James Lilja

James Lilja
Birth name	James Frederick Lilja
Born	1966
Origin	United States
Genres	Punk rock, hardcore punk
Occupation(s)	Musician Gynecologic oncologist
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1984–present
Labels	Black Label Records
Associated acts	The Offspring

James Frederick Lilja (born May 1966), is an American gynecologic oncologist and a musician from the Los Angeles area, perhaps best known as the second drummer of the punk rock band The Offspring, replacing Jim Benton and performing with the band between 1984 and 1987.

Lilja attended the University of California, Los Angeles between 1984 and 1988, and from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology.

In 1984, Lilja had joined the group Manic Subsidal, which eventually changed its name to The Offspring in 1986. Lilja played on the group's first demo tape in 1986, which earned them early exposure through a positive review in Maximumrocknroll magazine. Later that year, Lilja performed on the band's debut single, "I'll Be Waiting" released through Black Label Records. Lilja also helped write the song "Beheaded," later featured on the group's debut album, The Offspring (1989). Lilja was also present when the band changed names from Manic Subsidal to The Offspring in 1986. It's been rumored that Lilja himself proposed the new name after the band opted to retire the nonsensical 'Manic Subsidal' name.

Lilja amicably departed from The Offspring; The Offspring frontman Dexter Holland has said that Lilja was so focused on getting into medical school that the band let him go on friendly terms. Lilja gained admission to University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he graduated with an M.D. in 1993. Lilja's position in the band was filled by Ron Welty in 1987, who was only 16 years old at the time.

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