Quick Facts
Biography
John William Stevenson (born September 10, 1963) is an American musician and record producer. He is the drummer, main songwriter, and the only constant member of the California punk rock group Descendents since its inception. In late December 1981, he played a few concerts with the hardcore punk band Black Flag because their drummer ROBO was detained in England after a tour there. He went on to record with Black Flag on several of their albums until 1985. After this he focused his attention on Descendents and played with them until their lead singer Milo Aukerman left in 1987. After Milo had left, Bill and the others from Descendents, Karl Alvarez and Stephen Egerton, got singer Dave Smalley of Dag Nasty and formed 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, the 2004 album Cool to Be You and the newest, 2016's Hypercaffium Spazzinate. 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.
Stevenson, along with 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.
In 2005, he became a member of instrumental group The Mag Seven, and produced the group's album.
One of Stevenson's most recent works is producing Rise Against's seventh studio album, The Black Market, which was released July 15, 2014, As I Lay Dying's Awakened as well as the recent NOFX album Self Entitled. In August 2007, he revealed plans to produce and play drums on an album by The Lemonheads.
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 22 hours outside of his home and came 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.
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. He left Black Flag in 1985 to reform the Descendents. The Descendents became 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. They are currently together.
Membership Timeline
Personal life
Bill Stevenson has never tried recreational drugs in his life other than alcohol, which he did not drink until later in life.
In recent years, Stevenson has had some health issues. He grew a brain tumor unknowingly around 2008, which remained for another two years before being removed. The tumor caused Stevenson to lose motivation and eventually made him gain weight, had a blood clot, diabetes and sleep apnea. In 2010, he had a successful surgery to remove it which helped him to gain his health back. In 2016, Stevenson revealed he had open heart surgery.
Selected discography
See also Albums produced by Bill Stevenson
- Descendents - Hypercaffium Spazzinate - (2016) Drums, producer, engineer
- The Last – Danger (2013) Drums
- Only Crime – Virulence (2007) Drums, Producer and Engineer
- Descendents – Cool to Be You (2004) Drums, producer, Backing Vocals
- Descendents – 'Merican (2004) Drums, producer, Backing Vocals
- Only Crime – To The Nines (2004) Drums, Produced, engineered, mixing, and mastering
- All/Descendents – Live Plus One [2 CD Split] (2001) Drums, producer
- All – Problematic (2000) Drums, producer
- All – ALL (1999) Drums, producer
- All – Mass Nerder (1998) Drums, producer
- Descendents – Everything Sucks (1996) Drums, producer
- All – Pummel (1995) Drums, producer
- All – Breaking Things (1993) Drums, producer
- All – Percolater (1992) Drums, producer
- Descendents – Somery (1991) Drums, producer, Artwork
- All – Allroy Saves (1990) Drums, producer, Backing Vocals
- All – Trailblazer (1990) Drums, producer
- Black Flag – I Can See You (1989) Drums
- All – Allroy's Revenge (1989) Drums, producer
- All – Allroy for Prez (1988) Drums, producer
- All – Allroy Sez (1988) Drums, producer
- Descendents – Hallraker (1988) Drums, producer
- Black Flag – Wasted...Again (1987) Drums
- Descendents – Liveage (1988) Drums, producer
- Descendents – ALL (1987) Drums, producer
- Descendents – 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 (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 (1984) Drums, engineer
- Black Flag – My War (1984) Drums, producer
- Black Flag – TV Party (1982) Drums
- Descendents – Milo Goes to College (1982) Drums, Backing Vocals
- Descendents – Fat (1981) Drums, Backing Vocals
- Descendents – Ride the Wild/It's a Hectic World single (1979) Drums, producer
- Higley - Higley (2017) Drums on almost all tracks, producer of almost the complete album