Biography:Dexter Holland

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Dexter Holland
Dexter Holland live in Rome.jpg
Holland performing with The Offspring in 2017
Background information
Birth nameBryan Keith Holland
Born (1965-12-29) December 29, 1965 (age 58)
OriginGarden Grove, California, US
GenresPunk rock, skate punk, pop punk, ska punk, alternative rock
Occupation(s)Musician, singer, songwriter, pilot, virologist, businessman
InstrumentsVocals, guitar
Years active1983–present
LabelsNitro, Epitaph, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Columbia, Time Bomb
Associated actsThe Offspring
Alma materUniversity of Southern California (BS, MS, PhD)

Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland, Ph.D (born December 29, 1965)[1][2][3] is an American musician who is best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary songwriter of the American rock band The Offspring. In 2017 he attained a PhD in molecular biology.

Education and scientific career

Holland attended Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, where he graduated as class valedictorian in 1984. During high school, Holland was the best student in mathematics in his year, and he found it "just as exciting as punk rock."[4] He then attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a B.S. degree in biology and an M.S. degree in molecular biology, and was a candidate for a Ph.D. in molecular biology.[5] However, after the success of The Offspring, he suspended his candidature to focus on music. In an interview in 1995, Holland had said when he turns 40, he would rather be a professor at a university than play music.[4]

Holland was a doctoral student at the Laboratory of Viral Oncology and Proteomics Research, Keck School of Medicine, where he was supervised by Professor Suraiya Rasheed.[6] In March 2013, Holland and co-authors published a paper in PLoS One regarding microRNA in HIV genomes,[7] titled "Identification of Human MicroRNA-Like Sequences Embedded within the Protein-Encoding Genes of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus".[8] The original academic paper describes the use of computational molecular biological (in silico) approaches to identify microRNA-like sequences in HIV. These sequences are suggested to have evolved to self-regulate survival of the virus in the host by evading its immune responses and thus influence the persistence, replication, and pathogenicity of HIV. Holland was awarded his Ph.D. degree in molecular biology during the USC Commencement on May 12, 2017.[9][10]

Musical career

Dexter Holland performing in 2009.

Holland's early influences include Aerosmith, The Beatles, the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, KISS, Bob Marley, Queen, and The Rolling Stones.[11] After he met friend and cross-country teammate Greg K., they started a local punk band called Manic Subsidal in 1984, where he played the drums. It formed after the duo failed to get into a Social Distortion concert. After Jim Benton was hired as their drummer, Holland switched to both vocals and guitars. They never released any albums, but some demos have existed online.

After some line-up changes, including the addition of Noodles on guitar, Manic Subsidal changed their name to The Offspring in 1985. After recording a demo in 1988,[12] The Offspring signed a deal with a small-time label, Nemesis Records, for whom they recorded their first full-length album, The Offspring, in March 1989.[12] This album would eventually be re-issued on November 21, 1995 by Holland's own record label, Nitro Records.

In 1991, The Offspring signed with Epitaph Records (home of Bad Religion, L7, NOFX, Pennywise and other similar bands). Their first release on the label was Ignition, which was released in 1992. Their last album for that label was 1994's Smash, which still holds the world record for most sales of an album on an independent label.[13] The band then signed with Columbia Records in 1996 (although Dexter claims that Brett Gurewitz, owner of Epitaph and guitarist for Bad Religion, sold the contract to Columbia[14]) for whom they released their next six albums, Ixnay on the Hombre (1997), Americana (1998), Conspiracy of One (2000), Splinter (2003), Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (2008), and their most recent, Days Go By (2012).[15] Holland is one of the three members (along with Noodles and Greg K.) to appear on all of The Offspring's albums, and as of Greg K.'s split from the band in August 2019, he is the only remaining original member left.[16][17]

Dexter Holland sometimes plays the piano during live shows. Occasionally the band plays "Gone Away", with only Dexter playing the song on piano. Holland sings in the tenor range.[18]

Business interests

Dexter Holland's "Gringo Bandito", his own brand of hot sauce with his picture on it.

