John William Stevenson (born September 10, 1963) is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer, main songwriter, and the only constant member of the California punk rock group

Descendents The Descendents are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson. In 1979, they enlisted Stevenson's school friend Milo Aukerman as a s ...

since its inception. In late December 1981, he played a few concerts with the

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

band Black Flag because their drummer

ROBO Robo may refer to: *robot, an electro-mechanical device that can perform autonomous or preprogrammed tasks *Automation (robo-), roboticization *Robo (musician) (born 1955), Roberto Valverde, drummer in punk bands Black Flag and The Misfits *Robo ( ...

was detained in England after a tour there. He went on to record with Black Flag on several of their albums until 1985, including the highly influential ''

My War ''My War'' is the second studio album by American band Black Flag. It was the first of three full-length albums released by the band in 1984. It polarized fans due to the LP's B-side, on which the band slowed down to a heavy, Black Sabbath-e ...

''. After this he focused his attention on Descendents and played with the band until lead singer

Milo Aukerman Milo Jay Aukerman (; born January 1, 1963) is an American vocalist, songwriter, and former research molecular biologist. Aukerman is most widely known for being the lead singer of the punk rock band the Descendents, a group widely considered to b ...

left in 1987. After Milo's departure, Bill and the other members of Descendents, Karl Alvarez and Stephen Egerton, recruited singer

Dave Smalley Dave Smalley is an American musician, best known as the lead singer for the hardcore punk bands DYS, Dag Nasty, and All and as lead singer/guitarist with Down by Law. He is known for his influence on pop punk music and his early contributio ...

Dag Nasty Dag Nasty is an American punk rockGreenwald, p. 14. " Ian Mackaye was such a huge Rites of Spring fan that he not only recorded what was to be the band's only album in 1985 and served as a roadie for them while on tour, but his own new band, ...

, moved to

Fort Collins, Colorado Fort Collins is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Larimer County, Colorado Larimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 359 ...

, and formed

All All or ALL may refer to: Language * All, an indefinite pronoun in English * All, one of the English determiners * Allar language (ISO 639-3 code) * Allative case (abbreviated ALL) Music * All (band), an American punk rock band * ''All'' (All al ...

. All went on to have two more singers, Scott Reynolds (1989–1993) and Chad Price (1993–present). Aukerman came back for the 1996 album '' Everything Sucks'', the 2004 album ''

Cool to Be You ''Cool to Be You'' is the sixth studio album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 2004 through Fat Wreck Chords. It was their first album of new studio material since 1996's '' Everything Sucks'', which had been released t ...

'', 2016's ''

Hypercaffium Spazzinate ''Hypercaffium Spazzinate'' is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released on July 29, 2016, through Epitaph Records. It is the band's first album since '' Cool to Be You'' in 2004. This was their highest-ch ...

'' and the newest album '' 9th and Walnut''. All and Descendents continue to tour between Stevenson's and Aukerman's respective careers as a recording engineer and a biochemist. Stevenson was born in

Torrance, California Torrance is a city in the Los Angeles metropolitan area located in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city is part of what is known as the South Bay (Los Angeles County), South Bay region of the m ...

and attended

Mira Costa High School Mira Costa High School (MCHS, "Costa") is a four-year public high school located in Manhattan Beach, California that first began operating in 1950. It is the only high school in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District. The school's athletic t ...

, with fellow members of the Descendents. Stevenson, along with record producer Jason Livermore are the founders of the recording studio

The Blasting Room The Blasting Room is a recording studio in Fort Collins, Colorado. Founded by members of the punk rock band All in 1994, it is owned and operated by musician Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag, All, Only Crime) and Jason Livermore. Th ...

Fort Collins A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

. Currently, Stevenson is involved in

Russ Rankin Russ Rankin (born May 25, 1968) is an American musician, best known as the singer for the punk rock bands Good Riddance and Only Crime. Career Rankin is the lead vocalist for melodic hardcore band Only Crime, Creep Division, and punk rock ...

side project In popular music, a side project is a project undertaken by one or more people already known for their involvement in another band. It can also be an artist or a band temporarily switching to a different style. Usually these projects emphasize ...

