Selin Ziom My dream to be international star Could it happen again? Could Selin Dion happen again? This is a CBC podcast. Hey, I'm Taliya Shlengar sitting in for Tom Power. Welcome to Q. When you think of some of the biggest punk bands of all time, a bunch of the big genre-shaping wines tend to have pretty short careers, short careers like short punk songs. The sex pistols around for three years, they put out one album.
Operation Ivy lasted only a couple of years and put out one record, a relatively long stand. The song is actually long-stint in punk, the clash, made it ten years and put out six records. But the guy you're about to hear from is the lead singer of one of the longest-serving punk bands ever. I'm talking about NOFX. From their landmark 1994 album, punk in rublik, that is NOFX with one of their signature tunes, it's called Lennolium.
They've been out for 41 years and by our count over 40 albums, EPs, live records and compilations, they've sold more than 7 million albums. And earlier this year, all of that came to an end. NoFX went on their final tour and no it wasn't like one of those final tours where you know in a few years they're going to be like, surprise! We're reuniting, we're getting back together. Lead singer Fat Mike has said, this is it, finished, done.
The group's final show happened on October 6th in San Pedro, California. It was followed by surprise appearances from other punk legends like Bad Religion and Rancid and The Foo Fighters. You could probably imagine the energy in that room. There were hugs, there were tears. I got a chance to talk to Fat Mike in August. I'm warning after NOFX played Edmonton, he had just woken up and he was eating some noodle soup in his hotel room. For a girl, baby.
At that time, he and the band only had a handful of shows left ever. I asked him how that felt. Well, clearly it's bittersweet, but mostly I just can't wait to get it over with. Really? Yeah, I... Well, it's one of the reasons I don't want to do this anymore is because I don't want to do this anymore. I am having a really good time at these last shows, I'm having a better time than I've had in so many years.
But in Edmonton, our second show in Edmonton, I went out to the crowd and shook people's hand as a hug people. Everyone was crying and I was crying. And I really feel like NOFX over the years has consistently given 60 to 70% effort on stage. And these days, this last show we're really giving it our 100%. We've been practiced. Wow. Yeah, it's unbelievable. And I don't take as many drawings to drink as much on stage. So that's good. And what happened at a really, really good time?
It's very special. Yeah, but when was the moment that you realized like, okay, I'm not enjoying this anymore. Maybe we should hang it up. It was several years ago. Not what I wanted to hang it up, but I got you a point where I just have to get loaded to play a show. And it's funny because the other day I did the first night in Edmonton, I played completely sober. And it's just, it's not that I can't do it. It's just, it's kind of boring. Oh, no, I hate to hear that.
I didn't know if you were going to say that you had to get loaded because it was physically difficult or emotionally difficult, but it's just to entertain yourself. Well, yeah, because on this last tour, we're doing a close to two hours set. And I was having a good time and after 45 minutes, I'm like, gosh, I have to play so many more songs. That I've been playing for 40 years. It's just hard. And I don't want to do that. I don't want to be bored in front of all these amazing fans.
I want to have, I want to be having a better time than there happens. Yeah. So, so our second show, it was fun as it was awesome. I read the ad to convince your bandmates that it was sort of the right choice to hang things up. How did you, how did you convince them? I don't think I did. Oh, you just said this what we're doing and they have to accept it. Well, I mean, I made a really good point and that's. No one's really done this before for real.
And after the first, the first last show was in Barcelona over over a year ago. And after the show have a have faith started crying and he never cries. And he hadn't been said you were right. We've never had crowds to speak before. People, they really appreciate us now more than they ever have, I think. Why do you think that is? Well, because when your band that comes back here for a year or two, people just take you for granted. Yeah. And oh, we'll just, I'm not going to see no fix this year.
I'll see you next year that, you know, they're always going to be around. And now, you know, in Edmonton, we had 8,000 people the first night and 5,000 the second night. And those are, you know, ways to draw like maybe 2,000 people in Edmonton. Yeah. So we're actually making enough money to where we'll be, we'll be set for a while. Oh, yeah. I kind of wanted to ask about that because like for you, you've got other revenue streams, you've got your record label, you have other initiatives.
But for your bandmates, I would think that it's telling them that you're done touring also comes with saying like, okay, guys, this is, that's it. Is that a tough conversation to have? Yeah, but that's, that's how I felt for years. And that's why I didn't call it off. Like you felt responsible financially for them? Absolutely. Absolutely financially responsible. But when I came up with this idea of, let's do this last tour with this promoter Cameron Collins who owns BrewHop Productions.
