NOFX (pronounced "No-ef-ex") is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California (later relocating to San Francisco). The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991, El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up. The band rose to popularity with its album Punk in Drublic (1994), which was certified gold, and is now
considered a classic punk album by fans and critics alike. NOFX's
mainstream success was signified by a growing interest in punk rock
during the 1990s, along with fellow California bands Pennywise, Rancid, Bad Religion, Green Day, The Offspring and Sublime. Unlike some of those bands, however, NOFX has never been signed to a major label.
NOFX has released eleven studio albums, fifteen extended plays and a number of seven-inch singles. They recently finished recording a twelfth studio album, Self Entitled, which is due for release on September 11, 2012. The group has sold over 6 million records worldwide, making them one of the most successful independent bands of all time. The band also broadcasted their own show on Fuse TV entitled NOFX: Backstage Passport.
Michael John Burkett (born January 31, 1967 in Newton, Massachusetts), better known as Fat Mike is an American musician, producer, lead vocalist, and bassist for the punk rock band NOFX, as well as bassist for the punk rock supergroup cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.
Eric Scott Melvin (born July 9, 1966) is an American musician and the rhythm guitarist in the California punk band NOFX. He has been in the band from its beginnings in the early 1980s to the present day. Eric has been known for his dreadlocks
that vary in color each time NOFX performs. Though most recognized for
his ability to play the guitar, Melvin can also play the accordion.
Erik Sandin (born July 29, 1966), is an American musician and the drummer of the popular California punk band, NOFX. He was a founding member of the band when they formed in Hollywood, California, in 1983, but moved to Santa Barbara two years later, leaving the band.
In just one year without Sandin, the band had already gone through
two drummers (Scott Sellers and Scott Aldahl) and in 1986 the band
talked Sandin into rejoining NOFX before the White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean
recordings. He has been NOFX's permanent drummer since his return in
1986, and played drums on every NOFX full-length album and EP released,
including the 2007 live album They've Actually Gotten Worse Live!. The band Dogpiss featured a song about him called "Erik Sandin's Stand In" on the Fat Wreck Chords compilation album Short Music for Short People.
Aaron Abeyta (born August 8, 1965 in Sacramento), better known as El Hefe or simply Hefe, from el Jefe (Spanish for "the boss") is the lead guitarist and trumpet player for the California punk band NOFX.
He started playing guitar at the age of 13, but he states that he
started taking it seriously at the age of 15, joining his first band. He
attended the Berklee College of Music
and graduated with honors. Abeyta was given his moniker by his fellow
band members for his superior mastery of the instruments he plays, and
because at the time he joined the band there were already two "Erics",
and that an "Aaron" would just be too much. Known for his self-effacing
sense of humor, charisma, and many voice impersonations (Beavis and Butthead, Yogi Bear,
and other well-known cartoon characters), El Hefe joined NOFX in 1991.
His first recordings with NOFX contributed to NOFX's EP, The Longest Line.