Lars is co-producing the as-yet unnamed album (schelduled for summer release on Epitaph) with Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong-and it won't be their first time behind the board together, either. Last year, the team produced Latino harcore sensations the Union, and Lars has spent the past six months off the road working with several other street punk bands. He is clearly comfortable about his current dual role in the studio, declaring, "Who knows Rancid better than Rancid? We already know what we want to do in the studio."
The big question, of course, is whether or not Rancid will be able to retain their patented down-and-dirty snarl now that they have conquered the stadiums of America.
"Once you start worrying about that sh*t, that's when you lose it," he answers. "It's like being with a woman. How do you keep the fire in a relationship? You don't just do the missionary position-you break out the candles, get into some spanking, you make it interesting. Come to think of it, maybe I'll do some guitar tracks while I'm getting spanked by my girlfriend."