NOFX opened the vault on their wild history and are releasing a documentary in the truest punk rock form, no filter, no holdbacks, everything aired out on the big screen. The Los Angeles premiere of the documentary titled 40 Years of F***in’ Up, was held at the intimate Nuart Theatre on Thursday, March 19th. A wide range of celebrities and rock stars filled the theater, including Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee and John 5.
A massive line wrapped around the theatre an hour before showtime. The theater’s lobby was jampacked with friends, fans, and family of NOFX members. A carpet was set up off to the left, where those who attended could have their photograph taken with NOFX members. Mötley Crüe’s Tommy Lee and John 5 were seen enjoying themselves at the concession stand, excited to be there. The theatre was filled with major artists, including Avenged Sevenfold’s M. Shadows, Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley, The Offspring’s Noodles, and My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way, who kept a very low-key profile.
NOFX cofounder and vocalist Fat Mike took the stage, asking people to quickly take a seat. Fat Mike gave a 5 minute speech with his infamous humor, having everyone in the audience believe Rocky Horror Picture Show Executive Producer Lou Adler was present, though Adler could not attend; his son, Cisco, was present. Mike shared that he asked Cisco to help distribute the film because the band did not want the documentary to stream, but rather have fans enjoy it in theaters together.
The film features several unreleased songs from NOFX that can only be heard by attending a showing of the film. It also includes a detailed history of the band, including its origins, the band’s struggles, and its adamant spirit to continue being a DIY band until their very last performance together.
40 Years Of Fuckin’ Up is a deeply personal film for NOFX, not just a documentary showcasing the band’s past, but also intimate details from members of the group. No filters, completely vulnerable moments from NOFX members. Members shared their personal struggles on screen, in-depth, such as Smelly’s drug addiction and the infamous page-spread photograph in Rolling Stones of him shooting heroin. It is genuinely a film created with fans in mind, and yes, it also includes a scene of Fat Mike being whipped on his ass in his dungeon.
The scheduled Q&A was canceled, and anyone who had any questions could simply ask any band member in person. Following the screening, Smelly, NOFX’s drummer, took the stage to thank everyone who attended and extend an invitation to the after-party.
The only member not in attendance was founding member and guitarist Eric Melvin. The film states that Melvin served Fat Mike with a lawsuit; however, Melvin broke silence last week stating he never filed a lawsuit against Mike or the band.
40 Years Of Fuckin’ Up is a film by NOFX, directed by James Buddy Day (“The Secrets We Bury”, “Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein”, “Thirst Trap: The Fame. The Fantasy. The Fallout.”, “Fall River”). Featuring Fat Mike, Aaron “El Hefe” Abeyta, Eric Melvin, and Erik “Smelly” Sandin, the film is produced by Fat Mike. Executive producers include Fat Mike, Aaron “El Hefe” Abeyta, Erik Sandin, Eric Melvin, Gary Ousdahl, James Buddy Day, Cisco Adler and Jon Nadeau for Pyramid Productions. Nathaniel Harper serves as the director of photography. Score by Fat Mike and Matt Nasir.
40 Years Of Fuckin’ Up will hit theaters starting April 10th. To learn more or view available screenings, visit here. Watch the documentary trailer below:
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