Check this out: the security guards at Toads Place in New Haven are so dense that all I had to do to get backstage last spring, when NOFX played their with the lunachicks and snuff was to tell one of the gorillas that I was with WRTC and that I had an interview with the band... consequently (and a bit ironically) I was actually able to get a brief interview with NOFX's drummer, Erik Ghint.

Croix: So, you guys have really pursued a lot of different styles of music over the years. Do you make a conscious effort to be eclectic, or does that just happen naturally?

Erik: Well, It's sort of been both. As you become a better musician, you can;t help but expand your horizons, but you also make an effort consciously to try new things.

Croix: What kind of shit did you listen to as a kid?

Erik: Well, I listened to a lot of small time local bands who aren't around any more. Stuff most people haven't heard of. I did like China White a lot, though.

Croix: What do you guys have planned for the summer?

Erik: I dunno, man. We might do the Warped tour. [Editor's note: They did.]

Croix: What do you think of this whole punk rock explosion of the past couple of years?

Erik: Well, this is a pretty unpopular stance, but I don't give a fuck. I think it's cool that for a change I can listen to the radio and hear good music. [Editor's note: sure.] The Offspring are good friends of mine and they're a great band. It has nothing to do with them selling out. [Of course, Epitaphs under scrutiny these days concerning that whole Cony thing, but that's another story altogether.-Croix] and if people like music their gonna buy it. It's not the band's fault if they sell records.

Croix: Well, Maximum Rock n' roll won't print Ben Weasal's articles anymore.

Erik: Those bands never changed! People just started coming around.

Croix: What about NOFX, then?

Erik: We don't want all that stuff. That's just what we choose. We don't want to be part of MTV and hear our music in shopping malls. We don't want radio play, we just want to be left alone. You know, we've sold over a million records without any help from MTV or radio stations. We really think that our music stands on its own... but with all this worrying about who sold out and who's still punk... you gotta keep in mind that there's more to life then punk rock.

Croix: Thanks a lot, man.

Erik: No problem, thanks for coming.