Doctor's Unusual Past Comes Out In Court After Saving A Juror's Life

To his patients, James Lilja appeared like a run-of-the-mill doctor. But before he ever put on a white coat, he lived a much different life. As a founding member and drummer of the punk band The Offspring, he could have hit it big. Then he gave it up for medicine, having no idea he'd re-enter the spotlight, this time, as a courtroom defendant thrust into an unusual position.

Punk Rock Past

The Offspring are known for punchy hits like “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)” and "Why Don't You Get A Job?" but those songs, and their rise to the spotlight, came in the '90s after Lilja left. He had an earlier role in their timeline, at the band's formation.

Walked Away

Lilja played on their debut single “I’ll Be Waiting” and co-wrote the song “Beheaded." But, after three years with the band, Lilja still had other dreams left to accomplish. He hadn't intended on pursuing music as a career, and he wasn't going to get sidetracked. So in 1987, he walked away.

Pursued His Dreams

Lilja gave up the crowded punk venues for medical textbooks, as lead vocalist Dexter Holland wrote in a 2007 blog post, “He was so intent on getting into medical school that he didn’t really even practice with us much — which is part of why he’s not our drummer anymore!”

Doctor Identity

Lilja earned a degree in microbiology from UCLA, then went onto the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He left school as a fully certified gynecological oncologist and settled in the Bay Area of San Francisco. Lilja opened his own practice treating pre-cancerous conditions and cancer, a far cry from his days of thrashing fans and hectic drums, though he didn't yet know he'd return to the spotlight.