When you think of potential artists Ed Sheeran might duet with, you’ll likely think of similar iconic pop acts like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd or Harry Styles. You certainly wouldn’t think of American punk rock band The Offspring, who are credited with revitalizing mainstream interest in punk during the 1990s. However, as strange as it may sound, this very duet actually took place a matter of weeks ago, with The Offspring inviting Ed to join them onstage at a festival in California.
The Yorkshire-born superstar played one song with the legendary punk rockers – ‘Million Miles Away’ – a fast-paced, energetic punk track. Wearing an Offspring t-shirt, Ed looked as though he was having the time of his life, sharing lead vocals with and playing guitar alongside the group’s lead singer Dexter Holland. “Now I’ve seen everything,” one viewer quipped about the strange nature of the duet, no doubt amazed that two artists from such different genres could sound so good together.
As for how this crazy collaboration came about, apparently Ed has been an Offspring fan since he was a child, stating that “the first album I ever bought was The Offspring – Conspiracy of One. I used to pretend to be in their band in the mirror and sing along to the album when I was nine.” Consequently, it’s no surprise that for Ed the experience felt like “living out a childhood dream,” whilst The Offspring themselves said on social media that it was a “pleasure” to have him join them onstage.
If this unexpected duet has made you want to check out more of The Offspring’s work, it’s highly recommended that you check out their most popular track ‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’, the music video of which has been watched by an eye-watering 301 million people. Whilst the track itself centered around a gritty guitar riff and Dexter’s aggressive vocals, the video is a strange, almost trippy experience, featuring a variety of freaky CGI effects and weird characters alongside members of the band.
Ed Sheeran’s duet with The Offspring likely came as a surprise to both artists’ fan bases, but it’s a wonderful example of how two very different artists can easily collaborate to create unique and unexpected musical experiences. It looks like both artists loved playing with each other too, so who knows, maybe at some point in the not too distant future they’ll be collaborating again. Watch this space…
If you would like to hear more from this talented band, you can visit their [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Offspring/?locale=en_GB) or check out their [website](https://www.offspring.com/supercharged) for more incredible music.