Bryan Keith "Dexter" Holland (born December 29, 1965) is an American musician, best known as the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, main songwriter and composer, and only constant member of the punk rock band the Offspring. He co-founded with former bandmate Greg K. the record label Nitro Records, which he previously owned. He also holds a PhD in molecular biology.
Early life
Bryan Keith Holland was born in Garden Grove, California, on December 29, 1965.[1][2] He attended Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, graduating as class valedictorian in 1984. He was the best student in his year at mathematics, which he found "just as exciting as punk rock".[3] He acquired the nickname "Dexter" for his academic prowess, taken from the slang term "Poindexter".[4]
Holland attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a BSc in biology and an MSc in molecular biology.[5][6][7] He suspended his studies to focus on music when the Offspring found success in 1994,[3][8] but later resumed and earned a PhD in molecular biology in May 2017.[7][9] He defended his thesis, "Discovery of mature microRNA sequences within the protein-coding regions of global HIV-1 genomes: predictions of novel mechanisms for viral infection and pathogenicity", under doctoral advisors Suraiya Rasheed and Bob Baker.[10]
Career
Music
Holland started a punk band named Manic Subsidal in 1984 with his friend and cross-country teammate Greg K. Holland played the drums. The band was formed when they failed to get into a Social Distortion concert. After James Lilja was hired as their drummer, Holland switched to vocals and guitars. Noodles then joined on guitar, and Manic Subsidal changed their name to the Offspring in 1986. After recording a demo in 1988,[11] the Offspring signed a deal with a small-time independent record label, Nemesis Records, for whom they recorded their first full-length album, The Offspring, in March 1989.[11] This album would eventually be re-issued in 1995, by Holland's own record label, Nitro Records.[12]
Holland sometimes plays the piano during live shows. Occasionally the band plays "Gone Away", with only Holland playing the song on piano. Holland sings in the tenor range.[17]
He is also one of the co-founders of the record label Nitro Records, which he operated from 1994 to 2013, along with former bandmate Greg K.[18]
Science
Holland performing in 2009
In a 1995 interview, Holland said that he would rather be a professor at a university than play music by the time he turns 40.[3]
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.[19] In March 2013, Holland and co-authors published a paper in PLoS One regarding microRNA in HIV genomes,[20] titled "Identification of Human MicroRNA-Like Sequences Embedded within the Protein-Encoding Genes of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus".[21] 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. in molecular biology during the USC Commencement on May 12, 2017.[22][23]
Business
In 2004, Holland launched his own brand of hot sauce called Gringo Bandito.[22][24] The label depicts Holland with bandoliers, revolvers, a sombrero and shades, a design that OC Weekly magazine described as parodying the logo for Tapatío hot sauce or Pancho Villa.[25] 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".[26]
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. 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."[25]
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.[22]
The headquarters for Gringo Bandito are located in a Huntington Beach industrial park, next to the Offspring's recording studio.[25]
Philanthropy
In 1997, Holland and former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra teamed up to form the FSU Foundation, which raised funds through charity concerts. The foundation organized benefit shows to raise money for various charities including AIDS Project Los Angeles, Poor People's United Fund, Trees Foundation, and Amnesty International.[27]
Holland participated in the Los Angeles Marathon in 2006 and 2008 with his charity of choice being the Innocence Project, a non-profit legal clinic that handles legal cases where post-conviction DNA testing can yield conclusive proof of innocence.[28]
All of Holland's Ibanez RG body guitars are made out of mahogany and fitted with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickups.[30][31] During their latest recordings, Holland used a vintage Gibson SG Junior.[32] He plays through a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier.
Personal life
Holland met hair stylist Kristine Luna in 1992, and they were married in 1995.[33] She co-wrote the Offspring song "Session" and appeared in the music video for "I Choose". They divorced in 2012.[34][35] He married Amber Sasse in 2013.[35] His daughter from a previous relationship, Alexa (born 1986), is also a musician and goes by the stage name Lex Land.[36] Holland also has two children from his current marriage.[37]
^Krol, Charlotte (August 30, 2019). "The Offspring are being sued by their bassist". NME. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 2019. He alleges that Holland and Noodles "devised a scheme, and entered into a conspiracy with each other" in October 2018 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."
^Childers, Chad (August 29, 2019). "The Offspring Members Sued by Bassist Greg Kriesel". Loudwire. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved August 31, 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.
^"Blog". Bebo.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
^Cyber Hunter & CrazyRol (December 29, 1966). "Dexter Holland" (in Russian). offspring.ru.ru. Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2011.
