Rancid

Rancid is an American punk rock band formed in Berkeley, California, in 1991 by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both veterans of the influential ska-punk group Operation Ivy. Guitarist and vocalist Lars Frederiksen joined soon after, and the band became one of the leading voices of the 1990s punk revival alongside contemporaries like Green Day and The Offspring, while staying rooted in a grittier, more traditionally punk aesthetic influenced by bands like The Clash.

The group's commercial and critical breakthrough came with 1995's …And Out Come the Wolves, which produced the crossover hits «Time Bomb» and «Ruby Soho» and blended fast, melodic punk with ska and reggae textures. Armstrong's raspy, distinctive vocal delivery and the band's tight rhythm section, anchored by Freeman's galloping basslines, became signature elements of their sound. Later albums like Life Won't Wait pushed further into dub, reggae, and rockabilly influences, drawing comparisons to The Clash's genre-spanning work.

Songs such as «Roots Radicals», «Fall Back Down», and «Maxwell Murder» remain staples of their live shows and of punk rock more broadly, showcasing the band's blend of street-level storytelling and anthemic energy. Despite lineup changes over the decades, including drummer transitions, Rancid has continued to record and tour, maintaining its status as one of the defining bands of American punk's 1990s resurgence.