t adequately appreciated or respected by his bandmates, despite his belief that he is the one guiding the group.

In this circumstance, it seems neither Burkett nor Melvin can be definitively labeled as being ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, because reaching a resolution appears unattainable while they remain entangled within their band. Each maintains distinct perspectives about the past few years, with the rest of the band and the complex reality probably lying somewhere between them. Despite their ongoing disagreements, Burkett acknowledges that his desire is not solely about receiving recognition for being the main songwriter or securing fresh opportunities. Instead, he’s expressing a feeling of monotony in continuing to play the same shows and perform the same songs since his teenage years. This doesn’t mean that at 57, Burkett believes he has exhausted his creativity or performance skills; rather, he seeks alternative avenues to express himself through music.

Burkett compares himself to a playwright who penned an excellent play four decades ago, yet he has been performing in this role for 40 years. He’s both the writer and the actor of his own production. While he takes pride in the quality of the play and his acting skills, he admits that after all these years, it feels more like a job rather than a joyful reunion with old friends. However, he cherishes the opportunity to perform alongside his long-time bandmates for 40 years because they are friends who share camaraderie. They’re great people, but their relationships aren’t as close as they once were due to personal commitments and family obligations. When they come together now, it’s more about professional duties.

Although the massive turnout for every concert during NOFX’s farewell tour suggests that they should carry on (a proposition that Melvin, Sandin, and Abeyta are all open to), it might also be appropriate to disband, as a way to prevent any further strain on their relationships – particularly between Melvin and Burkett, who have had minimal contact outside of band-related matters. They could have continued for another decade, but ending with a strong performance and giving everyone the chance to start anew seems more fitting than risking a meltdown or onstage disagreement. After all, opportunities for reunions will likely arise when they’re ready again.

Regarding a possible comeback by the band in the immediate future, nothing is definitive yet, but Burkett appears committed to honoring his promises. While jokingly hinting at a potential reunion during Slayer’s second-to-last tour stop at Riot Fest, he emphasizes that NOFX is likely concluding their journey because “it’s delightful to have both a start and an end.

Burkett states, ‘I’ve never felt my heart overflow as much as it has during this tour, and our fans are simply amazing – yet we had to halt our journey. We were managing okay, but nothing compares to what we’re experiencing now. We made the wise decision to call it off at the perfect moment. When people suggest I’ll return in five years, they can take a hike. They don’t understand me. My fans trust my honesty in life and my lyrics, so why would I deceive them by saying this is our final tour if it isn’t? How could anyone do that? I simply can’t lie to my entire fan base or mislead everyone in such a manner.’

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2024-10-03 21:32