This article originally appeared in the December 1998 edition of SPIN. It's been four years since the Offspring brought punk-rock and Mohawks to Main
Kevin 'Noodles' Wasserman, Ron Welty, Bryan 'Dexter' Holland, and Greg K. at the 1999 MTV Europe Music Awards It’s been four years since the Offspring brought punk-rock and Mohawks to Main Street. Nowadays it’s getting a little lonely in the mosh pit.
Fast-and-furious is about as fashionable as Doc Martens at a Cherry Poppin’ Daddies concert, and most alt-rock hits of late come in one of two flavors: earnest nice-guy pop à la Semisonic and novelty one-shots like Chumbawamba. What’s an unreconstructed punk-rocker to do? “The punk fad might not be the coolest thing in music anymore,” says Mike Peer, music director of New York’s alt-station, K-Rock, “but you have to look atOne thing’s for sure, the Offspring are due for a hit. Though their third album,, sold a less-earth-shattering one million copies. Now, with the November release of the band’s fifth album,, the SoCal punk-pop quartet will find out just how many Offspring fans still want to come out and play. “If we do something different , it’s because it seems fun,” guitarist Noodles says. “I’ve never thought, ‘Oh, man, punk rock’s over. Shit, how are we gonna feed our kids? Let’s do a ska record next.'”represent a genuine musical departure for the band. “Pay the Man” borders on traditional rock, while “Why Don’t You Get a Job’?” actually mixes in tape loops and horns. Yet the first single, a goofy novelty song called “Pretty Fly ,” has a familiar bratty ring. Kicking off with a grin-inducing sample of the intro to Def Leppard’s “Rock of Ages” , the song erupts into a frat-friendly combination of “Fight for Your Right ” and 2 Live Crew’s “Me So Horny,” complete with a deep-voiced vocal hook that sounds suspiciously similar to the band’s signature “You gotta keep ’em separated.”The song mercilessly mocks those guys who, as Holland describes them, “are from, like, Omaha, Nebraska, regular white-bread guys, but who act like they’re from Compton. It’s so fake and obvious they’re trying to have an identity.” It’s exactly the sort of playground dis that will endear the Offspring to their youngest fans. “I wanted to write a song where people in high school would go, ‘I know exactly who this guy’s talking about: so-and-so in third period,'” Holland says. And if you actuallylike it, too. That’s kind of the beauty: making fun of people who don’t know they’re being made fun of.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Beautyworld Japan Tokyo: Unparalleled Growth Since 1998Messe Frankfurt’s Julia Uherek discusses the unique features and trends of Beautyworld Japan Tokyo.
Read more »
Zendaya Recreated Serena and Venus Williams's 1998 Vogue Shoot for ChallengersCarolina Herrera recreated an iconic dress for Zendaya that was first worn by two tennis pros in Vogue.
Read more »
Zendaya Recreates Venus and Serena Williams' Iconic 1998 'Vogue' Photo ShootThe 'Challengers' star teamed up with her stylist, Law Roach, to pay tribute to the sisters' iconic 1998 photo shoot.
Read more »
Zendaya Channels Venus and Serena Williams by Recreating Their Iconic 1998 Vogue Shoot, Beads and AllZendaya recreated Venus and Serena Williams' iconic Vogue photoshoot shot by Annie Leibovitz in 1998. The star and her stylist Law Roach tapped original designer Carolina Herrera for the look.
Read more »
Zendaya Recreates Venus and Serena Williams’ Iconic 1998 Vogue ShootZendaya — with the help of her stylist Law Roach — recreated Venus and Serena Williams’ 1998 ‘Vogue’ shoot by Annie Leibovitz
Read more »
Luke Grimes reflects on Kevin Costner's Yellowstone exit: 'You gotta do what you gotta do''Yellowstone' star Luke Grimes is reflecting on his on-screen dad Kevin Costner's exit from the series: 'You gotta do what you gotta do'
Read more »