Descendents

by Jason Ankeny
Fueled by rejection, food, coffee, girls, fishing and food, the Descendents sprang up during the halcyon days of the Los Angeles punk scene; fusing the blind rage of hardcore with an unexpectedly wry, self-deprecating wit and a strong melodic sensibility which set them distinctly apart from their West Coast brethren, they gradually emerged as one of the most enduring and adored bands of their time. Formed in 1979, the Descendents first lineup consisted of vocalist/guitarist Frank Navetta, vocalist/bassist Tony Lombardo, and drummer Bill Stevenson; initially sporting an edgy power pop sound inspired by the Buzzcocks, the group issued a debut single, Ride the Wild, and then promptly vanished from sight.
When the Descendents resurfaced in 1981, they were a four-piece fronted by vocalist Milo Auckerman, a beloved figure within the hardcore community who infused the groups identity with both unmitigated teen angst and a healthy dose of goofball humor. Amid a relentless, caffeine-powered touring schedule, the Descendents found time to record the 1981 EP Fat, a collection spotlighting both Auckermans affection for fast food (Weinerschnitzel, I Like Food) and distaste for parental guidance (My Dad Sucks). A year later, the group issued their debut LP, Milo Goes to College; despite the considerable levity of tracks like Bikeage and Suburban Home, the title was no joke — Auckerman was indeed headed off to study biochemistry, and when Stevenson joined the ranks of Black Flag, the Descendents went on sabbatical.
In 1985, the group re-formed, with SWA alum Ray Cooper replacing Navetta on guitar; after the release of the more pop-flavored album I Dont Want to Grow Up, ex-Anti bassist Doug Carrion assumed Lombardos duties. A sunnier perspective informed 1986s Enjoy!, as evidenced by the inclusion of a cover of the Beach Boys Wendy, but after 1987s lackluster All, the group split again; after Stevenson formed a new group, also dubbed All, the only Descendents products to appear for a number of years were a pair of live releases, 1987s Liveage! and 1989s Hallraker. Somewhat surprisingly, Auckerman and Stevenson re-formed the Descendents in 1996 with All bassist Karl Alvarez and guitarist Stephen Egerton; in addition to mounting a tour, the group recorded a new album, Everything Sucks. Following the tour, Auckerman once again returned to his life in the chem lab until 2004 when the guys were back with two new releases, both issued on Fat Wreck — February brought the EP Merican, and the full-length Cool to Be You followed a month later.