OFFSPRING, THE BAND PAGE
 OFFSPRING, THE
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CURRENT NAME
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Offspring, The |
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FORMER NAMES
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Manic Subsidal |
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ORIGIN
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USA |
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STATUS
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Active |
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FORMED IN
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1984 |
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LABEL
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Columbia Records |
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GENRE
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Punk rock |
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STYLE
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- |
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LYRICAL THEME
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- |
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BAND ADDED
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2004-03-24, 00:00 |
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LAST UPDATE
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2008-08-26, 15:00 |
The Offspring's metal-inflected punk became a popular
sensation in 1994, selling over four million albums on an independent record
label. While the group's credentials and approach follow the indie rock
tradition of the '80s, sonically they sound more like an edgy,
hard-driving heavy metal band, with their precise, pulsing power chords and
Dexter Holland's flat vocals.
Featuring Holland, guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg
Kriesel, and drummer Ron Welty, the Offspring released their self-titled
debut album in 1989. Four years later, their second album, Ignition,
became an underground hit, setting the stage for the across-the-board
success of 1994's Smash. The Nirvana sound-alike "Come Out and Play," the
first single from the album, became an MTV hit in the summer of 1994,
which paved the way to radio success. The band was played on both
alternative and album rock stations, confirming their broad-based appeal.
"Self Esteem," the second single, followed the same soft verse/loud chorus
formula and stayed on the charts nearly twice as long as "Come Out and
Play." The group got offers from major labels, yet they chose to stay
with Epitaph. While they were able to play arenas in the U.S., their
success didn't translate in foreign countries. Nevertheless, the band's
popularity continued to grow in America, as "Gotta Get Away" became!
another radio/MTV hit in the beginning of 1995. The Offspring recorded
a version of the Damned's "Smash It Up" for the Batman Forever
soundtrack in the summer of that year; it kept the band on the charts as they
worked on their third album.
Following a prolonged bidding war and much soul-searching, the
Offspring decided to leave Epitaph Records in 1996 for Columbia Records. The
move was particularly controversial within the punk community, and many
artists on the Epitaph roster, including Pennywise and owner Brett
Gurewitz, criticized the band. After much delay, the Offspring finally
released their Columbia debut, Ixnay on the Hombre, in February of 1997.
Expectation for the record was high and it did receive good reviews, but
Ixnay on the Hombre failed to become a crossover hit on the level of
Smash, and the group also lost a significant portion of their hardcore
punk audience due to the album's major-label status. Americana followed in
1998, scoring the hit "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)." In mid-2000, the
Offspring made controversial headlines with their decision to offer
Conspiracy of One free of charge via the Internet prior to the initial
November release date. Sony Music did not adhere to such a move and !
threatened a lawsuit; therefore, the band nixed plans to release the
album in such a manner. Individual singles, however, were made available
on the band's official website and other music-related sites such as
MTV Online.
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