Off! (stylized as OFF!) was an American hardcore punk supergroup, formed in Los Angeles, California in late 2009 by Circle Jerks/Black Flag singer Keith Morris, Burning Brides frontman Dimitri Coats, Redd Kross bassist Steven Shane McDonald, and Rocket From The Crypt/Hot Snakes drummer Mario Rubalcaba. In 2021, it was announced that the line-up had changed, with McDonald and Rubalcaba replaced by Autry Fulbright II and Justin Brown, respectively. The band were known for playing short, intense punk songs, with Pitchfork describing the band as "a vital blast of classic hardcore."[1]
Off! | |
|---|---|
 Left to right: Coats, Rubalcaba, Morris, and McDonald in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hardcore punk |
| Years active | 2009–2024 |
| Labels | |
| Spinoff of | Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Redd Kross, Burning Brides, Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes |
| Past members | Keith Morris Dimitri Coats Autry Fulbright II Mario Rubalcaba Steven Shane McDonald Justin Brown |
History
editThe idea to form the band came after Coats had worked as producer on a prospective Circle Jerks album which ultimately fell apart.[2] During that time, Coats and Morris had written several songs together which they used to start Off!. The group made its live debut at the 2010 South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Off!'s first Los Angeles show featured an original art installation by Raymond Pettibon at a downtown warehouse space.[3][4][5][6][7]
The first release by Off! was a 7" vinyl EP called 1st EP, which came out on October 13, 2010. That EP, along with three more EPs, were later released as a four 7" vinyl box set entitled First Four EPs on December 14, 2010. The collection contains sixteen songs, and featured artwork by Raymond Pettibon.[8]
In 2012, Off! released a full-length self-titled album. In April 2014, the band released their third album, Wasted Years.[9] Each of their albums has featured cover art by Pettibon, and each is 16 tracks long.
Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers has been one of Morris' friends for over 30 years. Morris, at one point in the '80s, filled in for Kiedis at one of the band's shows. At every date on the Red Hot Chili Peppers' I'm with You World Tour, Kiedis wore an Off! hat to promote the band. He also sported the hat in some of the band's music videos. Off! have also opened a few shows for the band. On their relationship, Morris said: “I’ve known Anthony since the beginning of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Anthony and Flea are my friends, and if I want to go out and play shows with some of my friends, I’m going to. I’ve been playing music for over 33 years, and I have some friends that are in extremely large bands. We could go out night after night and play to people who know who we are, and that’s all fan-fucking-tastic, but part of our job is to take it up a couple of notches. Those people may hate us, but maybe they’ll love us. There’s only one way to find out and that’s to do it.”[10]
In 2019, the band announced a new feature film and accompanying soundtrack album called Watermelon. The film was scheduled to start shooting in early 2020.[11] The film's Kickstarter, however, was ultimately unsuccessful, falling short of its $175,000 goal.[12]
In July 2021, after over a year without any updates, the band announced via Facebook that the film was still in production but that the band has "a new rhythm section."[12] The band at that same time released their first new song in seven years: a cover of Metallica's "Holier than Thou," which subsequently appeared on The Metallica Blacklist tribute album.[13] A music video for the song was released, and featured appearances by David Yow of The Jesus Lizard, Angelo Moore of Fishbone, cosplayer/actress Chloe Dykstra, and writer/director/comedian Derrick Beckles, among others. The new music video also revealed the new members of the band to be Autry Fulbright II (...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead) on bass and Justin Brown (Thundercat) on drums.[14] The band also announced that they are were still working on the new album, and signed with Fat Possum Records who along with their next album, also re-released their back catalog.[15]
Off! released their fourth album, Free LSD, in September 2022. The band announced in September 2023 that Mario Rubalcaba was re-joining the band as drummer. Off! later announced the following year that they would perform three farewell shows in July 2024 to promote the studio album and the theatrical release of their feature film, now also titled Free LSD.[16]
Band members
edit- Final line-up
- Keith Morris – vocals (2009–2024)
- Dimitri Coats – guitar (2009–2024)
- Autry Fulbright II – bass (2021–2024)
- Mario Rubalcaba – drums (2009–2021, 2023–2024)
- Past members
- Steven Shane McDonald – bass (2009–2021)
- Justin Brown – drums (2021–2023)
Timeline
edit
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Off! (2012)
- Wasted Years (2014)
- Free LSD (2022)
Compilation albums
edit- First Four EPs (2010)
Live albums
editSingles
edit- 1st EP (2010)[17]
- "Compared to What" (2011)
- Live at Generation Records (2011)
- Sugar Daddy Live Split Series Vol. 3 (split with the Taylor's) (2012)
- "Learn to Obey" (2014)[18]
- "War Above Los Angeles" (2022)
Compilation appearances
edit- The Music of Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
- Features the exclusive track "What's Next?"
