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

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Jimmy Jam

Jimmy JamSongwriter Interviews

The powerhouse producer behind Janet Jackson's hits talks about his Boyz II Men ballads and regrouping The Time.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.