No Use for a Name (sometimes abbreviated NUFAN or No Use) was an American
punk rock band from
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale () is a city located in the Santa Clara Valley in northwest Santa Clara County in the U.S. state of California.
Sunnyvale lies along the historic El Camino Real and Highway 101 and is bordered by portions of San Jose to the nort ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
formed in 1986
by Chris Dodge (
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
), Steve Papoutsis (
bass) and Rory Koff (
drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
). The band's sound evolved considerably through its career, starting off as a Bay Area-influenced punk band, moving on to a much heavier metallic-tinted sound to finally taking on a much lighter brand of
melodic punk
Melodic hardcore is a broadly defined subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melody in its guitar work. It generally incorporates fast rhythms, melodic and often distorted guitar riffs, and vocal styles tending towards shouting and ...
as the years passed. The band's career ended in 2012 following
Tony Sly
Anthony James Sly (November 4, 1970 – July 31, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the front man of the punk rock band No Use for a Name. In his later years he also gained attention for his acousti ...
's death on July 31 of that year.
History
No Use For a Name was formed in 1986 by longtime friends Dodge, Papoutsis and Koff. The early rehearsals of the band had taken place at a warehouse in Sunnyvale owned by Koff's father, where they also came up with the name for the band. During this era, the band was fronted by Papoutsis' friend John Meyer. Initially a four piece, it later expanded to a six piece, adding as a co-vocalist Ramon Gras and a second guitarist Doug Judd. The band experienced many line up changes during this period. In 1987, Dodge left to play in another Bay Area punk band,
Stikky
{{Infobox musical artist
, name = Stikky
, image =
, caption = Stikky at Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery in San Jose, California in 1987. From left to right: Chris Wilder, Todd Wilder and Chris Dodge.
, background = group_or_band
, origin = Ber ...
, while in summer that year, both Meyer and Judd left the band with Tony Sly replacing Judd on guitar. This line-up first appeared on
Maximum RocknRoll
''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly zine of punk subculture. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and hardcore music, and primarily featu ...
's 1987 ''Turn it Around'' compilation, with the song "Gang Way". In 1988, Gras fell out with the rest of the band and left before an important show at Gilman and a live appearance on the KFJC radio show. In a tight spot, the band asked the former guitarist Dodge, who before the formation of No Use had sung in other local bands, to rejoin as vocalist, which he agreed. This line-up of the band recorded two EPs; ''No Use For a Name'' on Woodpecker Records and ''Let 'em Out on'' on Slap A Ham Records. In 1989, Dodge left again which allowed Sly to take over vocals and songwriting.
NUFAN's first album, ''
Incognito
Incognito is an English adjective meaning "in disguise", "having taken steps to conceal one's identity".
Incognito may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''Incognito'' (1937 film), a Danish film
* ''Incognito'' (1997 film), an American crime ...
'', was released in 1990 by New Red Archives. It was the only album by the band recorded as a trio. In 1991, Dodge rejoined on second guitar and they released their second album, ''
Don't Miss the Train
''Don't Miss the Train'' is the second full-length album released by punk band No Use for a Name. It was re-released on Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label ...
'', in 1992 before signing up with
Fat Mike's label
Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label, focused on punk rock. It was started by NOFX lead singer Michael Burkett (better known as Fat Mike) in 1990.
The label has released mater ...
in 1993. In late 1992, Dodge left the line-up,
and was replaced by the guitarist Robin Pfefer, who took over on lead guitar so that Sly could step down to rhythm and concentrate on singing. No Use for a Name also released their first record on Fat Wreck Chords that year, ''
The Daily Grind (EP)
''The Daily Grind'' is an EP by punk rock band No Use for a Name released in 1993. It was the band's first release for Fat Wreck Chords.
Track listing
# "Until It's Gone" – 3:50
# "Old What's His Name" – 2:18
# "Permanent Rust" – 2:31
# ...
'', which turned out to be highly successful.
Ed Gregor replaced Pfefer on lead guitar soon after the release of ''The Daily Grind''. In 1995, after the release of ''
Leche Con Carne
Leche (Spanish: "milk") may refer to:
* Leche (surname)
* ''Leche'' (Fobia album), 1993
* ''Leche'' (Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas album), 1999
* ''Leche'', a 2010 album by Gregory and the Hawk
* Leche frita, a Spanish sweet
See also
* ...
'', their third full-length album,
Chris Shiflett and
Matt Riddle
Matthew Fredrick Riddle (born January 14, 1986, in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand, but is currently inactive due ...
joined the band to play guitar and bass guitar, replacing Gregor and Papoutsis respectively. With the punk music breakthrough in 1994, No Use for a Name received a larger audience after releasing this album, thanks to their video for the song "Soulmate" which was played on the
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
show ''
120 Minutes''. This was the first video from Fat Wreck Chords to appear on MTV. In 1997, after the success of ''
Making Friends'', the band toured the U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, and Japan.
