Formed circa 1978, The Offs were a punk/ska band from San Francisco, started by guitarist Billy Hawk and singer Don Vinil, and later joined by former Hot Tuna drummer Bob Steeler and a rotation of horn players including Bob Roberts, Richard Edson and Roland Young.

[1] In 1978, The Offs self-released their first record - a 7" single featuring a cover of the Slickers' Johnny Too Bad with the Billy Hawk-penned 624803 on the B-side.

[5] Fellow San Francisco punk group, Dead Kennedys played their first show with the Offs in 1978.

[6] The Offs counted among their fans and friends numerous people in the downtown New York art/music scene, including artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, musician and actor Richard Edson, who played trumpet with the band, and Glenn O'Brien, the peripatetic chronicler of the scene for Andy Warhol's Interview magazine.

[7] In 1984, David Ferguson's label CD Presents released a full-length album for the band called The Offs First Record, with artwork by Basquiat.