View source for Bill Stevenson (musician)

{{short description|American musician}}
{{For|the blues and jazz pianist|Bill Stevenson (Canadian musician)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Bill Stevenson
| image             = Descendents 2014-09-28 04.JPG
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = Stevenson performing with the Descendents in 2014
| birth_name        = John William Stevenson
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1963|9|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Torrance, California]], U.S.
| origin            = 
| death_date        = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| death_place       = 
| instrument        = Drums, percussion<!--- If you think an instrument should be listed, a discussion to reach consensus is needed first per: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Infobox_musical_artist#instrument--->
| genre             = [[Punk rock]], [[hardcore punk]]
| occupation        = Musician, songwriter, producer, [[Sound engineer|engineer]]
| years_active      = 1978–present
| label             = Orca, [[New Alliance Records|New Alliance]], [[SST Records|SST]], [[Cruz Records|Cruz]], [[Interscope Records|Interscope]], [[Epitaph Records|Epitaph]], [[Fat Wreck Chords]], [[Rise Records|Rise]]
| current_member_of = {{hlist|[[Descendents]]|[[All (band)|All]]|[[Only Crime]]}}
| past_member_of    = {{hlist|[[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]|[[The Lemonheads]]|[[The Last (band)|The Last]]|[[The Nig-Heist]]|[[Higley (band)]]}}
| associated_acts   = [[Descendents (band)|Descendents]], [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]], [[All (band)|All]], [[Only Crime]], [[The Lemonheads]], [[The Last (band)|The Last]], [[The Nig-Heist]]
}}

'''John William Stevenson''' (born September 10, 1963) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is the drummer, main songwriter, and only constant member of the California [[punk rock]] group [[Descendents (band)|Descendents]] since its inception. In late December 1981, he played a few concerts with the [[hardcore punk]] band [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] because their drummer, [[Robo (musician)|Robo]], was detained in England after a tour there. He went on to record with Black Flag on several of their albums until 1985, including the highly influential ''[[My War]]''. After this, he focused his attention on Descendents and played with the band until lead singer [[Milo Aukerman]] left in 1987. After Milo's departure, Bill and the other members of Descendents, [[Karl Alvarez]] and [[Stephen Egerton (guitarist)|Stephen Egerton]], recruited singer [[Dave Smalley]] of [[Dag Nasty]] and formed [[ALL (band)|ALL]]. ALL went on to have two more singers, Scott Reynolds (1989–1993) and Chad Price (1993–present). Aukerman came back for the 1996 album ''[[Everything Sucks (Descendents album)|Everything Sucks]]'', the 2004 album ''[[Cool to Be You]]'', 2016's ''[[Hypercaffium Spazzinate]]'' and the newest album ''[[9th & Walnut|9th and Walnut]]''. All and Descendents continue to tour between Stevenson's and Aukerman's respective careers as a recording engineer and a biochemist.
Stevenson was born in [[Torrance, California]] and attended [[Mira Costa High School]], with fellow members of the Descendents.<ref>Spurrier, Jeff. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080929022539/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/58454421.html?dids=58454421:58454421&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+05%2C+1986&author=JEFF+SPURRIER&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=DESCENDENTS+HANG+OUT+IN+NEVER-NEVER+LAND&pqatl=google "DESCENDENTS HANG OUT IN NEVER-NEVER LAND"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', January 5, 1986. Accessed January 10, 2008.</ref>

Stevenson and record producer Jason Livermore are the founders of the recording studio [[The Blasting Room]] in [[Fort Collins]], [[Colorado]]. Currently, Stevenson is involved in [[Russ Rankin]]'s [[side project]] [[Only Crime]] with former members of [[GWAR]] and [[Converge (band)|Converge]].

In 2005, he became a member of instrumental group The Mag Seven, and produced the group's album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_37|title=ALL? No, the Mag Seven!|work=Alternative Press|date=October 14, 2005|access-date=June 24, 2016}}</ref> He also played with [[The Lemonheads]] from 2005 to 2007, appearing on their [[The Lemonheads (album)|2006 self titled album]], which he also helped produce.<ref>[http://www.punknews.org/article/26558 Lemonheads full length, reissue due next year], ''Punknews.org'', November 16, 2007.</ref><ref name="newalbum">[http://www.punknews.org/article/25179 Stevenson talks about next Lemonheads album], ''Punknews.org'', August 21, 2007.</ref>

Stevenson produced [[As I Lay Dying (band)|As I Lay Dying]]'s 2012 album ''[[Awakened (album)|Awakened]]'', the 2012 [[NOFX]] album ''[[Self Entitled]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/48170/nofx-reveal-self-entitled |title=NOFX reveal 'Self Entitled' |publisher=Punknews.org | date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=2012-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/nofxs_new_album_named_self_entitled_pre_order_live_now |title=NOFX's new album named 'Self-Entitled'; pre-order live now |magazine=[[Alternative Press (music magazine)|Alternative Press]] | date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=2012-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alterthepress.com/2012/07/nofx-announce-new-album-self-entitled.html |title=NOFX Announce New Album "Self Entitled" |publisher=Alter the Press! |date=July 19, 2012 |access-date=2012-07-19}}</ref> as well as [[Rise Against]]'s seventh and ninth studio albums, ''[[The Black Market (Rise Against album)|The Black Market]]'' and ''[[Nowhere Generation]]'', released July 15, 2014 and June 4, 2021 respectively.