We play parks and campgrounds and parking lots. We're not playing shows with live nation or AG. It's just, it's so much more lucrative because we have the bar and we have to take it sales and we have no one's taking any of our merch. So what I thought about that and also we charge people a lot of money to stand on stage with us. You really? Yeah, and we have, but we have a PA on stage. It sounds really good and everyone just gets to hang with us.
So we're doing all these things and the crowds are really big so that we're finally making good money. And once I figured that out, then I told the band, hey, guys, if we do this, it's going to be really lucrative. And then they, they said, well, they said, okay, they can't be saying not okay. But everyone's morale on this tour has been really good because the shows are really special. I wanted to go back for a bit like to the early 80s, you start no effects in 1983 and in Los Angeles.
How far into the future were you looking at that time in terms of your dreams for the band? I'm thinking a summer of 84. In 85, I went to college, which is San Francisco State. And I was there for five years. So no effects that only play during the summer for all those years. Not only was it not a future for us because we were not a good band, but there wasn't a future for punk rock. It was really no way to make a living at punk rock until the early 90s.
And when there was suddenly like a way to make a living from punk rock, there were bands that did it. There were bands that were being offered, you know, major label deals, the whole thing. And you made that decision from the start that you would do things on your own terms in your own way. What was the heart of that decision for you? Well, for a few months, I just didn't know what to do. When Green Day and Offspring and Rances all got really big, we had offers.
And I met with one company and it was so just tasteful how they played off my insecurities. And I'm really going to miss the boat. And you don't go to major if you want to be second fiddle to Rances and Offspring your whole career. And I was like, I hate you people. Why would I want to be a product on your label? And I convinced the band we should do it this way. I just thought it was a smart move. What I asked them is, is everyone in this band happy?
And went like, yeah, you all own houses, right? Yes, we all own houses and we're happy. And I said, there's no more than happy. There's no, there's nothing called ultra happy. There's just being happy and happy in life. And if we get bigger and some of our records were not going to be happier, we're just going to have more. And I thought if we just do it ourselves, it's not going to be big Amazon flows. We're not going to have a hit song and then no hit song for four years.
We're just going to do what we do and we're going to have a great time doing it. And yes, probably the best decision of my life. And they're best decisions by letting me manipulate them. The decision. I mean, manipulation is fine if it's for the greater good. Well, I guess hi, like in hindsight, it's like, yeah, it did work out for you. So that was definitely for the greater good because you guys have had such amazing success and you've also stuck together much longer than a lot of bands.
Yeah, with the original members. My plan worked out perfectly. And you knew it all along and you sure. You've survived a lot together for sure, like several near death experiences and drug addiction and loss. And you documented a lot of that in a documentary or TV series and a memoir. Do you have any take on on why you guys have made it when so many other people in your orbit or who have faced similar challenges? Have it. Well, I think that everyone in my band are really cool guys.
We've just always got along and when it should happen, you just deal with it. And no one like no one complains. Because you know, when bad things happen to you, you can either get bummed out or think, oh, well, that's an interesting lesson I've just learned. My fiancee, she always tells me nothing bad is happening to you. Things are happening for you. You just have to figure out how you can use this for your benefit. And I was, I really think that way.
Oh, that sucks. I wonder how I can turn this around. The first thing you think is that was a lesson. I'm never going to hang out with that person again. Or maybe I shouldn't skateboard over that bridge naked. You know, I don't know. Classic lesson. I mean, who am I not learning that lesson the hard way? Like we have a game we play called the game. This is basically the game.
If you have something in your hand, like a beer or sandwich, somebody else can come and knock it out of your hand onto the ground. How you win the game is by not caring. You just go, that was that. I guess I have to get a new sandwich. Wow. And now if you do get upset, then you just lost the game. I should say for people listening that you are eating a bowl of noodle soup right now. And you're on zoom. And my God, I wish I could just slap it right out of your hand and see if you win.
Oh, but this is years of training. And we've been doing this since the 80s. And it's really, could there be a better metaphor for life? I mean, it is, it is its own philosophical world, I guess, like the zen of the game. Yeah, it is, it is pretty magnificent. What's the Burger King, you know, in the 90s, smelly with stoked because he got in line first and he got his whole meal. And someone just knocked his whole meal, the whole tray out of the floor.
