Descendents Artistfacts

1978-
Bill StevensonDrums
Frank NavettaGuitar1978-1983
Tony LombardoBass1978-1986
Milo AukermanVocals1980-
Ray CooperGuitar1982-1987
Stephen EgertonGuitar1987-
Karl AlvarezBass1987-
The Descendents were a big part of the early '80s California punk (some call it hardcore) scene that also included Black Flag and the Minutemen. They were more influential than popular, inspiring bands like Blink-182, whose frontman Tom DeLonge said, "I was trying to emulate that band. Really punchy guitars, fast, simple and formulaic nursery rhyme love songs."
They got their name because they were inspired by ("descended" from) other bands, particularly one called The Last, whose bandmember brothers Dave and Joe Nolte helped the Descendents get started and were a major influence on their sound.
Three of the members were teenagers when they released their debut album, Milo Goes To College, but the fourth, bass player Tony Lombardo, was older. He never disclosed his age, but his bandmates sussed out that he was older than they thought... by a lot.

"He was actually quite a few years older than us, I think 16 years older than us," lead singer Milo Aukerman told Songfacts. "We didn't know it until much later. We always assumed that he was more our age, maybe a few years older."
Girls tend to dig guys in bands, but that wasn't the case with the Descendents, who remained hopelessly uncool outside of punk rock circles while they were in high school. Many of their songs deal with their frustrations in that arena, including "I Wanna Be A Bear," where they put the stuck-up pretty girl wearing Jordache designer jeans on blast.
Bill Stevenson is also their producer - he's been at the helm for every album since I Don't Want to Grow Up in 1985. Stevenson has produced many other acts as well, including Rise Against, Less Than Jake and A Day to Remember.
They were into skateboarding, and their music was a big part of that scene. Their songs often showed up in skateboarding videos that circulated.
The band has taken a lot of time off over the years. Their first hiatus came just after their first album, and the reason why inspired the album title: Milo Goes To College. Milo Aukerman went to the University of California, San Diego, to get a degree in biology. He's long had a double life as a punk rocker and molecular biologist. "I have equal passion for both," he told Songfacts.
Aukerman earned his PhD in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego in 1992. He's not the only punk rocker with a PhD: Greg Graffin of Bad Religion has one in Zoology from Cornell University.
Bill Stevenson has also produced in played in Black Flag and The Lemonheads.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

More Songfacts:

CelebrationKool & the Gang

"Celebration" by Kool & the Gang has a deeper meaning - it was inspired by a verse in the Quran where angels celebrate as God creates man.

Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)Carla Thomas

Carla Thomas became the first woman to achieve a Top 10 hit on the Hot 100 with a song she wrote herself when "Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)" reached #10 in 1961. Thomas was just 16 years old when she wrote it.

Lady MarmaladeLabelle

"Lady Marmalade" is the only song to hit #1 twice in both the UK and US.

(Everything I Do) I Do It For YouBryan Adams

The Bryan Adams song "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" was almost rejected for the movie Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves because it didn't sound medieval enough.

Break FreeAriana Grande

Ariana Grande's collaboration with Zedd, "Break Free" came about after the Russian-German producer overheard Grande performing at a label showcase while he was backstage, and he mentioned to his team that he wanted to work with her.