Only Crime Only Crime is an American melodic hardcore group formed by Good Riddance singer Russ Rankin and Bane guitarist Aaron Dalbec in 2003. The band plays melodic but hard-hitting punk rock that borrows heavily from early-1980s hardcore bands such as ...

with former members of

GWAR Gwar, often stylized as GWAR, is an American heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984, composed of and operated by a frequently rotating line-up of musicians, artists and filmmakers collectively known as Slave Pit Inc. After th ...

and

Converge Converge may refer to: * Converge (band), American hardcore punk band * Converge (Baptist denomination), American national evangelical Baptist body * Limit (mathematics) * Converge ICT, internet service provider in the Philippines *CONVERGE CFD s ...

. In 2005, he became a member of instrumental group The Mag Seven, and produced the group's album. He also played with

The Lemonheads The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band formed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily, and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member. After their initial punk-influenced releases and tour ...

from 2005–2007, appearing on their 2006 self titled album, which he also helped produce.Stevenson talks about next Lemonheads album
''Punknews.org'', August 21, 2007. One of Stevenson's most recent works is producing

Rise Against Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, formed in 1999. The group's current line-up comprises vocalist/rhythm guitarist Tim McIlrath, lead guitarist Zach Blair, bassist Joe Principe and drummer Brandon Barnes. Rooted in hardcor ...

's seventh studio album, '' The Black Market'', which was released July 15, 2014,

As I Lay Dying ''As I Lay Dying'' is a 1930 Southern Gothic novel by American author William Faulkner. Faulkner's fifth novel, it is consistently ranked among the best novels of 20th-century literature.The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to Wor ...

's '' Awakened'' as well as the 2012

NOFX NOFX () is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. Vocalist/bassist Fat Mike, guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin are original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every ...

album '' Self Entitled''.

Early life

Bill Stevenson (birth name; John William Stevenson) was born on September 10, 1963. Stevenson grew up mostly with his father, Steve Stevenson. He describes his father as a cold man but present for him. Steve Stevenson worked two jobs and was 22 hours outside of his home and came to give Bill food and put him to bed. Around the age of fourteen or fifteen, Stevenson started working for

Keith Morris Keith Morris (born September 18, 1955) is an American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and Off!. Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the ...

' father as a fisherman. He attended

where he met his friends and future bandmates of

Career

Stevenson is an original member of the

forming in 1978. The Descendents put out a single called "

Ride the Wild / It's a Hectic World "Ride the Wild" / "It's a Hectic World" is the 1980 debut single (music), single by the American punk rock band the Descendents. It was the band's first release and displayed a New wave music, new wave and surf music, surf sound. It was recorded ...

" in 1979. In 1982 they put out their first album ''

Milo Goes to College ''Milo Goes to College'' is the debut studio album by the American punk rock band Descendents, released on September 4, 1982 through New Alliance Records. Its title referred to singer Milo Aukerman's decision to leave the band to attend college, ...

''. After the album, singer

went to college, the band played rarely, so Stevenson joined Black Flag. He left Black Flag in 1985 to reform the Descendents. The Descendents became

in 1988 after Aukerman left once again. The Descendents would form again from 1996 to 1997 and then in 2002, before going on hiatus. From 2003 to 2007, Stevenson played in smaller bands until All played shows again in 2008. In 2010, the Descendents reformed again.

