NOFX’s Fat Mike on Near-Death Health Scare and Life Philosophy

Fat Mike of NOFX Says He Nearly Died From H. Pylori Infection In a candid interview with Exclaim! conducted by Punknews’ Em Moore, Fat Mike of NOFX revealed he came dangerously close to death due to an H. Pylori infection. The NOFX frontman stated plainly: “I was 50/50 about dying. I lost a lot of blood. It wasn’t because of drugs, it was because of an H. Pylori infection.” The revelation came during a wide-ranging discussion covering his battles with substance abuse, his recent sober weekend and the making of NOFX’s documentary film “40 Years of Fuckin’ Up.” Fat Mike emphasized that despite his history with drugs and alcohol, this particular health crisis stemmed solely from the bacterial infection. H. Pylori (Helicobacter pylori) is a bacterium known to infect the stomach lining and is a leading cause of peptic ulcers. According to medical sources, untreated H. Pylori infections can lead to serious complications including internal bleeding, perforation of the stomach wall, and increased risk of gastric cancer. The infection is typically treated with a combination of antibiotics and acid-reducing medications. Fat Mike, born Michael John Burkett on January 16, 1967, has been the bassist and lead vocalist for NOFX since its formation in 1983. He is also the founder of Fat Wreck Chords and a cofounder of the punk cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. A graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in Social Science and a minor in Human Sexuality, Burkett has long been open about his personal struggles and advocacy function. The interview took place as Fat Mike promoted screenings of NOFX’s documentary “40 Years of Fuckin’ Up” in New York City’s SoHo district. Reflecting on the band’s four-decade career, he noted how much the neighborhood has changed since their early days playing CBGB in 1985. Throughout his career, Fat Mike has been known for his candidness about personal topics ranging from his Jewish atheist identity to his experiences with kink, all of which are explored in depth in the new documentary. His recent health scare serves as a stark reminder that even seasoned musicians face unexpected health challenges unrelated to their lifestyle choices.