The Offspring

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The Offspring

Years active 1984 – present
Origin Orange County, California
Genre(s) Punk
Label(s) Columbia Records
Members Dexter Holland
Noodles
Greg K.
Atom Willard

The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Orange County, California that originally formed in 1984, consisting of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin 'Noodles' Wasserman, bassist Greg K., Atom Willard on drums, and backup vocalist/guitarist/percussionist Higgins. In 2003, long time drummer Ron Welty left the band and was replaced by Atom Willard.

Contents

Background

Although their first album, The Offspring, was very similar to late 1980s punk, the next album, Ignition, saw them move away from more traditional punk, heading into the punk of the mid-1990s with songs like "Dirty Magic". It was 1994's album, Smash, that brought Offspring into the mainstream; it sold over eleven million copies worldwide. Along with Green Day's Dookie, it is considered to have catalysed the punk rock revival of the 90s.

In 1996, The Offspring jumped ship from Epitaph Records and signed with Columbia Records. Many punk rock purists criticized this decision, feeling that The Offspring jumped from an independent to a major label, solely for financial gain. However, vocalist Dexter Holland, in a letter to the fans, stated that they left because Epitaph's owner was taking immoral actions and was concerned only about profit; and that the contract they signed with Columbia was for less money.

They released their follow up to Smash in 1997, entitled Ixnay on the Hombre. The commercial success of this record was somewhat disappointing, only going on to sell four million copies.

On each album, The Offspring tend to have a few songs based on current social/political subject matter, a testament to their punk roots. Songs like "Jennifer Lost the War" and "Kill the President" on The Offspring, "L.A.P.D." on Ignition, "It'll Be a Long Time" and "Not the One" on Smash, and "Meaning of Life" and "Change the World" on Ixnay on the Hombre, communicated the band's general position on some issues, although the band has not been known to be outspoken or particularly politically active, they did release the track 'Baghdad' on the first Rock Against Bush compilation released by Fat Wreck Chords.

In 1995 the band formed their own record label, Nitro Records. The label has released works by many punk groups, including AFI and The Damned. (The Offspring have recorded covers of "Smash It Up" by The Damned and "Total Immortal" by AFI, both released as singles.)

Although Smash was the album that first brought The Offspring major commercial success and recognition, it was the release of the single "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" from the 1998 album Americana which established the band as a regular feature on MTV and in the pop charts.

The band's most recent studio album is Splinter, which draws inspiration from their older works. The band has also recently released a greatest hits album, unsurprisingly entitled: Greatest Hits, which was released on June 21, 2005. The first single from which is "Can't Repeat". The band is also working on their eighth album of new material which is slated for release sometime in 2006. Two sources (Pause & Play and Top Hits Online) have stated that the album was supposed to be released in November 2005. However, the rumour turned to be false, according to source (Ultimate-Guitar.com).

The Offspring appeared as an unnamed punk band in the 1999 horror-comedy Idle Hands, where Dexter Holland was scalped by the titular possessed hand.

On March 18, 2003, Ron Welty left The Offspring to devote his energies to a new band "Steady Ground". The Offspring held auditions for a new drummer, ultimately selecting Atom Willard. Atom Willard played in Rocket from the Crypt for ten years and has more recently played with Moth, Alkaline Trio and Melissa Auf Der Maur.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

EPs

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock UK Singles Chart
1986 "I'll Be Waiting" - - - - The Offspring
1986 "Blackball" - - - - The Offspring
1994 "Come Out and Play (Keep 'Em Separated)" - #1 #10 - Smash
1994 "Gotta Get Away" - #6 #15 #43 Smash
1994 "Self Esteem" - #4 #7 #37 Smash
1995 "Bad Habit" - - - #26 Smash
1995 "Kick Him When He's Down" - - - - Ignition
1995 "Smash It Up" - #16 - - Batman Forever [Soundtrack]
1997 "All I Want" - #13 - #31 Ixnay on the Hombre
1997 "I Choose" - #24 #5 #42 Ixnay on the Hombre
1997 "Meaning of Life" - - - - Ixnay on the Hombre
1998 "Gone Away" - #4 #1 - Ixnay on the Hombre
1998 "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" #53 #3 #5 #1 Americana
1999 "Why Don't You Get a Job?" #74 #4 #10 #2 Americana
1999 "She's Got Issues" - #11 #19 #41 Americana
1999 "The Kids Aren't Alright" - #6 - #11 Americana
2000 "Totalimmortal" - - - - Me, Myself, and Irene [Soundtrack]
2000 "Original Prankster" #70 #2 #7 #6 Conspiracy of One
2000 "One Fine Day" - - - - Conspiracy of One
2000 "Huck It" - - - - Conspiracy of One
2001 "Want You Bad" - #10 - #15 Conspiracy of One
2001 "Million Miles Away" - - - #21 Conspiracy of One
2001 "Defy You" #77 #8 #8 - Orange County [Soundtrack]
2003 "Hit That" #64 - #6 #11 Splinter
2004 "(Can't Get My) Head Around You" - #6 #16 #48 Splinter
2004 "Da Hui" - - - - Splinter
2005 "Can't Repeat" - #9 #10 - Greatest Hits
2005 "Next to You" - #37 #29 - Greatest Hits

DVDs and videos

  • The Complete Video Collection, July 19, 2005
  • Huck It, 2000
  • Americana (The DVD), 1999

Filmography of songs

See also

External links

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