Membership timeline

ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/2019 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1977 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1977 Colors = id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:guitar value:green legend:Occasional_live_guitar BarData = bar:Descendents text:"Descendents" bar:Black text:"Black Flag" bar:All text:"All" bar:Only text:"Only Crime" bar:Lemonheads text:"The Lemonheads" PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Descendents from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1983 color:drums bar:Descendents from:01/05/1985 till:01/07/1987 color:drums bar:Descendents from:01/05/1995 till:01/10/1997 color:drums bar:Descendents from:01/01/2002 till:01/08/2004 color:drums bar:Descendents from:01/01/2010 till:end color:drums bar:All from:01/07/1987 till:end color:drums bar:All from:01/07/1987 till:end color:guitar width:3 bar:Only from:01/01/2003 till:end color:drums bar:Lemonheads from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:drums bar:Black from:01/01/1983 till:01/05/1985 color:drums

Personal life

Bill Stevenson has never tried recreational drugs in his life other than alcohol, which he did not drink until later in life. In recent years, Stevenson has had some health issues. He grew a brain tumor unknowingly around 2008, which remained for another two years before being removed. The tumor caused Stevenson to lose motivation and eventually made him gain weight, had a blood clot, diabetes and sleep apnea. In 2010, he had a successful surgery to remove it which helped him to gain his health back. In 2016, Stevenson revealed he had open heart surgery.

Selected discography

''See also Albums produced by Bill Stevenson'' *

- ''

'' - (2016) Drums, producer, engineer *

The Last The Last may refer to: *The Last (band) The Last is an American, Los Angeles-based, early pop/punk band, formed in 1976 by Joe Nolte with high school bandmates Vitus Matare and Dave Harbison. By 1978 the band included three brothers: Joe (guitar ...

– ''Danger'' (2013) Drums *

– ''

Virulence Virulence is a pathogen's or microorganism's ability to cause damage to a host. In most, especially in animal systems, virulence refers to the degree of damage caused by a microbe to its host. The pathogenicity of an organism—its ability to ca ...

'' (2007) Drums, Producer and Engineer *

– ''

'' (2006) drums, producer * Descendents – ''

'' (2004) Drums, producer, Backing Vocals * Descendents – '' 'Merican'' (2004) Drums, producer, Backing Vocals * Only Crime – '' To The Nines'' (2004) Drums, Produced, engineered, mixing, and mastering *

/Descendents – ''

Live Plus One ''Live Plus One'' is a live album by the American punk rock bands All and the Descendents, released in 2001 through Epitaph Records. A double album, it includes one disc by All recorded in 2001 on their '' Problematic'' tour, and a second disc by ...

'' CD Split(2001) Drums, producer * All – '' Problematic'' (2000) Drums, producer * All – ''

ALL All or ALL may refer to: Language * All, an indefinite pronoun in English * All, one of the English determiners * Allar language (ISO 639-3 code) * Allative case (abbreviated ALL) Music * All (band), an American punk rock band * ''All'' (All al ...

'' (1999) Drums, producer * All – ''

Mass Nerder ''Mass Nerder'' is the seventh album by the punk rock band All. It was released on Epitaph Records in 1998. Background and recording In mid 1996, All began working on their next, then untitled, studio album. At the same time, Milo Aukerman ...

'' (1998) Drums, producer * Descendents – '' Everything Sucks'' (1996) Drums, producer * All – '' Pummel'' (1995) Drums, producer * All – ''

Breaking Things ''Breaking Things'' is the fifth studio album by the American punk rock band All, released August 16, 1993 through Cruz Records. It was the band's first album with singer Chad Price and their last released through Cruz. The songs "Shreen" and "Gu ...

'' (1993) Drums, producer * All – ''

Percolater ''Percolater'' is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band All, released May 12, 1992 through Cruz Records. It was the band's first album recorded after their relocation from Los Angeles to Brookfield, Missouri, and their first stu ...

'' (1992) Drums, producer * Descendents – '' Somery'' (1991) Drums, producer, Artwork * All – ''

Allroy Saves ''Allroy Saves'' is the third studio album by the American punk rock band All, released in 1990 through Cruz Records. It was the first album that the band members recorded, mixed, and produced entirely on their own. A music video, the band's fir ...

'' (1990) Drums, producer, Backing Vocals * All – ''

Trailblazer A trailblazer is a person who is paving the way in their particular field for future generations. Trailblazer may refer to: Sports * Derby Trailblazers, a British semi-professional basketball team * North Carolina Trailblazers, a US women's rec ...