Holland has his own brand of hot sauce named Gringo Bandito[19] and featuring Holland with bandoliers, revolvers, a sombrero and shades—as a possible homage to the logo for Tapatío hot sauce or Pancho Villa.[20]

Gringo Bandito was launched in 2004,[9] after Holland, who grew up in Southern California where Mexican cuisine is considered a "part of the way of life", wondered "if [he] could do [a hot sauce] better".[21]

On the conception of the hot sauce, Holland states that in the early 2000s, while eating Mexican food, he began to read the label of a bottle of Tapatío; "It just clicked that I had to make one," he says. "People who like hot sauce are a certain type of people. They're passionate. They'll have a bottle with them wherever they go. I'm one of those people. And when I'm into something, I really get into it. It's like my music—I liked records, so I learned how to play a guitar. After that? A band".[20]

It has sold over a million bottles and is available in over 500 restaurants and 7,000 stores, including being a top-ranked hot sauce on Amazon.[9]

The headquarters for Gringo Bandito are located in a Huntington Beach industrial park, next to The Offspring's recording studio.[20].

He is also the co founder of the record label Nitro Records which he operated from 1994 to 2013.

Philanthropy

In 1997, Holland and former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra teamed up to form the F.S.U. Foundation, which raised funds through charity concerts. The foundation did benefit shows to raise money for various charities including AIDS Project Los Angeles, Poor People's United Fund, Trees Foundation, and Amnesty International.[22]

Holland participated in the 2006 and 2008 Los Angeles Marathon; his charity of choice was the Innocence Project, a non-profit legal clinic that handles legal cases where post-conviction DNA testing of evidence can yield conclusive proof of innocence.[23]

Personal life

Holland was married to hairstylist Kristine Luna. She co-wrote the song "Session" from the Ignition album and also appears in the Offspring music video "I Choose." Holland and Luna met in 1992, married in 1995,[24] and divorced in 2012.[25][26] He married Amber Sasse in 2013.[26] Holland and Sasse have two kids, named Layla and Zooey. [27]

Holland has a daughter, Alexa Holland, from a previous relationship. She goes by the stage name Lex Land and is a singer-songwriter.[28]

Other interests

Holland is a licensed pilot[9][29]. In November of 2004, Holland completed a 10 day solo flight around the world.[29]

Holland is also an avid collector of stamps from the Isle of Man.[30] Other hobbies include surfing, as seen in the "Da Hui" music video.

Musical equipment

All of Holland's Ibanez RG body guitars are made out of mahogany and fitted with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickups.[31][32] During their latest recordings, Holland used a vintage Gibson SG Junior.[33] He plays through a Mesa boogie Dual Rectifier.

Discography

The Offspring

Holland appears on all nine of The Offspring's studio albums. For a comprehensive list, see The Offspring discography.

Guest appearances

  • The Vandals – Hitler Bad, Vandals Good (1998) (co-wrote "Too Much Drama")[34]
  • AFI – Black Sails in the Sunset (1999) (Backing vocals on "Clove Smoke Catharsis", "The Prayer Position" and "God Called in Sick")[35]
  • The Aquabats – The Aquabats vs. the Floating Eye of Death! (1999) (co-wrote "Amino Man!" and does backing vocals on that song)[36]
  • The Vandals – Look What I Almost Stepped In... (2000) (co-wrote "Jackass" and does backing vocals on that song)[37]
  • Dwarves – The Dwarves Must Die (2004) (Backing vocals on "Salt Lake City" and "Massacre")[38]
  • Puffy AmiYumi – Splurge (2006) (co-wrote Tokyo I'm on My Way)
  • Ron Emory – Walk That Walk (2010) (backing vocals on "I'm Not Alone")[39]
  • Dwarves – The Dwarves Are Born Again (2011) (Backing vocals on "Looking Out for Number One" and "Happy Birthday Suicide")[40]
  • Dwarves – The Dwarves Invented Rock & Roll (2014) (backing vocals)
  • Dwarves - Take Back The Night (2018) (sings on "Julio")

Dexter also made a cameo appearances in:

  • Idle Hands (Movie, 1999) as Band lead singer (with The Offspring)
  • Pauly Shore Is Dead (Movie, 2003) as Gas Station Guy [41]
  • Punk's Not Dead (Documentary, 2007) as himself
  • One Nine Nine Four (Documentary, 2009) as himself
  • The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead (Documentary, 2015) as himself
  • The Last Sharknado: It's About Time (Movie, 2018) as British Captain

