Throwback Thursday: Bill Stevenson discusses Descendents “Clean Sheets”

Chris DeMakes A Podcast

Chris DeMakes

Music History, Music Commentary, Music, Music Interviews

4.9 • 923 Ratings

🗓️ 28 August 2025

⏱️ 73 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

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

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Distro Kit.
0:03.4	149 at McDonald's gets you a mini Oreo McFlurry.
0:07.5	149 on a big night out gets you...
0:10.2	Sorry, no trainers.
0:13.0	McDonald's save a menu.
0:14.8	Actually get your money's worth.
0:17.7	From 11 a.m. price and participation may vary.
0:20.5	Fees apply to delivery. Subject to availability.
0:24.2	Shake down, break down, take down, everybody wants to the crowd alive. Breakdown, take down, you're busted.
0:34.2	Hey everyone, Chris Fafali is here again to bring you another throwback Thursday.
0:39.4	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.
0:52.3	Now, Clean Sheets was on the fourth Descendants album called All that came out
0:57.2	in June of 1987. This album marked the end of the descendants' first run when Milo left the band
1:03.0	to pursue a biochemistry career, and the rest of the guys soon after relaunched under the
1:08.5	name all with Dave Smalley as the singer. We all know that these early
1:13.3	descendants albums would go on to be influential to generations of punk rock bands that would come after
1:18.5	that, but there were no descendant songs or albums anywhere near a Billboard chart at this time.
1:24.6	So what was coming through people's car stereos and Walkmans at the time?
1:29.9	High up on the charts in June 1987, the same time that the descendants released the All album,
1:36.4	were songs like Always by Atlantic Star, Head to Toe by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam,
1:43.5	Into Deep by Genesis.
1:45.4	I want to dance with somebody by Whitney Houston.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 15 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Chris DeMakes, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Chris DeMakes and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.