Throwback Thursday: Bill Stevenson discusses Descendents “Clean Sheets”

Chris DeMakes A Podcast

Chris DeMakes

Music Interviews, Music, Music Commentary, Music History

4.9 • 923 Ratings

🗓️ 28 August 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week’s Throwback Thursday revisits Episode 161, featuring drummer, producer, and songwriter Bill Stevenson in a conversation that originally aired on June 26th, 2023. He dives into the story behind the Descendents' 1987 track “Clean Sheets,” from the dream that inspired it to the emotionally charged lyrics and recording process during the making of All. It's a raw and thoughtful look at a song that remains a fan favorite decades later. Chris DeMakes A Podcast is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner for taking your music to the next level. Get 30% off your first YEAR with DistroKid by signing up at ⁠http://distrokid.com/vip/demakes For bonus episode of The After Party podcast, an extensive back catalog of past After Party episodes, early ad-free releases of new episodes of Chris DeMakes A Podcast, full video versions of episodes, and MUCH more, head to the Patreon at ⁠http://www.ChrisDeMakes.com Follow Chris DeMakes A Podcast on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/chrisdemakesapodcast/⁠ Join the Chris DeMakes A Podcast community on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/2643961642526928/⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, hey, have you heard?
0:02.0	I'm going back to Las Vegas and the Punk Rock Museum to give guided tours.
0:06.0	This happens to coincide with the When We Were Young Festival.
0:09.0	I'll be there over the course of four days, October 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th.
0:15.0	Two tours a day, one at 1.30 p.m. and 1 at 4.30 p.m.
0:19.0	These tours will sell out. Space is limited, so grab your
0:23.3	tickets now at the punkrockmuseum.com. I got stories for days, and I can't wait to share them with you.
0:30.1	So don't miss your chance to walk the halls of the museum and share punk rock memories with me.
0:35.4	Head over to the punkrockmuseum.com and get your tickets now.
0:38.8	See you soon.
0:40.7	This episode is brought to you by Distro Kid.
0:44.5	Shake down, break down, take down.
0:47.4	Everybody wants to the crowd alive.
0:50.3	Break down, take down.
0:52.7	You're bustin.
0:54.7	Hey, everyone. Chris Fafaliius here again to bring you another throwback Thursday.
0:59.9	This week, we're throwing it back to June of 2023 when Bill Stevenson sat in for the second time on the show to discuss the writing and recording of the classic descendant song, Clean Sheets.
1:13.2	Now, Clean Sheets was on the fourth Descendants album called All that came out in June of 1987.
1:19.7	This album marked the end of the descendants' first run when Milo left the band to pursue a biochemistry
1:25.1	career, and the rest of the guys soon after relaunched under
1:28.9	the name all with Dave Smalley as the singer. We all know that these early descendants albums
1:34.6	would go on to be influential to generations of punk rock bands that would come after that,
	...

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