Why ‘skinhead’ Eric fell foul of Jewish Defence League

Jewish Telegraph, April 2016

ERIC Melvin was given a shock when he first decided to embrace the punk image.
The NOFX guitarist reveals all in the band’s new autobiography The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories (Da Capo Press, £15.99), written with Jeff Alulis.
Melvin decided while at school that shaving his head would guarantee his punk credentials.
“The day after I shaved my head a friend at school introduced me to a big, olive-skinned, square-jawed kid with intense eyes and an Israeli name,” Melvin wrote.
“He was part of the Jewish Defence League, so I said, ‘That’s cool, I’m Jewish, too’. ‘You look like a skinhead to me’. ‘I’m not a skinhead’. ‘I think you’re lying’.
“He grabbed me by the collar and slammed me against the wall, almost lifting me off the ground. ‘Prove it!’
“I opened my eyes and the traditional Hebrew blessing for the wine came spilling out in song: ‘Baruuuuuuch ata Adonaiiii . . .’
“As I finished the blessing he released his grip and smoothed out my shirt. ‘All right. My mistake’.
“Maybe I should’ve just stuck with the Adam Ant make-up.”
NOFX, formed in 1983, also includes Jewish singer/bassist Michael John Burkett, known as Fat Mike.
Their 1992 album White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean was originally going to be named White Trash, Two Kikes and a Spic, but Melvin’s mother was so offended that she threatened to tell his grandfather, so they changed it.
Fat Mike revealed this week that the follow up to their 2012 album, Self Entitled, will be released in June.
www.nofxofficialwebsite.com