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( The Offspring)
The Offspring (sometimes referred to as simply "Offspring") are a popular and influential[8] American punk rock band from Garden Grove, California formed in 1984. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Dexter Holland (lead vocals, guitar), Noodles (lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals) and Greg K. (bass, backing vocals). Their current drummer is Pete Parada, formerly of Face to Face and Saves the Day, who has been with the band since 2007. Since the release of their 1994 album Smash, which is the best-selling independent label album of all time,[9] The Offspring have achieved commercial success over five albums, with singles such as "Come Out and Play", and "Self Esteem". The band's next three albums, Ixnay on the Hombre, Americana and Conspiracy of One, were also successful, reaching platinum certification and gold status respectively.[10][11] Longtime drummer Ron Welty left The Offspring in early 2003, and was replaced by Atom Willard. Later that year, the band released their next album, Splinter, to moderate sales and fairly warm reviews. In 2005, The Offspring released a greatest hits album and toured in support of the compilation. Their next album, titled Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, will be released on June 16, 2008 in Europe and a day later in the United States.[12] To date, The Offspring have released seven studio albums, one compilation, three EPs and three DVD's[13], selling over 34 million albums worldwide[9], making them one of the best-selling punk acts of all time.[14] The band is credited, along with fellow California punk bands Green Day and Rancid, with reviving popular interest in punk rock in the United States during the mid-1990s.[15] The band was formed in 1984 by guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland and bassist Greg K., who met on their high school cross-country team, under the name "Manic Subsidal". The decision to form a band came outside of a Social Distortion concert, when both were refused entry.[9] Doug Thompson was added for vocals,[16] and Kevin 'Noodles' Wasserman, the school janitor, was welcomed into the band, allegedly because he was old enough to purchase alcohol for Holland and Kriesel, both of whom were under the legal drinking age.[9] The band used Thompson's friend, Jim Benton, as their drummer. Thompson was eventually forced out of the band, while Benton left. This led to Holland taking over on vocals, and James Lilja joining as the drummer. The band changed their name to "The Offspring" in 1985.[16]
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