See also

  • List of celebrities with advanced degrees

References

  1. "Dexter Holland Biography – Facts, Birthday, Life Story". biography.com. http://www.biography.com/people/dexter-holland-21008643. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  2. "Dexter Holland – The Offspring Site". theoffspringsite.com. http://www.theoffspringsite.com/tos/en/index.php?page=band&sub=member&persID=lg_d3Xt3rP. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  3. "Morning Minutes for Saturday, December 29". littlefallstimes.com. http://www.littlefallstimes.com/x1665853898/Morning-Minutes-for-Saturday-December-29. Retrieved 2013-12-14. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "An Interview with Dexter Holland". Bravo. 1995. http://www.reocities.com/CollegePark/2638/Offspring/bravo.html. 
  5. "Greg Graffin PhD and Smart Rock Stars by Jaan Uhelszki". themortonreport.com. May 19, 2011. http://www.themortonreport.com/entertainment/music/smart-rock-stars/. Retrieved 2012-05-19. 
  6. Suzy Tilley (March 22, 2013). "Dexter Holland Discusses His Recently Published Paper 3/22/2013". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N46mokeEZxI. 
  7. "Dexter Holland from The Offspring Publishes Research Paper…What the Heck Is It About?". KROQ. March 21, 2013. http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2013/03/21/dexter-holland-from-the-offspring-publishes-research-paper-what-the-heck-is-it-about/. Retrieved 2013-05-22. 
  8. Bryan Holland, Jonathan Wong, Meng Li, Suraiya Rasheed. (2013.) "Identification of Human MicroRNA-Like Sequences Embedded within the Protein-Encoding Genes of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus", PLoS One, 8(3):1–10.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Troitino, Christina (6 July 2017). "The Offspring's Dexter Holland On His Hot Sauce, 924 Gilman And His Molecular Biology PhD". Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/christinatroitino/2017/07/06/the-offsprings-dexter-holland-on-his-hot-sauce-924-gilman-and-his-molecular-biology-phd/#638160515a6e. Retrieved 28 September 2018. 
  10. Holland, Bryan (2017-04-20). Discovery of mature microRNA sequences within the protein-coding regions of global HIV-1 genomes: predictions of novel mechanisms for viral infection and pathogenicity (Ph.D. thesis). University of Southern California.
  11. "Dexter Holland turns 47". http://indian.ruvr.ru/2012_12_29/Dexter-Holland-turns-47/. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 The Offspring at NIPP, obtained November 10, 2007.
  13. "Greatest Hits Bio (2005)". Offspring.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070311090427/http://www.offspring.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Offspring.woa/wa/bio. Retrieved August 18, 2010. 
  14. "Internet Archive Wayback Machine". January 21, 2007. Archived from the original on January 21, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070121115627/http://members.aol.com/delirium4u/offspring/letter1.txt. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  15. "New Offspring Single And Album". offspring.com. April 23, 2012. http://www.offspring.com/news. Retrieved 2012-04-23. 
  16. Krol, Charlotte (30 August 2019). "The Offspring are being sued by their bassist". Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190831001956/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-offspring-are-being-sued-by-their-bassist-2543588. Retrieved 31 August 2019. "He alleges that Holland and Noodles "devised a scheme, and entered into a conspiracy with each other" in October 2018 [sic] to "seize the business, business opportunities, and assets" of their 32-year-old partnership agreement "in disregard for and in derogation of the rights, privileges, and authority of Kriesel as an equal, general partner" [...] Krisel claims that Holland and Wasserman told him last November that he was "no longer entitled to participate in any activities of the band, including (but not limited to) studio recordings and concert tours."" 
  17. Childers, Chad (29 August 2019). "The Offspring Members Sued by Bassist Greg Kriesel". Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190831002001/http://loudwire.com/the-offspring-members-sued-by-greg-kriesel/. Retrieved 31 August 2019. "The bassist states in the court documents that Holland and Wasserman sought to "seize the business, business opportunities, and assets" last October of the partnership amongst the group's founding members. Kriesel alleges that they've sought to divest him from their partnership interests and rights without fair compensation and denied his continued status as a general partner of the band." 
  18. "Offspring's Dexter Holland Can't Afford All of His Airplanes". Diffuser.fm. May 26, 2014. http://diffuser.fm/dexter-holland-airplanes/. Retrieved December 18, 2014. 
