Dexter Holland

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 the record label Nitro Records, sold in 2013, with former bandmate Greg K. and also holds a PhD in molecular biology.

Bryan Keith Holland was born in Garden Grove, California, on December 29, 1965. 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". He acquired the nickname "Dexter" for his academic prowess, taken from the slang term "Poindexter".

Holland attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a B.S. in biology and an M.S. in molecular biology. He suspended his studies to focus on music when the Offspring found success in 1994, but later resumed and earned a PhD in molecular biology in May 2017. 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.

Holland started a punk band named Manic Subsidal in 1984 with his friend and cross-country teammate Greg "K." Kriesel. 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. Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman then joined on guitar, and Manic Subsidal changed their name to the Offspring in 1986. After recording a demo in 1988, 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. This album would eventually be re-issued in 1995, by Holland's own record label, Nitro Records.

In 1991, the Offspring signed with Epitaph Records (home of Bad Religion, L7, NOFX, Pennywise and other similar bands). Their first release on the label was Ignition, which was released in 1992. Their last album for that label was 1994's Smash, which still holds the world record for most sales of an album on an independent label. The band then signed with Columbia Records in 1996 (after Brett Gurewitz, owner of Epitaph and guitarist for Bad Religion, sold the contract to Columbia, Holland claims) for whom they released their next six albums, Ixnay on the Hombre (1997), Americana (1998), Conspiracy of One (2000), Splinter (2003), Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace (2008) and Days Go By (2012). The albums Let The Bad Times Roll (2021) and Supercharged (2024) were released on Concord Records. Holland is one of the two members (along with Noodles) to appear on all of The Offspring's albums, and as of Greg K.'s split from the band in November 2018, he is the only remaining original member.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Holland's early musical influences include Aerosmith, the Beatles, the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, Kiss, Bob Marley, Queen, and the Rolling Stones.

All of Holland's Ibanez RG body guitars are made out of mahogany and fitted with DiMarzio Super Distortion bridge pickups. During their latest recordings, Holland used a vintage Gibson SG Junior. He plays through a Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier.

Holland met hair stylist Kristine Luna in 1992, and they were married in 1995. She co-wrote the Offspring song "Session" and appeared in the music video for "I Choose". They divorced in 2012. He married Amber Sasse in 2013. His daughter from a previous relationship, Alexa (born 1986), is also a musician and goes by the stage name Lex Land. Holland also has two children from his current marriage.

A licensed aircraft pilot, Holland completed a 10-day solo flight around the world in November 2004. He also enjoys surfing and collecting postage stamps from the Isle of Man.

Holland, Bryan (2017). Discovery of mature microRNA sequences within the protein-coding regions of global HIV-1 genomes: predictions of novel mechanisms for viral infection and pathogenicity (Thesis). Los Angeles, California: University of Southern California. ProQuest 2071314868.