And he didn't say anything. He just got to the back of the line. Okay. He lost his burger. He won the game. And his soda and his fries. Oh, man. But that really gives you an interesting life philosophy. And that's why we don't get an argument because if someone starts freaking out about something, everyone looks at him like, what is wrong with you, dude? Yeah, the plane is late and we're going to miss our show. Go over here. We got some, there's a salad bar. Get over it.
I'm going to ask you some, some look back questions, some, some kind of rapid fire look back questions. Are you ready? Yeah, but I'm not going to answer fast. That's fine. Okay. Best, best no effects album. Decline is in a full record, but it's probably our best work. Decline is the one that is, that's like 18 minute masterpiece of a song that like, I don't really understand how your drummer can drum that hard for that long in that song. That's like, it makes me crazy.
Especially when he's on heroin. Yeah. Oh, geez. Which you're not joking about. Well, no, he's back in the day. Okay, worst, worst no effects album. Well, we were one of the worst punk bands ever when we started. So our first seven inches is our worst album. And we are the most improved band as well though. Nice. That counts for something. I would say heavy petting zoo is our worst modern album. My producer who's a super fan, by the way, just wrote to me on our little teleprompter.
Whoa. Okay. Well, I don't know what, what he means by that. Maybe he likes that record. I think so. He likes it. He says, I like it. Well, he probably likes, I don't know, good Charlotte too. A yellow card. I can't, I don't want to be in the middle of this anymore. Okay. Okay. What's your, what's your biggest regret when it comes to the band? Yeah, I don't, I don't have one. Nice. I don't like our name very much. Oh, really? Yeah. Why? Perfectly fine name.
You have to explain it to people who haven't heard of your band. No effects, no offense, no effects. How do you spell that? Oh my god. Why couldn't we have thought of suicidal tendencies or the circle jerks? You know, bands with classic names, dead candidates. Wow. Here in the middle of my conversation with Fat Mike, lead singer, songwriter, and bassist for the punk band, no effects, even though he's not thrilled with the name. The band has seen its share of controversy over the years.
Mike has been at the center of a lot of it. As you heard, he's been open and honest about his drug use. He's also known for his off-the-cuff moments on stage, which makes some people laugh and other people cringe or demand apologies. In recent years, he's taken some heat for making a tasteless joke on stage in Vegas about mass shootings. And a derogatory comment he made a number of years ago about Paramore singer, Haley Williams. I wanted to know why he says stuff like that.
Here's more of my conversation with Fat Mike. This is something I want to ask you about as you're sort of looking back over a career. Like, one of the things that people know about your band is that the onstage band or can get pretty provocative at times. And you've definitely said some things that have made some people feel mad or that have hurt feelings or that you've had to apologize for.
And I'm wondering, like, it's interesting to me because I think that you're clearly such a smart guy and you know that you're being provocative when you're saying stuff. I would assume. So what drives that? Like, what makes you want to say something that might rub somebody the wrong way on stage? When I was growing up, I feel punk rock was. I mean, and it still is to us. Singing lyrics that are offensive that make people think about life differently. And are funny too.
That they're entertaining that we're not spoon feeding people. Lyrics or banter. You know, our banter is always different every night completely. And whatever we find funny, we're going to say we don't say things that aren't politically correct. We're saying we're not trying to make any kind of group of people feel bad. But we will pick on certain people. And, you know, we're going to take a piss at a stuff. You know, I'll talk shit about religions because they're so silly.
And it's not my problem if they are offended by it. Is there anything you regret saying? It's probably 100 things I regret saying. But so what? You know, I didn't say I haven't said anything with in bad faith. You know, I didn't do anything to make someone feel bad. It's all to get laughs. And, you know, comedians, yeah, they say stuff that offends people. Because if there's no butter, the joke does really not a joke.
I think like when I think about some of the stuff that you said about your upbringing and about like feeling like you were looking for love or feeling like you didn't have a family that you could count on. I think that kind of makes people go one of two ways like they either become really people pleasing and agreeable and go over the top and in seeking love or maybe do what you're saying now, which is look to like take control of even doing things that might make them quote unquote, unlikeable.
You know what I mean? Well, no, my, my desperate need for validation for people to like me. It's crazy. It's not, it's not like it used to me. That may sound like a melody or a disorder, but it really has made me into a better songwriter. And, you know, I can't do anything half ass. I have to do everything full ass. And yeah, I wanted people to think decline was the best punk song ever written. I spent six months on it because I want people to like me and like what I do. Our drummer smelly.
