Ron Welty

American drummer

Punk rock
skate punk
alternative rock

Occupation(s)DrummerYears active1986–2007Labels

Nemesis
Epitaph
Columbia
Band-Aid on a Bullet

Formerly of

The Offspring
Steady Ground

Musical artist

Ronald S. Welty^[2] (born February 1, 1971)^[1] is an American former musician and the former drummer for the punk rock band the Offspring, where he was a member from 1987 to 2003 and served as the band's longest-serving drummer. After the Offspring, Welty formed Steady Ground.

Career

Born and raised in Orange County, California, Welty started playing drums in eighth grade and cited Neil Peart and Lars Ulrich as early influences.^[3] Welty started playing the drums in 8th Grade, one of his first bands were called Fuck Quality X-Rays. He also played drums in a band called Spinning Fish^[4] Ron Welty moved to Garden Grove for part of high school, and it was there that his older stepsister introduced him to Offspring frontman Dexter Holland.^[5]

The Offspring

In July 1987, 16-year-old Welty joined the Offspring, replacing James Lilja.^[6]^[7] Welty knew other members of the Offspring and lived in the same neighbourhood as Welty. Even though he was too young to get into many of the clubs where the band played, Welty convinced them to let him replace their previous drummer.^[3] During their first tour Welty's mother made frontman Dexter Holland sign papers saying he'd take care of Ron for her while they were on tour.

Welty performed on the Offspring's first six studio albums: The Offspring, Ignition, Smash, Ixnay on the Hombre, Americana, and Conspiracy of One. He was fired the band in 2003 when they were writing and recording Splinter.^[8] It was later revealed that Welty was fired by Holland and Wasserman "without any prior notice".^[9] Of all the band's drummers, Welty's tenure of almost 16 years remains the longest.^[10]

In September 2020, Welty filed a lawsuit against the Offspring for unpaid royalties, which he lost in March 2023.^[11]^[12]

Steady Ground

After the Offspring, Welty formed Steady Ground,^[10]^[8] in which he played drums and co-produced.

On February 26, 2006, Steady Ground released three demos on Myspace, entitled "Everyone's Emotional", "I Can't Contain Myself", and "You Better Close Your Eyes." In 2007, the band released the studio album Jettison,^[13]^[14] and in the same year they broke up.

Discography

The Offspring

The Offspring (1989)
Ignition (1992)
Smash (1994)
Ixnay on the Hombre (1997)
Americana (1998)
Conspiracy of One (2000)

Steady Ground

Jettinson (2007)

References

^ ^a ^b "Biography for Ron Welty". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
^ "Family tree of Ron Welty". Geneanet. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Another Offspring Homepage - Drum! Interviews Ron Welty". www.angelfire.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
^ "Drummerszone - Ron Welty". Drummerszone.com. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
^ "The Offspring Biography". web.archive.org. September 30, 2007. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
^ "Interview with Ron Welty". Tama Drums. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
^ "The Offspring". NIPP. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
^ ^a ^b "Ron Welty No Longer a Member of The Offspring". Offspring.com. March 18, 2003. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
^ @gregkriesel (October 3, 2019). "@HenrikHindby @AlannaBillings Ron didn't leave voluntarily either" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ ^a ^b Scott (March 19, 2003). "Ron Welty leaves the Offspring". Punknews.org. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
^ "Ron Welty vs Offspring, Inc.,, et al.: None".
^ Donahue, Bill (March 8, 2023). "The Offspring Beat Ex-Drummer's Lawsuit Seeking Millions More From $35M Catalog Sale". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
^ "Jettison". Rate Your Music. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
^ RLSegarra (March 25, 2007). "Steady Ground, Breaking Ground". Broowaha. Archived from the original on May 19, 2007. Retrieved October 1, 2013.