Fuck Things Up

When we first came down to Australia we really had the chance to get out and meet people, go to parties, people’s houses and really enjoy ourselves,” says Melvin, musing on early tours to our shores, including a legendary run of shows in support of 1994’s Punk In Drublic LP. “We can’t really do that anymore – the shows have got bigger – things are a little less personal now, but it’s great to be able to play for more people.”

Melvin says the band has started writing a follow up record to 2012’s Self-Entitled. “It’s still early on but we have some new material written – at least some parts and ideas written. Right now all I can tell you is that we’re looking to record a new record this coming spring or summer and we hope it will be out by the end of next year. We’re also working on the second season of the backstage passport documentary.”

Backstage passport is what the name suggests – a no holds barred look at the chaos and debauchery of a NOFX tour. Does the band ever regret exposing their own bad behavior? “Oh yeah… I ask myself all the time… ‘Do I really want anyone to see how me and my band mates act when no-one’s around? It’s weird though for some reason I think we want to expose ourselves in that kind of way. I mean, we’re also writing a book – a history of the band – which is going to have some incredible stories in it.”

Considering the personalities, dramas and drug and alcohol abuse associated with NOFX, the fact that the band has managed to keep the same line-up since 1991 is a minor miracle. “Look I know it’s pretty incredible,” agrees Melvin. “Three of the guys have been there from the beginning – we still call El Hefe the new guy and he joined over 20 years ago. I think what keeps us together is simple; we like the same sort of music, we’ve struggled together for so long to make things happen, and they have, so we’ve been able to share the victories. But most of all, we like each other. Don’t get me wrong, we have our fights, but we always want to get back in the van and do it again. Maybe we’re gluttons for punishment – I don’t know?”

Aside from his NOFX duties Melvin also has plans to try DJing, with sets organised in a number of Aussie cities. “It’s a just a great chance for me to spin old punk rock records that I remember from the days when me and Mike would sit around listening to music and talking about how cool it would to have a band. I also have a guilty pleasure of liking dance music and I’m trying to find a way with DJing to combine this with my love of punk rock. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I’m not scared to fuck things up though so it should be fun.”