No Use for a Name
| Company type | Punk rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 in Sunnyvale, California, U.S. |
| Founder | Chris Dodge, Steve Papoutsis, Rory Koff |
| Defunct | 2012 |
| Fate | Disbanded following the death of lead vocalist Tony Sly |
| Headquarters | Sunnyvale, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Tony Sly (lead vocalist, guitarist), Chris Rest (lead guitar), Matt Riddle (bass), Boz Rivera (drums) |
| Products | Studio albums, live albums, EPs |
| Parent | Fat Wreck Chords (label since 1993) |
No Use for a Name (commonly abbreviated as NUFAN) was a punk rock group originating from Sunnyvale, California, established in 1986 by Chris Dodge (guitar), Steve Papoutsis (bass), and Rory Koff (drums). Their musical style transitioned from Bay Area punk roots to incorporate heavier metal elements before settling into melodic punk. Following the passing of lead vocalist Tony Sly in 2012, the band respectfully chose to disband.
History
The band was initiated in 1986 by Dodge, Papoutsis, and Koff, with early practice sessions held at the Koff family residence. Originally a quartet, their lineup underwent several changes and expansions. In 1987, Dodge temporarily departed and was replaced by Tony Sly, who took over guitar duties from Doug Judd. That same year, they contributed the track "Gang Way" to the compilation Turn it Around. After co-vocalist Ramon Gras exited in 1988, Dodge returned as vocalist for two EP releases: No Use For a Name and Let 'em Out. Dodge left again in 1989, enabling Sly to assume full responsibility for vocals and songwriting.
Their first full-length album, Incognito (1990), released through New Red Archives, was recorded as a trio. Dodge rejoined on second guitar for their sophomore album, Don't Miss the Train (1992), before the band signed with Fat Wreck Chords in 1993. Following Dodge’s final exit in late 1992, Robin Pfefer stepped in as lead guitarist so Sly could concentrate on singing. The debut EP under Fat Wreck Chords, The Daily Grind (EP), garnered significant attention.
Ed Gregor succeeded Pfefer on lead guitar after the release of The Daily Grind. With the arrival of Leche Con Carne (1995), Chris Shiflett and Matt Riddle joined on guitar and bass respectively, replacing Gregor and Papoutsis. The band achieved greater visibility when their "Soulmate" video aired on MTV's 120 Minutes, marking the label’s inaugural MTV video feature. Following the success of Making Friends (1997), their touring circuit expanded internationally.
After releasing More Betterness!, Shiflett departed in 1999 to join Foo Fighters, with Dave Nassie stepping into the guitarist role. This period saw the release of a live album, Live in a Dive: No Use for a Name, followed by their sixth studio effort, Hard Rock Bottom (2002).
Their eighth studio work, Keep Them Confused (2005), incorporated stronger political commentary. A compilation album of greatest hits titled All the Best Songs was issued in 2007. The fourteen-track album The Feel Good Record of the Year followed in 2008. During its European tour in 2009, Nassie left to join Bleeding Through, with Chris Rest from Lagwagon and Rich Kids on LSD stepping in as his replacement.
In 2010, drummer Rory Koff exited to dedicate time to his snowplow business; Boz Rivera (formerly of King City, Rich Kids on LSD, and The Mad Caddies) took over drum duties.
Sly's death
Tony Sly passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 31, 2012. On September 8 of that year at Québec City's Envol & Macadam Festival, Riddle, Rest, and Rivera performed a tribute show honoring Sly’s memory, joined by former members Nassie and Koff. This event was intended as No Use for a Name’s final performance; Riddle commented, "This is the last No Use for a Name show ever. No one wants to do this without Tony." Prior to Sly’s passing, their last concert had been held at Quebec’s D-Tox Rockfest in Montebello on June 15, 2012. The band reunited twice more under the name No Use and Friends for Fat Wreck Chords’ 25th anniversary show in August 2015 and at Belgium’s Groezrock festival in 2016.
Final lineup
- Tony Sly – lead and rhythm guitar (1987–2012), lead singer (1989–2012); deceased 2012
- Chris Rest – lead guitar (2009–2012)
- Matt Riddle – bass guitar, backing vocals (1995–2012)
- Boz Rivera – drums (2011–2012)
Former members
- Ramon Gras – lead vocals (1986–1988)
- John Meyer – lead vocals (1986–1987)
- Doug Judd – lead guitar (1986–1987)
- Chris Dodge – rhythm guitar (1986–1987, 1991–1992), lead vocals (1988–1989)
- Steve Papoutsis – bass guitar (1986–1995), backing vocals (1989–1995)
- Rory Koff – drums (1986–2011)
- Rob Upson – rhythm guitar (1989–1990)
- Robin Pfefer – lead guitar (1993)
- Ed Gregor – lead guitar (1993–1995)
- Chris Shiflett – lead guitar, backing vocals (1995–1999)
- Dave Nassie – lead guitar (1999–2009)
Timeline
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id:lvocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals id:lguitar value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:rguitar value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:lines1 value:black legend:Studio_Album id:bars value:gray(0.95)
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color:lines1 layer:back at:11/16/1990 at:10/23/1992 at:02/15/1995 at:08/19/1997 at:10/05/1999 at:06/16/2002 at:06/14/2005 at:04/04/2008
BarData =
bar:Gras text:"Ramon Gras" bar:Meyer text:"John Meyer" 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:Dodge text:"Chris Dodge" bar:Papoutsis text:"Steve Papoutsis" bar:Riddle text:"Matt Riddle" bar:Koff text:"Rory Koff" bar:Riviera 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:Judd from:start till:07/01/1987 color:lguitar bar:Dodge from:start till:07/01/1987 color:rguitar bar:Dodge from:07/01/1988 till:09/01/1989 color:lvocals bar:Pfefer from:01/04/1993 till:10/01/1993 color:lguitar bar:Gregor from:10/01/1993 till:10/01/1995 color:lguitar bar:Shiflett from:10/01/1995 till:12/01/1999 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Nassie from:12/01/1999 till:06/25/2009 color:lguitar bar:Rest from:06/28/2009 till:end color:lguitar bar:Papoutsis from:start till:10/01/1995 color:bass bar:Riddle from:10/01/1995 till:end color:bass width=11 bar:Riddle from:10/01/1995 till:end color:bvocals width=3 bar:Koff from:start till:12/18/2010 color:dumps bar:Riviera from:12/22/2010 till:end color:dumps
</timeline>
Discography
- Albums in Studio
- Incognito (1990)
- Don't Miss the Train (1992)
- ¡Leche con Carne! (1995)
- Making Friends (1997)
- More Betterness! (1999)
- Hard Rock Bottom (2002)
- Keep Them Confused (2005)
- The Feel Good Record of the Year (2008)
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1986 establishments in California
- 2012 disestablishments in California
- Fat Wreck Chords artists
- Musical groups established in 1986
- Musical groups disbanded in 2012
- Musical groups from San Jose, California
- Pop punk groups from California
- Punk rock groups from California
- Skate punk groups
- Melodic hardcore musical groups from California
- Musical groups disestablished in 2012