One of Stevenson's most recent works was the production of [[Frenzal Rhomb]]'s tenth studio album ''[[The Cup of Pestilence]]'', released April 7, 2023.

==Early life==
Bill Stevenson (birth name; John William Stevenson) was born on September 10, 1963. Stevenson grew up mostly with his father, Steve Stevenson. He describes his father as a cold man but present for him. Steve Stevenson worked two jobs and was out of the house 22 hours a day. Steve would come to give Bill food and put him to bed. Around the age of fourteen or fifteen, Stevenson started working for [[Keith Morris]]' father as a fisherman. He attended [[Mira Costa High School]] where he met his friends and future bandmates of [[Descendents]].<ref name="filmage">{{Cite web|url=https://filmage.vhx.tv/packages/filmage-film-trailer-only/videos/filmage-the-story-of-descendentsall-stereo|title=FILMAGE: The Story of DESCENDENTS/ALL (Stereo) – FILMAGE – (Film Only)|website=Filmage.vhx.tv|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref>

==Career==
Stevenson is an original member of the [[Descendents]] forming in 1978. The Descendents put out a single called "[[Ride the Wild / It's a Hectic World]]" in 1979. In 1982 they put out their first album ''[[Milo Goes to College]]''. After the album, singer [[Milo Aukerman]] went to college, the band played rarely, so Stevenson joined [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]. He left Black Flag in 1985 to reform the Descendents. The Descendents became [[All (band)|All]] in 1988 after Aukerman left once again. The Descendents would form again from 1996 to 1997 and then in 2002, before going on hiatus. From 2003 to 2007, Stevenson played in smaller bands until All played shows again in 2008. In 2010, the Descendents reformed again.<ref name="filmage"/>

===Membership timeline===
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:80 top:10 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat  = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1977 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom

ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1977
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1977

Colors =
  id:drums    value:orange          legend:Drums
  id:guitar    value:green          legend:Occasional_live_guitar

BarData =
  bar:Descendents      text:"Descendents"
  bar:Black            text:"Black Flag"
  bar:All              text:"All"
  bar:Only             text:"Only Crime"
  bar:Lemonheads       text:"The Lemonheads"

PlotData=
  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:Descendents  from:01/01/1977 till:01/01/1983 color:drums
  bar:Descendents  from:01/05/1985 till:01/07/1987 color:drums
  bar:Descendents  from:01/05/1995 till:01/10/1997 color:drums
  bar:Descendents  from:01/01/2002 till:01/08/2004 color:drums
  bar:Descendents  from:01/01/2010 till:end        color:drums
  bar:All          from:01/07/1987 till:end        color:drums
  bar:All          from:01/07/1987 till:end        color:guitar width:3
  bar:Only         from:01/01/2003 till:end        color:drums
  bar:Lemonheads   from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:drums
  bar:Black        from:01/01/1983 till:01/05/1985 color:drums

}}

== Personal life ==
Bill Stevenson has never tried recreational drugs in his life other than alcohol, which he did not drink until later in life.<ref>{{ cite web | access-date = October 10, 2017 | title = FAQ | website = descendentsonline.com | url = http://descendents.tumblr.com/FAQ | quote = ''Q'': Are the [[Descendents]] straight edge?<br />''[[Karl Alvarez]]'': Descendents were around before the song "Straight Edge" so it's really a moot point. The answer to the question is no, though Bill's never done any drugs at all. | url-status = live | archive-date = June 1, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130601024453/http://descendents.tumblr.com/FAQ }}</ref><ref>{{ cite web|access-date=October 10, 2017|quote=''[[Milo Aukerman]]'': [...] Bill and myself were not really drinking or doing any drugs at all. [...] But as we've grown older Bill and I enjoy getting together and having a beer every now and then. [...] |publication-date=January 23, 2013 |title=Descendents Interview With Milo Aukerman |url=http://restassuredzine.com/interviews/1625-descendents-interview-with-milo-aukerma |website=restassuredzine.com |url-status=live |archive-date=May 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170520152557/http://restassuredzine.com/interviews/1625-descendents-interview-with-milo-aukerma }}</ref>

