Rancid is an American punk rock band from Berkeley, California, formed in 1991 by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, former members of the cult band Operation Ivy. They were later joined by Lars Frederiksen and drummer Branden Steineckert. Rancid became one of the key forces in the punk revival of the mid-1990s, alongside Green Day and The Offspring, but they have always remained true to their underground ethos and DIY spirit.
Their breakthrough came with the album Let’s Go (1994), but it was their third album, ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995), that solidified their cult status. The album featured hits like Roots Radicals, Ruby Soho, and Time Bomb, and went platinum in the United States.
Rancid’s sound blends influences from punk, ska, reggae, and street culture, as heard on albums like Life Won’t Wait (1998) and Rancid (2000). Over the course of their career, they have released ten studio albums, the most recent being Tomorrow Never Comes (June 2023). It is their shortest album to date (under 29 minutes) and marks a return to raw, high-energy punk with no ska elements. The album was produced by Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion.
In over three decades of activity, Rancid has sold more than 4 million records worldwide and remains a symbol of authenticity, working-class loyalty, and independence in the punk scene. The band members are also involved in side projects such as The Transplants and Lars Frederiksen & The Bastards.
