The Offspring 'like family' 25 years on

After almost 25 years together, US rockers The Offspring say they are like a band of brothers - but more Jonas Brothers than Oasis.

The Californian punk band, who had hits such as Come Out and Play, Self Esteem and Pretty Fly For a White Guy, have survived the highs and lows of the music business, with most of the same band members.

Guitarist Noodles said the secret to The Offspring's longevity was that they were like family, in more than just name.

"We've become like brothers, like family," he told AAP from Orange County, California.

"We do have our arguments and we fight but we're not like the brothers in Oasis or Black Crows.

"We're more like the Jonas Brothers or the kids from Hanson."

The Offspring, led by singer Dexter Holland, first played in Australia as part of the Big Day Out in 1995.

Now they are heading back Down Under to play at Melbourne's Megarampage - the biggest skate boarder and BMX rider event to hit this country.

"We love going to Australia. We've always had great audiences there so we're looking forward to it," Noodles said.

The Offspring will be playing alongside Good Charlotte, Wu Tang Clan, Cog, Shaman Son, Mammal and Kelley James at the event at Etihad Stadium on October 31.

The band have recently been touring the US in support of their ninth studio album Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, which was released last year.

On that tour they let audiences choose the Offspring songs they wanted to hear.

But one song that was in the set every night, regardless of the voting, was Pretty Fly For A White Guy.

"We do that one every night," Noodles said.

"That's one of the more tongue in cheek, goofy songs that we have. But it's fun to play and it goes over really well every night."

The song was a big hit in Australia, where it topped the singles chart and was voted number one on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1998.

Noodles said the song, which makes fun of wannabe gangsters, wasn't aimed at anyone in particular.

"I think it was just inspired by a lot of white suburban kids that we saw, that just got so into the hip hop fad, trying to affect the language and the street talk and didn't really pull it off," he laughed.

"Some people took offence at it. Everlast thought we were saying white kids can't rap. That's not what it was about at all.

"It was more about people just posing."

The Offspring will also play shows in Brisbane and Sydney in late October.