The Offspring is an American punk rock band that formed in Garden Grove, California in 1984. Originally called Manic Subsidal, the band’s current lineup features lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy, and drummer Brandon Pertzborn.
The band’s early years saw them playing shows around Southern California and recording demos. The Offspring released their self-titled debut album in 1989 on Nemesis Records. They followed this up with the Baghdad EP in 1991. These independent releases helped the band gain a following.
The Offspring Signs with Epitaph and Finds Mainstream Success
In 1992, the band signed with Epitaph Records and released their second album Ignition. This led to the band going on tours with Pennywise, NoFX and Lunachicks.
The Offspring’s breakout came with their 1994 album Smash, released on Epitaph. Lead single “Come Out and Play” was a massive hit, topping rock charts and helping propel the album to over 11 million records sold worldwide, setting a record for most albums sold on an independent label. Other hit singles from Smash included “Self Esteem” and “Gotta Get Away.” The hugely popular album brought punk rock into the mainstream.
Continued Popularity and Platinum Albums for The Offspring
Following the success of Smash, The Offspring made the jump to the major label Columbia Records in 1996. While their Columbia debut, Ixnay on the Hombre didn’t match Smash’s sales, it was still a success, achieving gold and platinum certifications.
The band rebounded strongly with their next album Americana in 1998. Hit singles “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)”, “Why Don’t You Get a Job?” and “The Kids Aren’t Alright” helped the album sell over 5 million copies in the U.S. alone.
In 2000, The Offspring entered a public dispute with their label Columbia, after the band attempted to post their album Conspiracy of One online to be downloaded for free, according to Rolling Stone. Conspiracy of One still performed well commercially upon release.
Lineup Changes and Continued Recordings Through the 2000s
The 2000s saw some lineup changes for The Offspring, with drummer Ron Welty departing in 2003. Atom Willard played drums on the band’s next album Splinter, but then left and was replaced by Pete Parada.
The band moved in a more mainstream rock direction in the 2000s. Singles like “Hit That” and “Can’t Repeat” showcased a poppier sound. The band experimented with broader musical elements, like the Eastern-music-influenced riff in the Splinter track “The Worst Hangover Ever.”
In 2005, The Offspring released a Greatest Hits album, featuring hit singles spanning from Smash to Splinter. They followed this with their 8th studio album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace in 2008. The album featured the hit “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid” which topped the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for 11 weeks.
The Offspring Keep Rocking in the 2010s
The Offspring kicked off the 2010s with Days Go By, their 9th studio album. Released in 2012, it featured the title track as lead single. In 2015, The band released the one-off single “Coming For You” which hit #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Behind the scenes, The Offspring reclaimed ownership rights to their Columbia catalog in 2014. Round Hill Music then acquired the band’s Columbia albums and publishing for $35 million in 2016.
Bassist Greg K, one of The band’s co-founders along with Dexter Holland, was fired from the band in 2018 and replaced by Todd Morse. This left Holland as the sole original member still active in the band. Greg K later sued Holland and Noodles over business disputes, according to Consequence of Sound.
Let the Bad Times Roll and The Future
After a long break between albums, The Offspring returned in 2021 with their 10th studio album Let the Bad Times Roll. Released on Concord Records, the title track was issued as lead single.
In August 2021, drummer Pete Parada announced he had been fired from the band for not getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The Offspring replaced Parada with Brandon Pertzborn in 2023.
Looking to the future, Dexter Holland confirmed in September 2022 that The Offspring were working on their 11th studio album, as reported by Louder Sound. With over 40 million records sold worldwide across their career, The Offspring remain one of the most successful punk rock bands of all time. From their beginnings in the Southern California punk underground to becoming a global phenomenon, The Offspring have made a major impact on bringing punk into the mainstream.