In recent years, Stevenson has had some health issues. He developed a benign brain tumor around 2008, which remained for another two years before being removed. The tumor caused Stevenson to lose motivation and eventually made him gain weight. He also underwent surgery to remove a blood clot from one of his lungs. He is also a diabetic and suffers from sleep apnea. In 2010, he had a successful surgery to remove the tumor which helped him to regain his health.<ref name="filmage"/> In 2016, Stevenson revealed he had open heart surgery.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=October 10, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nPMCpSfZSI |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/7nPMCpSfZSI| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Descendents' Bill Stevenson Had 20 Espressos After Open Heart Surgery|format=video|publisher=[[Rolling Stone]]|publication-date=July 20, 2016|website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Selected discography ==
''See also [[:Category:Albums produced by Bill Stevenson (musician)|Albums produced by Bill Stevenson]]''

* [[Higley (band)|Higley]] – ''[https://higley.bandcamp.com/ Higley]'' (2017) Drums, producer
* [[Descendents]] – ''[[Hypercaffium Spazzinate]]'' – (2016) Drums, producer, engineer
* [[The Last (band)|The Last]] – ''Danger'' (2013) Drums
* [[Only Crime]] – ''[[Virulence (album)|Virulence]]'' (2007) Drums, producer and engineer
* [[The Lemonheads]] – ''[[The Lemonheads (album)|The Lemonheads]]'' (2006) Drums, producer
* Descendents – ''[[Cool to Be You]]'' (2004) Drums, producer, backing vocals
* Descendents – ''[['Merican]]'' (2004) Drums, producer, Backing Vocals
* Only Crime – ''[[To the Nines (Only Crime album)|To The Nines]]'' (2004) Drums, producer, engineer, mixing, and mastering
* [[All (band)|All]]/Descendents – ''[[Live Plus One]]'' [2 CD Split] (2001) Drums, producer
* All – ''[[Problematic (album)|Problematic]]'' (2000) Drums, producer
* All – ''[[ALL (ALL album)|ALL]]'' (1999) Drums, producer
* All – ''[[Mass Nerder]]'' (1998) Drums, producer
* Descendents – ''[[Everything Sucks (Descendents album)|Everything Sucks]]'' (1996) Drums, producer
* All – ''[[Pummel (album)|Pummel]]'' (1995) Drums, producer
* All – ''[[Breaking Things]]'' (1993) Drums, producer
* All – ''[[Percolater (album)|Percolater]]'' (1992) Drums, producer
* Descendents – ''[[Somery]]'' (1991) Drums, producer, Artwork
* All – ''[[Allroy Saves]]'' (1990) Drums, producer, backing vocals
* All – ''[[Trailblazer (album)|Trailblazer]]'' (1990) Drums, producer
* [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] – ''[[I Can See You (EP)|I Can See You]]'' (1989) Drums
* All – ''[[Allroy's Revenge]]'' (1989) Drums, producer
* Descendents – ''[[Hallraker: Live!]]'' (1989) Drums, producer
* All – ''[[Allroy for Prez]]'' (1988) Drums, producer
* All – ''[[Allroy Sez]]'' (1988) Drums, producer
* Black Flag – ''[[Wasted...Again]]'' (1987) Drums
* Descendents – ''[[Liveage!]]'' (1987) Drums, producer
* Descendents – ''[[ALL (Descendents album)|ALL]]'' (1987) Drums, producer
* Descendents – ''[[Enjoy! (Descendents album)|Enjoy!]]'' (1986) Drums, engineer, backing vocals
* Descendents – ''[[I Don't Want to Grow Up]]'' (1985) Drums, engineer, backing vocals
* [[Minuteflag]] – ''MinuteFlag'' (1985) Drums
* Black Flag – ''[[In My Head (album)|In My Head]]'' (1985) Drums, producer
* Black Flag – ''[[The Process of Weeding Out]]'' (1985) Drums, producer
* Black Flag – ''[[Loose Nut]]'' (1985) Drums, producer, backing vocals
* Black Flag – ''[[Live '84]]'' (1984) Drums, mixing
* Black Flag – ''[[Slip It In]]'' (1984) Drums, producer
* Black Flag – ''[[Family Man (Black Flag album)|Family Man]]'' (1984) Drums, engineer
* Black Flag – ''[[My War]]'' (1984) Drums, producer
* Black Flag – ''[[TV Party (EP)|TV Party]]'' (1982) Drums
* Descendents – ''[[Milo Goes to College]]'' (1982) Drums, backing vocals
* Descendents – ''[[Fat (EP)|Fat]]'' (1981) Drums, backing vocals
* Descendents – ''[[Ride the Wild/It's a Hectic World single]]'' (1979) Drums, producer

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Descendents}}
{{Black Flag}}
{{All (band)}}
{{Lemonheads}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevenson, Bill}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:Record producers from California]]
[[Category:American rock drummers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Descendents members]]
[[Category:Black Flag (band) members]]
[[Category:Hardcore punk musicians]]
[[Category:All (band) members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Torrance, California]]
[[Category:American punk rock drummers]]
[[Category:American male drummers]]
[[Category:Only Crime members]]
[[Category:American audio engineers]]
[[Category:Punk rock record producers]]
[[Category:20th-century American drummers]]
[[Category:Mira Costa High School alumni]]
[[Category:Drummers from California]]