NOFX: Success Is A Drag

Legendary punks NOFX are known for pushing boundaries.

Their cutting edge documentary NOFX: Backstage Passport shocked TV viewers with their global escapades in debauchery on tour when it aired on Fuse in 2008. Earlier this year, singer Fat Mike’s alter ego Cokie The Clown got banned from Emo’s in Austin, Texas when he served what appeared to be urine-infused tequila to an audience of unsuspecting fans (it later proved to be an elaborate hoax). Now for the band’s latest exploit: NOFX dressed in full drag for their New Year’s Heave party at the Wiltern.

“It wasn’t so out of the ordinary for any of us,” NOFX guitarist Eric Melvin explains rather nonchalantly, ”I dress like that a lot at home when no one but my cat is around. Also, I have pictures on my iPhone of Fat Mike in those same [go-go] boots and nothing else. Is that weird? No.”

“Those chicks look sketchy, are they suppose to be back here?” Host MC Joe Sib of Complete Control Radio thought to himself as he spotted the hotties running around backstage, “Turns out, it was Fat Mike!”

The band’s dressing room was all abuzz as hangers-on and opening bands drank all the beer (gee, thanks, Youth Brigade!) while NOFX were applying make-up, putting on fishnets and graciously greeting guests.

“First I laughed,” Melvin said as he caught a glimpse of himself in full drag 3 minutes before showtime, “Then I said: ‘If that’s not hot, then I don’t know what is.’ So I’m right either way.” Melvin’s favorite fashion addition for the night was his comedically tiny top hat adorned with sequins, “Although it didn’t stay on for more than a few songs.”

Sib wasn’t too surprised to see Fat Mike in drag, “I always have thought of him as a woman so I already had a ‘mental picture’ in my mind.” TMI, Sib, but thanks for sharing!

Hands down, Sib thought drummer Erik Sandin looked the sexiest. Must’ve been those hip-hugger panties.

“I know that in his good old days of living on the streets in San Francisco, Smelly was known by many as Smelinda or Smelantha,” concurs Melvin, “Maybe it was Smelonda, I can’t remember exactly.” Either way the end result is the same: drummer Erik Sandin looks good in sequin skirts.

Youth Brigade/Old Man Markley bassist Joey Balls picked NOFX guitarist Eric Melvin as the sexiest man in drag that night, “Definitely Melvin. He looked uncomfortable and vulnerable, yet he had a magnetism. Fat Mike looked like my sister, I was bummed.”

Not half as bummed as those in the crowd armed with contraband confetti and silly string who were eagerly awaiting a midnight countdown to ring in the new year. Unfortunately, no one alerted the time-telling challenged rock band.

“What can I say, we’re a bunch of uncoordinated idiots,” admits Melvin, ”It’s the secret to our success.”

Fortunately, Joey Balls will have plenty of time to erase the image of Fat Mike as his sister from his mind when his band Old Man Markley goes on tour with NOFX beginning January 20, also supporting the Bouncing Souls and Cobra Skulls.

And Joe Sib can carry on with his ‘mental image’ over the radiowaves. Joe Sib can be heard once a week on his syndicated radio show Complete Control Radio. Check times here: http://www.completecontrolradio.com/pages/index.php

Joe will also be performing his one man show California Calling in Austin, Texas on January 19 at Cap City and on January 27 at The Punchline in San Francisco.

Check for tickets here.

NOFX with Bouncing Souls, Cobra Skulls and Old Man Markley tour dates here:

01/20/11 House of Blues- Dallas, TX

01/21/11 Backstage Live- San Antonio, TX

01/22/11 House of Blues- Houston, TX

01/24/11 House of Blues- New Orleans, LA

01/25/11 Mavericks- Jacksonville, FL

01/27/11 House of Blues- Orlando, FL

01/28/11 Revolution- Ft. Lauderdale, FL

01/29/11 8 Seconds Nightclub- Gainesville, FL

01/31/11 House of Blues- Myrtle Beach, SC

02/01/11 Masquarade- Atlanta, GA