Emerging from the blue-collar swamps of Berkeley, California, Rancid has been a living, breathing punk rock entity for over a quarter century. Apparently, nothing can kill them... because legends never die. Tomorrow Never Dies is their first new album in six years.
Carrying the same raw energy since their 1991 inception, the punk champions continue that streak with their highly anticipated 10th studio album, Tomorrow Never Comes. The record was produced by longtime collaborator, Bad Religion guitarist and Epitaph founder, Brett Gurewitz.
Their first new music since 2017’s Trouble Maker, the record highlights their collective ear for melodic rock hooks and catchy, sing-a-long choruses, complete with the familiar wailing guitars and punishing punk rock rhythms that have solidified Rancid as the legends they are.
Back in 1991, after the demise of their much beloved and still influential first band, Operation Ivy, founding members Tim Armstrong (vocals, guitar) and Matt Freeman (bass, vocals) decided to do the impossible - start an even better band. Thus, Rancid.
Signing with Epitaph Records, the band released their first self-titled album in 1993. Shortly thereafter, Lars Frederiksen (vocals, guitar) joined the band, because... well, have you seen the guy? Are you going to tell him he can’t? The result, in 1994, was Let’s Go. That’s when people really started to notice. By 1995, Rancid had reached platinum-selling status with ...And Out Come The Wolves. You probably still remember when you first heard it. They followed with the even more ambitious Life Won’t Wait in 1998, and in 2000, Rancid released another album with the title Rancid, just to see if anyone was paying attention. After Indestructible in 2003, Branden Steineckert joined on drums to solidify their current line-up. They subsequently released the albums Let The Dominos Fall (2009), Honor Is All We Know (2014), and the aforementioned Trouble Maker.
Through it all, Rancid has remained fiercely independent, never losing their loyalty to community or each other. Their music confronts political and social issues, while balancing personal tales of love, loss, and heartbreak, always with attitude. Rancid gives their listeners a community where everyone can belong. By carrying on the traditions and spirit of the original punk rock bands that came before, Rancid has become an inspiration to punk bands that have come after. They are the living embodiment of East Bay punk.