Well, it’s the end of an era.

After a 40-year tenure, punk rock veterans Nofx are calling it a day. But not before one hell of a party. We caught up with an unexpectedly solemn Fat Mike Burkett ahead of their exclusive Australian appearances at Good Things Festival 2022.

“Starting in April, we’re doing 40 cities around the world, and that’ll be the last time we will ever play.” Says Mike, bassist/vocalist and founding member of Nofx. “We’ve been a band for 40 years – we’re playing 40 cities, 40 different songs every night.”

Amid rumours this might be a publicity stunt akin to many vintage acts on the current tour circuit, Mike replies, “It’s not bullshit. We’re not going to come back with some big offer, we’re not. I am not. 40 years is enough.

Watching the sudden shift in Burkett’s demeanour as he discussed this finality was captivating – sadness and happiness in equal parts, as if the reality of the situation was only now setting in. “And now, I want to play, now I fucking want to play, and I want to fucking give it everything. I’m fucking crying because it’s just so emotional. I’m just so excited, and I haven’t been excited to go on tour in so many years, but I’m excited for this. The one issue that I’ve been toiling with is Australia, because it’s not fair to Australia that our last shows are at a fucking festival.”

So that’s it? No Australian tour to say farewell? “It fucks up the whole 40 number, Goddammit. Australia is so special to me, it’s my favourite country and I have so many dear friends there… I have been really bummed about playing these festival shows. I think we have to come back. I mean, it’s just not fair because everywhere else we’re doing 40 songs a night, and 40 different sets, and this is a fucking festival! We signed up for it four years ago, and then Covid happened, and we’re still signed up for it, but we can’t end OUR CAREER in Australia at a fucking festival; I don’t even know who else is playing but it’s not a fucking punk festival.”

At this point Mike pauses, as if struggling to comprehend what he has just said. After a while, he looks back up and says “I just decided, we have to go back to Australia. 40 more cities, and Australia. January 2024, that’s when we’re going to do it. US, and Frenzal, and Bodyjar, and (with a chuckle now) we’ll get fucking Silverchair, and Greens… what’s that Green Spoon band?… No wait, we’re not bringing them, fuck that.”

Burkett, in addition to being NOFX founding vocalist/bassist, has an extensive list of parallel projects that seems to grow faster than anyone can keep up with. Most famously there’s his record label Fat Wreck Chords he started in 1990, which he co-owns with Erin Burkett. Then there’s the other hats he wears, including festival organiser, musical creator, Fatale underwear mogul, Father, museum curator, political activist, and executive producer for a possible tv adaptation of the Nofx biography. “The Chernins (Dave and John), the producers from it’s always sunny in Philadelphia, are working on making The Hepatitis Bathtub.”

“I have a string album coming out, too” he mentions casually. “I’ve been scoring TV shows, I’m into scoring now, I’m into quartets – nothing makes me happier.”

“More importantly” he continues, now sounding more upbeat. “I’m in another band called the Co-Defendants, and that’s, I think, the best thing I’ve ever produced. It’s a new style of music called Crimewave. Hip hop is missing something; it’s just like punk rock except it doesn’t have chords, so I’m putting chords in it. It’s Ian McKay’s theory of music – you know Minor Threat? What makes them so good is it’s all one to two notes – Minor Threat is only one to two notes. It’s the chords that make it great, and that’s what Nofx ran off for years ’cause I’m not a good singer. You know, it’s one note with a half step, and that’s what rappers do, they stay on one note basically, so when you put great chord progressions behind that it makes it super catchy and hip hop generally puts samples, not chord progressions.”

The mood has shifted once again, this time to a place of genuine joy.

“Tomorrow I’m working with the D.O.C from N.W.A, and I get to meet Snoop, I’m going to snoop’s house! It’s called Crimewave – thisiscrimewave.com”

“So this band the Co-Defendants that I’m in, we’re finishing our second album now, and our first album is not out yet! You can’t even hear us on Spotify – you can buy a cassette tape for $7.00 cash – if you send it to a PO Box in New York you can get it a cassette demo, that’s it. But we do have a video on YouTube called Abcessed, but yeah the band just moved into my house, and that’s what I’m excited about.”

 For someone this busy, the thought of giving it all up to focus on one thing can be a confronting one, but when asked “what if?” Mike didn’t have to think very long. “I would do BDSM. That’s my true passion. Luckily, I don’t have to choose between music and sexuality. the happiest moments of my life are in BDSM. there’s a lot of things that make me happy and my next… not job, not profession, but why I want to stop Nofx even though we bring joy to people – I want to teach people about happiness, because I’ve been so happy and so blessed” He presents his large tattoo of the words “Don’t dream it, Be it” before explaining further. “Since I was ten years old and I first saw Rocky Horror, those words haunted me. Haunted me. When I was 40 I saw the movie, and I thought I am not living the life I want to live. I have a lot of great things in my life, but I don’t get to be feminine in public, I don’t get to be a Boy Girl. I was too embarrassed, I was too ashamed, now I live a life without pride and without shame. My next profession is bringing joy to as many people as I can, because joy and happiness is right in front of you, people just can’t admit what makes them happy.”

At this point, Mike has taken the wheel, and I’m just hanging on for the ride, which is exciting, because the passion with which he is speaking is nothing short of inspiring.

“Guys, the porn you watch, you can have that if you’re honest about it. You know, no-one’s honest with their fucking partners, they’re not honest with themselves about what they want to make them happy.

I know what makes me happy – writing quartets make my brain really happy. Because I’m on the spectrum, definitely – materials, leather, latex – if I get a leather gloved hand over my face, it calms me down, it makes me happy, but a guy can’t go to his woman and say “will you wear leather gloves to put your hand over my face?”, it makes you sound weird, and you don’t want to be rejected. Men are not men anymore; be a man and figure out what makes you happy, and don’t be scared of rejection; don’t be scared of consequences, be a fucking man! And I mean that for women too, I don’t mean it as a masculine thing. Figure out what makes you happy and go for it. Just say sweetheart, I really want to do this, don’t embarrass me, please don’t humiliate me, I’m opening my heart to you… I want you to shove up a big rubber cock in my ass.”

“I would do anything for my woman.” He exclaims proudly. “If she tells me what she wants (for example) I want you to suck on my elbow. Really? It would mean a lot to me. Well, I’ll fucking suck on your elbow all day long, baby! You have to be supportive of your partner, it’s so hard for men, it’s so hard for everyone, but men wanna be feminine. Being a fucking man means you can be a fucking woman, you can be whoever you want. That’s why I identify as a Boy Girl. I’m a Boy Girl – I mean, when I talk to you I’m a fucking bro, you know. I can hang out with Pennywise, but I could also get fucking cock raped buy three Doms, and there’s only two holes in me, so that’s difficult! Don’t dream it, be it. That’s my next profession; showing people how close happiness is – you just have to fucking not be a coward.

Nofx are touring as part of Good Things Festival 2022, which kicks off Friday December 2. Get tickets.

Their new album “Double Album” is also set to drop on December 2. Pre order it here.

Discover the CoDefendants and crimewave at thisiscrimewave.com