Ep. 159: Fat Mike discusses NOFX's "The Decline" (Part 1)
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- #nofx #fatwreckchords #fatmike #musicpodcast #lessthanjake #chrisdemakesapodcast
In 1999, NOFX released "The Decline", an 18 minute punk rock opus that many consider to be the band's most ambitious and impressive feat. This is Part 1 of a conversation with vocalist and bassist Fat Mike about everything from the song's origins to the lyrical content.
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Just saw The Decline played live for the first and last time in Detroit last Wed and i wept like a baby after waiting 20 yrs to see it!
I was there!
The second section, as you've broken it apart, is where the goosebumps begin. Man... I've heard this song hundreds of times but it still has such a huge impact on me. Every time I hear this song I think to myself "this has got to be the best song ever written. what could possibly be better than this"
My friend told me about a NOFX show he attended back in the early 2000’s where the crowd kept chanting “DECLINE DEClNE DECLINE” in between all of the songs and were overall being kinda shitty and disrespectful to the band, so for an encore, they came out and started to play The Decline. Everyone went wild… then they stopped a minute into the song, flipped everyone off and left the stage.
Then they came back out and did it again 😂
Legends.
So they didn’t play it twice?
@@danevertt3210 yah. Or rather, they played the intro twice.
@@phuctifyno1 Hahaha gotcha
is there a video about this?
a true masterpiece. i may not always agree with Mikes position on politics & religion, but i truly admire his aim and talent.
i believe he’s poetic & philosophical. his words always encourage us to think for ourselves, something we often lack these days.
this song is an anthem for the future of America. no matter what you believe, this song is sure to take you on a deep dive into your own position of what you’re willing to conform to & what you’re willing to give up.
thanks for the interview guys🖤
Incredible song by an incredible band and Chris does it justice with his synopsis and interview, bravo!
This was fucking amazing. Fat mike, you are guys are the soundtrack to so many peoples lives. Much love and thanks for all the shoes. Cannot wait to see you guys one last time when you come to Canada in August.
Such a classic
Fat Mike we are surely gonna miss you and the band dude! Fantastic bass player, the best in the biz. I’m gonna try to see you guysl live for the first time, and I guess the last time at the final show. Well done dude! “So long, and thanks for all the shoes!”
The first time I saw Mike play "The Decline" was on March 3 2006 at the Palladium in Massachusetts. Second song of the set. Great show, Mike got carried off the stage at the end of the show. he was so messed up, and falling over. Just saw them both days in Brockton Final Shows Aug31/Sept 1 2024, and "The Decline" is an absolute masterpiece.
I remember visiting home one day and learning this song on bass, my mom randomly called me from upstairs to ask if I was ok lol
Haha I imagine the "DADENENENENEdeneneneneneDENENENENEDADUHDAHDUHDAH" sounds spastic
Fat Mike was one of the most influential musicians in my teens.
I didn't realize how much he (and Greg from Bad Religion) influenced my politics until my late 30s.
This song really deserved this analysis. Will be in my heart forever
I have mix feelings about podcasts but I have to say this is my favorite one to listen because I can do it while working, driving or whatever and I still can pay attention and understand everything... My attention span is too fucking short so that's why I'm saying
The deep dive we've needed! Thanks guys.
Man, I cannot wait until that lyric book is released!! I’ve always loved reading the NOFX cd booklets.
I remember when this EP came out! My virtuoso guitar player ex-boyfriend, he picked me up, we got some weed, went to the abandoned mental asylum that was a local hang out for stoners and misfits alike in my town 🤷♀️💯🗽 his words, omg! You have to hear the new NOFX album, "it's one song -but it's more than one song!..." 😂 I was so confused but when I heard it, I knew my life was never going to be the same. I still enjoy that song, EP technically on a regular and often basis! Thank you so much for this ✌️💯👩❤️👨 can't wait to see you guys when you come to NYC, IDK if I can make it to all shows but me and my husband will be front Row center! ☺️🏳️🌈🤘💯🗽🙋♀️🙏
Nofx broke up btw, they’re done playing
@@crk140 no one more tour I thought 😬🤷♀️
@@p0ison_0ak33no they’re done
@@crk140 No they’re not. They’re coming to NYC July 12, 13 and 14. Brooklyn Paramount. Tickets for sale now!
@@driehoogachter5729you are right
Nice work, Chris. You just got a new subscriber that will be sharing this.
I respect both you more now.
Saw them play the decline live twice once last night (it was mind blowing) and once many years ago...nothing compares to hearing it live
I hope he keeps putting records out
When I asked Fat Mike in 2003 about what it was like making The Decline he said 'it was a nightmare. Do you know where to find anyone ecstasy?' Then some dude asked him for an autograph and Melvin who was there said 'Dude, we're trying to watch the band.' I shut up after that and sat and watched some viking band with half of NOFX. Was a good Warped Tour.
Way cool! Great listen that went by way to fast. Thanks Mike and Chris
What happened to ever playing Eddie, Bruce and Paul Live!!! Agreed, such a great song! Great conversation about our favorite NOFX song The Decline with Fat Mike. Such great playing from all four on this epic track!!! When Logic is as threat...
So killer
This is so awesome! Thank you Mike and Chris!
37:30 cool insight to this bit
I loved this episode and super happy I got to learn more (I have had my own interpretation of the song for years and so glad some of those interpretations have been put to bed)
I also loved the mention of Texas hardcore band The Offenders, I now have new music to go hunting for!
