TIM ARMSTRONG

Tim Armstrong was born in Berkeley, CA on November 25, 1966.  His mother  often worked long hours to support Tim, his older brothers Greg, Jeff and her husband who suffered from alcoholism.

One of Tim’s earliest memories is going to the racetrack, Golden Gate Fields (which would later become the subject of a song from Rancid 2000).  His first introduction to punk rock was when he would follow his brothers on their record shopping trips to Berkeley’s Telegraph Avenue – they nicknamed him “tagalong”.  His brothers listened to the Ramones, the Clash and the Specials – which later came to be Tim’s main source of inspiration for his music.

Tim and Matt first met in 1972 at a father-son group called the Y-Indian Guides!  They remained friends and were in some of the same classes in school.  From senior year they seriously started to put a band together  They played in various bands over the years and finally formed Operation Ivy in 1987.  Tim says he and Matt were much more than friends – they were brothers.

In the few years that would follow Tim’s life would take a turn for the very worst.  Between 1989 and 1991 Tim was hospitalized three times for alcohol and drug abuse.  His brother Jeff, found him on the sidewalk in Telegraph Avenue and rushed him to hospital where he was found to have a 3.9 alcohol level – enough to have been fatal.  After that, Tim was in and out of detox centers, living in a Salvation Army hostel, he was malnourished and broke.  Matt stuck by him through this time often buying him food and giving him money.  But it wasn’t until Matt finally gave up on playing music with him that Tim decided once and for all to “get clean”.  His music meant way too much to him, his partnership with Matt meant even more.

Tim was living in a $100 a month punk rock house when money from Operation Ivy’s album finally began to come in.  Tim felt like he’d been blessed, he says “For the first time in my life I had enough money to take care of myself and write music”  A sober Tim learned how to vent his anger and frustration through making music with Rancid.

In 1995 on tour in Australia Tim first met a young girl named Brody who would become his wife in 1998.  Sadly, the marriage ended in 2003 with much interest from the media.  And saw Tim give some of his most personal interviews to date. 

In 1998, Tim set up his own label with Brett Gurewitz– Hellcat Records.  Becoming the home of such bands as, Dropkick Murphys, US Bombs, Slackers and F-Minus.  Tim also took the role has producer and songwriter for a lot of bands and artists.

In 2001 he furthered his talents by making the commercially successful 3-piece the Transplants.

Tim  remains to be an inspiration to young punk kids worldwide through his songwriting, individual guitar-playing and distinctive voice..