After releasing ''
More Betterness!'', Shiflett left the band in 1999 to join the successful
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters are an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1994. Foo Fighters was initially formed as a one-man project by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl. Following the success of the eponymous debut album, Grohl (lead vocals, guitar) re ...
, being replaced by Dave Nassie. Two years later, the band released a live album, ''
Live in a Dive: No Use for a Name'' on Fat Wreck Chords and, in 2002, No Use for a Name released its sixth studio album, ''
Hard Rock Bottom
''Hard Rock Bottom'' is the sixth studio album by punk rock band No Use for a Name, released on June 16, 2002. The band recorded the album with producer Ryan Greene in January 2002. Song number nine, "This Is a Rebel Song", features Karina Denike ...
''.
The band released its eighth full-length studio album, ''
Keep Them Confused'', on June 14, 2005. It takes a more political position than earlier releases. A greatest hits collection, ''
All the Best Songs
''All the Best Songs'' is a compilation album by the American punk rock band No Use for a Name, released July 10, 2007 through Fat Wreck Chords. A "best of" album, it compiles 24 tracks from the band's six studio releases between 1993 and 2005, ...
'', was released on July 10, 2007. A new fourteen song full-length studio album entitled ''
The Feel Good Record of the Year
''The Feel Good Record of the Year'' is the eighth and final studio album by punk rock band No Use for a Name. It was recorded in Fort Collins, Colorado at the Blasting Room with the producers Bill Stevenson & Jason Livermore (Descendents, R ...
'' was released on April 1, 2008. In 2009, when promoting the album in Europe, Nassie left the band to join the
Bleeding Through
Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 1999. In 2004, ''Revolver'' magazine hailed Bleeding Through as one of eight bands ushering in the "Future of Metal" cover story, and '' Spin'' called Ble ...
. In August 2009, the band announced that Nassie had been replaced by
Chris Rest
Chris Rest is an American guitarist best known for his work with the bands No Use For A Name, Rich Kids on LSD, and Lagwagon. He was Rich Kids on LSD's only constant member, having participated in every album and tour.
Musical career
Chris Res ...
,
Lagwagon
Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, just outside Santa Barbara. They formed in 1989, went on hiatus in 2000, and reunited several times over the years. Their name comes from the band's tour van, which ca ...
's guitarist and founding member of
Rich Kids on LSD
Rich Kids on LSD (RKL) was a Californian hardcore punk band formed in 1982 in Montecito, California, a suburb of Santa Barbara. They were associated with the "Nardcore" scene that evolved out of nearby Oxnard. Their music expanded over the year ...
. In December 2010, Koff told the band that he would need time off from touring to go full time with his snowplow business and he was eventually replaced by a new full-time drummer, Boz Rivera (of King City, Rich Kids on LSD, and
The Mad Caddies).
Sly's death
Tony Sly died in his sleep on July 31, 2012. Riddle, Rest and Rivera played a tribute performance to Sly at the Envol & Macadam Festival in
Québec City
Quebec City ( or ; french: Ville de Québec), officially Québec (), is the capital city of the Canadian province of Quebec. As of July 2021, the city had a population of 549,459, and the metropolitan area had a population of 839,311. It is the ...
on September 8, 2012, along with the former No Use for a Name members Nassie and Koff. This was intended to be the band's final performance, with Riddle commenting, "This is the last No Use for a Name show ever. No one wants to do this without Tony."
The band's final show before Sly's death had also been in Quebec, at the D-Tox Rockfest in
Montebello on June 15, 2012,
but they reunited twice more as No Use and Friends, for the Fat Wreck Chords 25th anniversary show in August 2015 and for Groezrock 2016 in Belgium.
Band members
Final Lineup
*
Tony Sly
Anthony James Sly (November 4, 1970 – July 31, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the front man of the punk rock band No Use for a Name. In his later years he also gained attention for his acousti ...
– guitars (1987–2012), lead vocals (1989–2012); died 2012
*Chris Rest – guitars (2009–2012)
*
Matt Riddle
Matthew Fredrick Riddle (born January 14, 1986, in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand, but is currently inactive due ...
– bass (1995–2012)
*Boz Rivera – drums (2011–2012)
Past Members
*Ramon Gras – lead vocals (1986–1988)
*John Meyer – lead vocals (1986–1987)
*Doug Judd – guitars (1986–1987)
*Chris Dodge – guitars (1986–1987, 1991–1992), lead vocals (1988–1989)
*Steve Papoutsis – bass (1986–1995)
*Rory Koff – drums (1986–2010)
*Rob Upson – guitars (1989-1990)
*Robin Pfefer – guitars (1993)
*Ed Gregor – guitars (1993–1995)
*
Chris Shiflett – guitars (1995–1999)
*
Dave Nassie
No Use for a Name (sometimes abbreviated NUFAN or No Use) was an American punk rock band from Sunnyvale, California, United States formed in 1986 by Chris Dodge (guitar), Steve Papoutsis ( bass) and Rory Koff ( drums). The band's sound evolved c ...