He doesn't have that at all. You know, he never give a fuck. He's like, my what do you care so much about people think about you? What bad record review and all that stuff? I hate, I hate a bad record review. I can't even have, I can't even look at him. I'm very sensitive. Yeah. Anyway, that's how I dealt with it. And my, my fiance, she's a therapist, but she's kind of like my life shaman.
I've been getting away from that. Like I don't, I don't have to go out to every show and talk to everybody and be funny. I can just stay home and enjoy myself. From 2000, that is No FX and Bottles to the Ground. More of my conversation with Fat Mike from No FX after this. Oh, hey there. I'm Lewis Fertel. And I'm Iron Madison III as two gay men living in two very gay cities were contractually obligated to be experts on pop culture. Yes, I had to name five Kylin Monoghtracks just to get a lease.
Every week on our show, keep it. We scrutinize each new pop culture headline with the intensity of Zendaya watching a tennis match. GC celebrity gossip, check. Otis reviews of new music releases come at us with these. Make it a brat summer with new episodes of Keep It Every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Taliya Schlanger sitting in for Tom Power here on Q. Earlier, you heard the first part of my conversation with Fat Mike. He's the lead singer of the punk band No FX.
After 40 years together, the band played their final shows ever last month. Mike and I spoke a few months before that in August in the summer. And we talked about how Mike thought he was going to feel when it was finally all over. And what song would be No FX's last song? Here's the rest of my conversation with Fat Mike. Are you kind of preparing yourself for what happens after these shows? Like if you're so much of your sense of self, I think is probably bound up in this band as it would be.
And you know what you're what you're saying now, are you sort of getting getting ready to find that elsewhere? Sorta, I'm going into something that no one will expect. It's nothing musical or no, it's not in an entertainment. And it'll probably be the probably be the most important thing I'll ever do. But what is it? What is it? I would need to go into it maybe maybe later, but when COVID happened, I didn't miss it at all. I really enjoyed being in the studio and doing other things.
And I can't wait for this to be over. I think that what I'm so proud of is the No FX body of work as a whole. And what I love about it is that it's over. You know, this is what we did. Have you thought about what the last song is you're going to play at the last show? Yeah. What is it? Well, we always played decline last. But the song before that is a song that I wrote. I'm still finishing it, but it's going to be a song that we only play once. And never record it.
Can you tell me what it's about or anything about it or is it just have to be a surprise for the title? Well, the title isn't catchy or smart. It's just we did it our way. And it's going to be real to your jerker. I'm seriously getting to you out right now. Yeah, I don't know how I'm going to get through the last show. You know, other bands that do their last their final tours. They can get through it. Because none of them really mean it. And I mean it.
I'm never going to play show to this band again. When you say mean it, like we're near the end of our time together. But I guess I just have to ask you about that choice of words, mean it. Because that is... I think that's the only thing that matters in good art. And you're saying it right now, I think, in the context of, I mean it in that. I mean this is the end for the band. We're not going to do any more. But I think the idea of going out on stage and meaning it.
Or when an actor really nails a part, it's because they mean it. And I think that's the way that you have approached your craft. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. I mean this band is an extension of me. I write all the lyrics, I write all the songs. Everyone knows the trauma of my life and my philosophy and how I do a society. So I can't say this is our last tour. And then come back. In five years, because it makes everything I've said, attainted. And you said exactly right. This is perfect.
It's a perfect way to end. Just a spectacular career. And I'm not going to screw that up by lying to our fans. We're done. And I'm going to say, we're done. We're going to leave it there. Congratulations. And I hope you get to feel everything in that last show. Thank you so much. Thanks for the interview. That's it. That was my conversation with Fat Mike from NoFX. We talked while the band was on its farewell tour. And they played their final show in October. That's it for this conversation.
But there is another one in your podcast feed. It's my chat with Logan Stotz musician, who's really having a huge moment right now. And we're lucky to have caught a quick 10 minutes with him to find out what it was like to play alongside Eric Clapton and Taj Mahal and Alison Russell. Recently at a Robbie Roberts interview in LA and to take part in the very first Reverie Indigenous Music Residency at CEC, Logan Stotz talks about what it means to him to walk the red road.
His answer is so beautiful about what that means. You can check that out in your podcast feed. I'm Taliish Langer sitting in for Tom Power. I'll see you next time. For more CBC podcasts, go to cbc.ca slash podcasts.