Milo Aukerman (born January 1, 1963) is an American singer, songwriter, and research biochemist. Aukerman is most widely known for being the lead singer of the early Los Angeles area punk rock band the Descendents, a group widely considered to be pioneers of modern "pop punk" . While not an original member, he joined after their first single ("Ride the Wild" b/w "It's a Hectic World"). The first full length Descendents album (released in 1982) was titled Milo Goes to College, as he had gone to school at UC San Diego. The initial single had caricatures of the three original members, and the drawing used to symbolize Milo, invented by a high school classmate, was used on many of their albums. Aukerman has also provided backing vocals for other musicians, and, while attending college (between stints with the Descendents), briefly fronted the San Diego band "Milestone" who released one independently-produced album.
As a musician, Aukerman sings in a mid-range tenor, and his generally upbeat lyrics encompass such universal topics as girls/rejection, dependence upon caffeine, and the neverending quest for good food. He is known for his bespectacled, unabashedly nerdy persona and self-deprecating, "anti-rockstar" demeanor.
Aukerman attended Mira Costa High School, with fellow members of the Descendents.
Aukerman holds a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and works as a plant researcher at DuPont in Delaware. The Descendents are still active on occasion, turning up in 2010, replacing Devo to headline the FunFunFunFest in Austin, TX on November 7 and playing Australia in December.
Aukerman has been married since 1996 and is the father of two children. He claims that parenting is the most challenging thing he has ever done, although he has stated that being in a band has been more rewarding.