– guitars (1999–2009)
Timeline
ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea = left:110 bottom:60 top:10 right:20
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1986 till:07/31/2012
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:mm/dd/yyyy
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1986
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1986
Colors =
id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_Vocals
id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars
id:bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:lines1 value:black legend:Studio_Album
LineData =
at:11/16/1990 color:black layer:back
at:10/23/1992 color:black layer:back
at:02/15/1995 color:black layer:back
at:08/19/1997 color:black layer:back
at:10/05/1999 color:black layer:back
at:06/16/2002 color:black layer:back
at:06/14/2005 color:black layer:back
at:04/04/2008 color:black layer:back
BarData =
bar:Gras text:"Ramon Gras"
bar:Meyer text:"John Meyer"
bar:Dodge text:"Chris Dodge"
bar:Judd text:"Doug Judd"
bar:Tony text:"Tony Sly"
bar:Pfefer text:"Robin Pfefer"
bar:Gregor text:"Ed Gregor"
bar:Shiflett text:"Chris Shiflett"
bar:Nassie text:"Dave Nassie"
bar:Rest text:"Chris Rest"
bar:Papoutsis text:"Steve Papoutsis"
bar:Riddle text:"Matt Riddle"
bar:Koff text:"Rory Koff"
bar:Rivera text:"Boz Rivera"
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(11,-4)
bar:Gras from:start till:07/01/1988 color:lvocals
bar:Meyer from:start till:07/01/1987 color:lvocals
bar:Tony from:07/01/1987 till:12/31/1992 color:guitar
bar:Tony from:10/01/1989 till:end color:lvocals width:3
bar:Tony from:01/01/1993 till:end color:guitar
bar:Judd from:start till:07/01/1987 color:guitar
bar:Dodge from:start till:07/01/1987 color:guitar
bar:Dodge from:07/01/1988 till:10/01/1989 color:lvocals
bar:Dodge from:07/01/1991 till:12/31/1992 color:guitar
bar:Pfefer from:01/01/1993 till:10/01/1993 color:guitar
bar:Gregor from:10/01/1993 till:10/01/1995 color:guitar
bar:Shiflett from:10/01/1995 till:12/01/1999 color:guitar
bar:Nassie from:12/01/1999 till:07/01/2009 color:guitar
bar:Rest from:07/01/2009 till:end color:guitar
bar:Papoutsis from:start till:10/01/1995 color:bass
bar:Riddle from:10/01/1995 till:end color:bass
bar:Koff from:start till:12/31/2010 color:drums
bar:Rivera from:01/01/2011 till:end color:drums
Discography
;Studio albums
*''
Incognito
Incognito is an English adjective meaning "in disguise", "having taken steps to conceal one's identity".
Incognito may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''Incognito'' (1937 film), a Danish film
* ''Incognito'' (1997 film), an American crime ...
'' (1990)
*''
Don't Miss the Train
''Don't Miss the Train'' is the second full-length album released by punk band No Use for a Name. It was re-released on Fat Wreck Chords
Fat Wreck Chords (pronounced "Fat Records") is a San Francisco, California-based independent record label ...
'' (1992)
*''
The Daily Grind'' (1993)
*''
¡Leche con Carne!
''¡Leche Con Carne!'' the third studio album by punk rock band No Use for a Name, released in 1995. The album title is Spanish for "milk with meat".
Background
The band gained critical recognition for this album and supported the Offspring on ...
'' (1995)
*''
Making Friends'' (1997)
*''
More Betterness!'' (1999)
*''
Hard Rock Bottom
''Hard Rock Bottom'' is the sixth studio album by punk rock band No Use for a Name, released on June 16, 2002. The band recorded the album with producer Ryan Greene in January 2002. Song number nine, "This Is a Rebel Song", features Karina Denike ...
'' (2002)
*''
Keep Them Confused'' (2005)
*''
The Feel Good Record of the Year
''The Feel Good Record of the Year'' is the eighth and final studio album by punk rock band No Use for a Name. It was recorded in Fort Collins, Colorado at the Blasting Room with the producers Bill Stevenson & Jason Livermore (Descendents, R ...
'' (2008)
References
External links
Archive of Official Website
{{Authority control
Fat Wreck Chords artists
Musical groups established in 1987
Musical groups from San Jose, California
Pop punk groups from California
Skate punk groups
Punk rock groups from California
1986 establishments in California