Stickin' In My Eye
by NOFX

Album: White Trash, Two Heebs and A Bean (1992)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • When Songfacts asked NOFX frontman Fat Mike about this song, he explained: "There was a Germs song called 'Caught In My Eye,' but 'Stickin' In My Eye' was more like watching the news and you just keep looking at it."
  • The song is part of the fourth NOFX album, White Trash, Two Heebs And A Bean, released as punk rock was just starting to encroach into the mainstream, thanks to Nirvana's Nevermind album.

    Nirvana's impact on NOFX ran even deeper: Fat Mike was very impressed with Kurt Cobain's lyrics and started to write more poetically and with more depth. He says "Stickin' In My Eye" is one of the first songs that had this flavor - earlier NOFX songs tended to be more obvious and sometimes puerile.
  • The band made a video for this song using performance footage and shots of their fans. MTV didn't play it, but it ended up on some video compilations. When punk got popular in 1994, NOFX made a video for their song "Leave It Alone" but didn't give it to MTV.
  • This is one of NOFX' most popular live songs, played at most of their concerts.
  • The song found an audience not just among punk rockers, but also with skateboarders and bikers, who sometimes used it in videos. The skaters and bikers helped NOFX keep the lights on early in their career when their albums were selling in the four figures, not six. When the Warped Tour started, many of these folks came out to see NOFX play on the bill.
  • The band's most memorable performance of "Stickin' In My Eye" came when they played the Bizarre Festival in Germany on July 10, 1993. It was their first big festival appearance, and the song was their set opener. Also on the bill was Hole, whose frontwoman, Courtney Love, used to date NOFX drummer Erik "Smelly" Sandin.

    "As I was about to bring my sticks down onto the crash cymbals and officially mark the biggest moment of our career, someone started whacking me in the head," Smelly wrote in NOFX: The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories. "It f--ked up my timing and trainwrecked the song. I turned to discover Courtney, spazzing out on my drum riser, excited to see her old friend."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Charlie Daniels

Charlie DanielsSongwriter Interviews

Charlie discusses the songs that made him a Southern Rock icon, and settles the Devil vs. Johnny argument once and for all.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."