Thanks for this amazing breakdown of this iconic song.
much love from TX!
Is The decline the best punk rock album ever or the best punk rock song ever?
Yes
I always noticed on my car CD player it showed the time of song while playing, and the drug part starts at exactly 4:20, never knew if that’s an amazing coincidence or even more amazing planning by Mike.
Ya mean that "one more pill to kill the pain" part?
Right when he says “Jerry spent some time in Michigan”
@@mfrost228had to be intentional, 4:20 and he starts a verse about having a “dime” and the disparity of punishment in the same country.
This was amazing I’m looking forward to Mikes book. I was just watching a video about how pretentious Fat Mike is… maybe, but he wrote the fucking Decline!
That's interest on the Serotonin section, I never thought about it relating to cops killing protesters. To me and many others it seemed to more fit suicide and being hounded by debt collectors calling you many times a day, and even filling you're answering machine with message after you are dead. Though, with the original intent, the lyrics "Ten thousand voices, a hundred guns" makes more sense.
Question: Why this backstory came out 24 years after the song was released? Why we had to wait for so long?
probably because NOFX will be done soon (July 2024). in the future there will be a lot of reminiscing about thier career once it’s finally over. this is just one of the first juicey bits i think.
They played the decline in sydney 2006 at luna park so at least that old.
I remember when I realized this was not an album
Was it when you looked at the CD cover??
People wanna talk Adam Neely and all that stuff, but Fat Mike? People have been sleeping for decades.
We had computers and "voice memos" in 1999 wtf
He’s referring to being able to record voice memos on your phone at any time I believe. I think the computer thing was an oversimplified take on not having the same kind of digital recording technology.
Nirvana bitched about Pro Tools, calling it "slow tools" back in the early 90's.
What does that comment mean?? We totally had computers in ‘99
It's not super important to the point being made in the podcast. but just for the sake of accuracy, Pro Tools has been around since 1991 and was in pretty widespread use by around '93-'94.
Let’s not forget who wrote that hard 1990’s drug crime bill….. I’ll remind you. Joe Biden
Mike is the new jello 😐😬
And jello is the new cake
@@danevertt3210 2011 was the latest cake but ok I can understand that.
I think he’s wrong about the year of the first time they played it live. I saw them play it at the Glass House and it was definitely before 2006
I agree…….i saw them in Toronto one year, and nubs was on stage. I was on stage too.
The next year or two years later, they played decline…..
All of this was definitely before 2006
Mike comes off rather insecure when he gets into the political nature of the lyrics.. like he's hoping Chris will join in on bashing
Felt like it was so hard for Mike to get a word in. Chris, chill out, let the person you're talking to speak a little.
45:52 I love Fat Mike, but this is such a stupid, arrogant, elitist take (and it becomes kind of funny when immediately after that he confuses the Soviet Union with Russia)
I would not take Mike's approach so seriously, but also had this thought: 'Don't go there Mike. You want smarter choices? Educate more and better. But don't take away voting rights from people. It's the first step to authoritarian state'. I think Mike knows this, but his point is that morons should not vote as a principal.
@@MrAlexsaint Right, two things can be true. Morons who vote make things worse, and you can't just take away the vote from morons. So what's left? Surely we must educate better and have less morons?
Free Palestine 🇵🇸
Nah, they're worth at least tree fiddy.
Joking, you cannot price a single life.
Sorry that I made that dumb joke. Bongs not bombs.
Fuck, I did it again. 🤦😊
Palestine isn't a real place bro, it's nothin more than the Roman name for land that was stolen from indigenous Israelites, and people who call themselves pALeStiNiAnS are Arab colonizers
@@Gus_tha_Snailfood not bombs, bongs not bombs
The way that punk music totally embraces and cheers for big government authoritarianism is so baffling to me.
You've got a wild imagination 😂
Thats your take after all of this....dude wtf?
I mean... the song is literally complaining about people's right to self defense... If you want the government to disarm people, you are a big government authoritarian. Period.
Ohhhhh Okay, you took something personal rather than encompassing the whole song as a social political commentary and commented on the the line you didn't like, expecting everyone to know wtf you are talking about.
@@toy_souljars3938 I didn't take anything personal. Punk has a long history of being leftwing bootlickers. It's just become comedic in the last 20 years or so. Not sure why you seem to be surprised by this unless you simply never listen to punk. You have people like Jello Biafra filming himself getting COVID jabs for the state to use as propaganda, you have bands like The Offspring firing their drummer because he wouldn't comply with jab mandates, you have Rage Against The Machine performing fundraisers for the DNC. It's all just a terrible joke at this point.
31:05 best part
Man I was living in Germany with my parents and I saw this CD at Mom's music on Ramstein Air Base and bought it! I think it was only like $8 or something. I was like "WTF is this weird clear CD? Must be a short album!" When I listened to it on my portable CD player, was l blown away with the lyrics, harmonies, and melodies, it gave me goosebumps! That album was the soundtrack of those years when I was younger and angstier and skatier. Now I'm almost 40 and listening to Mike break down all the parts, this is very cool. Thank you!
I just looked up the definition of “magnum opus” last week, I don’t remember seeing something that said anything about extremely large volumes works in the definition
San Fransisco? You mean Los Angeles right? Or is there something I don't know?