- The Metallica Blacklist (2021)
- Features the exclusive track "Holier Than Thou"
Music videos
edit| Sept. 23, 2010 | "Upside Down" | First Four EPs |
| Sept. 27, 2010 | "Darkness" | First Four EPs |
| Oct. 7, 2010 | "Black Thoughts" | First Four EPs |
| Oct. 19, 2010 | "I Don't Belong" | First Four EPs |
| April 14, 2012 | "Wiped Out" | Off! |
| June 10, 2012 | "Cracked" | Off! |
| July 11, 2012 | "Borrow and Bomb/I Got News For You" | Off! |
| Oct. 12, 2012 | "Wrong" | Off! |
| Feb. 14, 2014 | "Void You Out" | Wasted Years |
| March 7, 2014 | "Hypnotized" | Wasted Years |
| May 5, 2014 | "Red White and Black" | Wasted Years |
| July 7, 2021 | "Holier Than Thou" | The Metallica Blacklist[14] |
| July 27, 2022 | "War Above Los Angeles" | Free LSD |
References
edit- ^ Thompson, Paul. "OFF!: First Four EPs Album Review". Pitchfork. Pitchfork Media. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ "Q&A: Keith Morris of Off! On Greg Ginn, The Black Flag Days And SST Records". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
- ^ "Official band site. Features news, tours, articles, songs, photos, official merchandise, and links". Burning Brides. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ "2010 Showcasing Bands by Day/Venue". SXSW.com. April 18, 2009. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ "Keith Morris forms OFF! supergroup, played SXSW w/ Torche, Gun Outfit, Audacity, Charlie & The Moonhearts, others (pics)". Brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved March 27, 2010.
- ^ "Interviews: Keith Morris (Off!, Black Flag, Circle Jerks)". punknews.org. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ "Off! That Outsider Feeling". laweekly.com. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
- ^ "Off! - First Four EPs (Box Set)". interpunk.com. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
- ^ Pelly, Jenn (January 15, 2014). "OFF! Announce New Album, Wasted Years". Pitchfork. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
- ^ "Off! | Summer 2013". Bigdayout.com. August 15, 2012. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved May 4, 2013.
- ^ Blais-Billie, Braudie (April 2, 2019). "OFF! Announce New Album and Film Watermelon". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Gentile, John (July 5, 2021). "OFF! working on new LP, new movie, and has new lineup". PunkNews.org. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ He, Richard S. (September 10, 2021). "Every Metallica Blacklist cover ranked from worst to best". loudersound. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ a b Gentile, John (July 7, 2021). "OFF! releases Metallica cover, reveals new lineup". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Wright, Imani WJ (July 7, 2021). "OFF! Covers Metallica's 'Holier Than Thou,' Their First New Song in Seven Years". Spin Magazine. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
- ^ Appleford, Steve (July 26, 2024). "Off!'s final act: Punk legend Keith Morris and company go out with a bang onstage and on film". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "Off! - 1st EP". Interpunk.com. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
- ^ "RSD 2014 Exclusive Off! x Obey Giant "Learn To Obey" 7" Single Vinyl Record". The Blot Says.com. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
External links
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