rancid were formed in 1991 out of the ashes of out of the seminal ska punk band operation ivy, which had broken up two years earlier. following operation ivy's breakup, tim armstrong and matt freeman decided to form a new band, and started a hardcore punk group called generator, which quickly broke up. they also started two other ska influenced bands, downfall and dance hall crashers, but moved on quickly from both. in 1991, after armstrong and freeman recruited drummer brett reed, rancid officially became rancid.