The Malachi Crunch
by NOFX

Album: Ribbed (1991)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Most NOFX songs are goofy fun, but this one has a serious and somber backstory. After a show in Minneapolis with the band D.O.A., NOFX members Steve Kidwiler and Eric Melvin met a fan backstage and invited him to a party at the house where they were staying. They later learned that the kid showed up at the party and got into an altercation with some skinheads, who beat him to death. The story barely made a ripple in the news cycle, but NOFX wanted to memorialize him in some way, so they did so with this song, which addresses his attackers.
  • The title doesn't show up in the lyrics. It comes from a 1976 episode of Happy Days where Fonzie enters a demolition derby. Also competing are the Malachi brothers, whose signature move is the Malachi Crunch, where they hit their victim from both sides. They have Fonzie lined up for the maneuver, but he's able to quickly restart his vehicle and pull forward, leaving the Malachis to crash into each other.

    In the context of the song, the Malachi Crunch could represent an underhanded attack on a defenseless opponent.
  • This is the last song on Ribbed, the third NOFX album. The band was still way under the radar to anyone outside the California punk rock community, but they were on the rise. On their next album, Steve Kidwiler left and was replaced by El Hefe. This was the last lineup change for the band, which rode the punk wave of the mid-'90s to become a top attraction on the Warped Tour and one of the top independent acts in music.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Philip Cody

Philip CodySongwriter Interviews

A talented lyricist, Philip helped revive Neil Sedaka's career with the words to "Laughter In The Rain" and "Bad Blood."

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.