  19. "Why don't you get a job? by Geoff Boucher, LA Times, June 15, 2008". Latimes.com. June 15, 2008. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-offspring15-2008jun15,0,1497135.story. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 "How Far Can Dexter Holland's Gringo Bandito Go?". OC Weekly. March 4, 2010. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141113154536/http://www.ocweekly.com/2010-03-04/food/dexter-holland-gringo-bandito/full/. 
  21. Boucher, Geoff (January 7, 2009). "Rocker Dexter Holland's spicy offspring: Gringo Bandito hot sauce". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/features/la-fo-hotsauce7-2009jan07,0,5131325.story#axzz2nVm5mJYV. 
  22. "Jello Biafra And Dexter Holland Get Charitable". http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425698/jello-biafra-dexter-holland-get-charitable.jhtml. 
  23. "Athlinks search – Bryan Holland". Athlinks.com. http://www.athlinks.com/myresults.aspx?rid=5846712. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  24. [g "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}"]. g. 
  25. "The PV Q&A: The Offspring's Dexter Holland on Making Punk Music as the "Days Go By"". PureVolume. September 25, 2012. http://www.purevolume.com/news/The-Offspring-Dexter-Holland-PureVolume-Exclusive-Interview. http://www.theoffspringsite.com/tos/en/index.php?page=band&sub=member&persID=lg_d3Xt3rP%7Ctitle=Dexter Holland|publisher=The Offsprin}
  26. 26.0 26.1 Lanham, Tom (September 26, 2012). "Older, wiser, angrier Offspring". San Francisco Examiner. http://www.sfexaminer.com/sanfrancisco/older-wiser-angrier-offspring/Content?oid=2127527. 
  27. "Discovery of mature microRNA sequences within the protein-coding regions of global HIV-1 genomes: Predictions of novel mechanisms for viral infection and pathogenicity :: University of Southern California Dissertations and Theses (16)". http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p15799coll40/id/364391. 
  28. "Offspring Ninth Record Finished, Reality TV Run Over For Offspring's Offspring". March 26, 2012. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150413043127/http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2012/03/26/offspring-ninth-record-finished-reality-tv-run-over-for-offsprings-offspring-offspring-reveal-that-ninth-record-is-finished-reality-tv-run-finished-for-offsprings-offspring/. Retrieved August 9, 2012. 
  29. 29.0 29.1 MONTGOMERY, JAMES. "DEXTER HOLLAND COMPLETED 10-DAY JOURNEY ON NOVEMBER 25". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/1494611/offspring-frontman-fueled-by-snack-chips-flies-around-the-world/. Retrieved 28 September 2018. 
  30. "First class exclusive". Isle of Man Newspapers. June 25, 2007. http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2007/news/first-class-exclusive/. Retrieved 2013-04-14. 
  31. "Blog". Bebo.com. http://www.bebo.com/Blog.jsp?MemberId=2076034809. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  32. Cyber Hunter & CrazyRol (December 29, 1966). "Dexter Holland" (in Russian). offspring.ru.ru. Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111106074440/http://offspring.ru.ru/members/dex_e.html. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  33. "Offspring's Noodles: 'I Don't Care To Argue How Punk I Am' | Interviews". Ultimate-guitar.com. September 13, 2008. Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111106033002/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/interviews/offsprings_noodles_i_dont_care_to_argue_how_punk_i_am.html. Retrieved 2011-11-04. 
  34. "Vandals, The – Hitler Bad, Vandals Good". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/Vandals-Hitler-Bad-Vandals-Good/release/1065044. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  35. "AFI – Black Sails in the Sunset". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/AFI-Black-Sails-In-The-Sunset/release/2090156. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  36. "Aquabats!, The – Vs. The Floating Eye of Death! And Other Amazing Adventures – Vol. 1". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/Aquabats-Vs-The-Floating-Eye-Of-Death-And-Other-Amazing-Adventures-Vol-1/release/1395041. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  37. "Vandals, The – Look What I Almost Stepped In...". Discogs. http://www.discogs.com/Vandals-Look-What-I-Almost-Stepped-In/release/1839003. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  38. "Dwarves – The Dwarves Must Die – Credits". AllMusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-dwarves-must-die-mw0000397080/credits. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  39. "Ron Emory: Reflecting His Walk". Distorted Magazine. May 1, 2010. http://www.distortedmagazine.com/features/ron-emory-reflecting-his-walk. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  40. "The Short-But-Sweet Interview: The Dwarves' Blag Dahlia". UGO Networks. March 14, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110402073511/http://www.ugo.com/music/the-short-but-sweet-interview-the-dwarves-blag-dahlia. Retrieved August 5, 2013. 
  41. donkeytomp (April 20, 2010). "Dexter Holland (The Offspring) in "Pauly Shore is dead"". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEf5MHXZYFs. 

External links