What's On Your Rider?

TONY CLAYTON-LEA talks to Mike Burkett of NOFX

TONY CLAYTON-LEAtalks to Mike Burkett of NOFX


What's on your rider?Standard stuff: Stoli, Jameson's, Stella, Patron, and the deli tray.

What would be on your fantasy rider?Valium, cocaine, ecstasy, hydrocodone, and Jameson.

What's your pre-gig routine?We always go to dinner three hours before the show, have a few drinks, then we drink all the stuff that's on the rider. Punk bands don't stretch or hug each other.

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How do you get to the gig?If our hotel is close we all walk. We're not rock stars and people generally don't treat us as such. Our fans sometimes say hello or ask for a picture, but only a few ever freak out on us.

What's the best gig you've been to?Best gig was Crucifix at the Cathay de Grande in 1983. There was a lot of public sex going on in the LA punk scene back then.

And the worst?The worst was a NOFX show in 1988 in Germany. We were playing a squat and some of the squatters didn't like our brand of funny California punk so they turned the PA off during our second song. Then they started throwing bottles at us.

Ecologically speaking, are you closer to Radiohead or Motörhead?I will answer the question – not that one, but rather the one I wish I was asked which is: who would you rather party with – Radiohead or Motörhead? Duh, Lemmy.

Who is the most famous person to have shown up at one of your gigs?Well, the most famous are rockstars like Dave Grohl or Gwen Stefani, but they don't count because we've known them forever. As far as famous people who are not in the music industry, I would say Quentin Tarantino and Drew Barrymore (she is awesome).

Most embarrassing on-stage moment?I really don't get embarrassed by anything. What the hell could embarrass me?

What's your crowd-pleasing number?I don't know but I do know the song they all dislike. It's called F**k the Kids.

Chatting between songs – good or bad?Great if you can come up with something new and interesting to say. Most bands just use a script, which is repulsive.

Any useful stage tips?Never say anything, or do anything that you think the audience will like. Do everything for yourself.


NOFX play the Olympia, Dublin on Saturday