'' (1990) Drums, producer * Black Flag – '' I Can See You'' (1989) Drums * All – ''

Allroy's Revenge ''Allroy's Revenge'' is the second studio album by the American punk rock band All, released in 1989 through Cruz Records. It was the band's first release with singer Scott Reynolds, replacing Dave Smalley who had left in late 1988. The album i ...

'' (1989) Drums, producer * All – ''

Allroy for Prez ''Allroy for Prez'' is an EP by the American punk rock band All, released in 1988 through Cruz Records. Released the same year as the band's debut album, ''Allroy Sez'', the EP was All's final release with their original singer Dave Smalley. B ...

'' (1988) Drums, producer * All – ''

Allroy Sez ''Allroy Sez'' is the debut album by the American punk rock band All, released in March 1988 through Cruz Records. Following the departure of singer Milo Aukerman from the Descendents, the remaining members—bassist Karl Alvarez, guitarist Step ...

'' (1988) Drums, producer * Descendents – '' Hallraker'' (1988) Drums, producer * Black Flag – '' Wasted...Again'' (1987) Drums * Descendents – '' Liveage'' (1988) Drums, producer * Descendents – ''

'' (1987) Drums, producer * Descendents – '' Enjoy!'' (1986) Drums, engineer, Backing Vocals * Descendents – ''

I Don't Want to Grow Up ''I Don't Want to Grow Up'' is the second studio album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1985 through New Alliance Records. It marked the end of a two-year hiatus for the band, during which singer Milo Aukerman had atte ...

'' (1985) Drums, engineer, Backing Vocals *

Minuteflag ''Minuteflag'' was an experimental jam band collaboration between members of the American punk bands Minutemen and Black Flag. Their only release, an EP, consists entirely of instrumentals with the exception of "Fetch the Water" which features ...

– ''MinuteFlag'' (1985) Drums * Black Flag – '' In My Head'' (1985) Drums, producer * Black Flag – ''

The Process of Weeding Out ''The Process of Weeding Out'' is the fifth EP by American band Black Flag. One of the most potent realizations of guitarist Greg Ginn's fascination with the avant-garde, ''The Process of Weeding Out'' is described by critic Chris True of AllM ...

'' (1985) Drums, producer * Black Flag – ''

Loose Nut ''Loose Nut'' is the fifth full-length album by American band Black Flag, released in 1985 on SST Records. Track listing Personnel *Henry Rollins – lead vocals *Greg Ginn – guitars *Kira Roessler – bass, backing vocals * Bill Stevenso ...

'' (1985) Drums, producer, Backing Vocals * Black Flag – ''

Live '84 ''Live '84'' is an album released by Black Flag in 1984 on SST Records. It is a live recording of a show played in 1984 and features mostly tracks from ''My War'' and '' Slip It In''. A video was shot simultaneously and was briefly available th ...

'' (1984) Drums, Mixing * Black Flag – ''

Slip It In ''Slip It In'' is the fourth studio album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag, released in 1984 on SST Records. ''Slip It In'' is an extension of the sound Black Flag utilized on its second album ''My War'': heavy, cathartic, intense ...

'' (1984) Drums, producer * Black Flag – '' Family Man'' (1984) Drums, engineer * Black Flag – ''

'' (1984) Drums, producer * Black Flag – ''

TV Party Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

'' (1982) Drums * Descendents – ''

'' (1982) Drums, Backing Vocals * Descendents – ''

Fat In nutrition science, nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such chemical compound, compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food. The term often refers spec ...

'' (1981) Drums, Backing Vocals * Descendents – '' Ride the Wild/It's a Hectic World single'' (1979) Drums, producer * Higley -
Higley
' (2017) Drums on almost all tracks, producer of almost the complete album

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson, Bill 1963 births American male film actors Record producers from California American rock drummers Living people Descendents members Black Flag (band) members Hardcore punk musicians All (band) members Musicians from Torrance, California American punk rock drummers American male drummers Only Crime members American audio engineers Punk rock record producers 20th-century American drummers