R.I.P. Punk Producer Thom Wilson

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Mar 16, 2015

Thom Wilson, the record producer who had worked on key albums from the Offspring, Bouncing Souls and Dead Kennedys, has passed away. Details on his death have not been revealed, but his passing on February 8 was confirmed today (March 16) by Epitaph Records founder and Bad Religion member Brett Gurewitz.

"In '82 when I was just getting started Thom Wilson was a guy all the bands in the scene looked up to. He was the pro in our midst who loved punk and was willing to take kids under his wing to help them sound great," Gurewitz said in a statement. "His work with TSOL and the Adolescents set the bar for everything that came after, including the Offspring's multi-platinum LP Smash, which was the best-selling independent release of all time. Tom was a friend, a teacher, and a great producer. He'll be missed."

Though Wilson made an impact on the punk scene, he had also worked on some softer records in the '70s, receiving credit on albums by Burton Cummings and Seals & Crofts. The producer's biggest hit was the Offspring's 1994 breakthrough, Smash, which has sold over 11 million copies worldwide. He also worked with the SoCal punk band on their self-titled LP from 1989 and 1992's Ignition.

Other landmark punk LPs Wilson worked on include Social Distortion's Mommy's Little Monster; the Bouncing Souls' Maniacal Laughter, self-titled and Hopeless Romantic albums; Face to Face's Big Choice; the Adolescents' self-titled LP; and Dead Kennedys' Plastic Surgery Disasters.

He had also worked with Lydia Lunch, both T.S.O.L. and vocalist Jack Grisham's '90s project the Joykiller, the Vandals, Bad Religion, Youth Brigade and more.

Latest Coverage