The last time I've heard them must be at least 10 years ago, kick ass band 
Yup. I have a true Rancid story.
Back in 1993 I was walking around SF with a friend, we had mohawks and spiked jacket and I saw Larz, Bret and some other guys on the street. They were sitting outside some deli eating. This was right about the time they blew up with the Let's Go album.
They saw my mowhawk and saw that I was just a kid, so Bret said "Hey come here man".
I was really nervous and intimidated but they were just being cool. Asking me where i'm from, do I play in a band, etc.
Then Larz said "Keep it up with the punk man. See you later." Or something like that, so I left.
Seemed like really guys. But I stopped doing the punk thing a few months later, it was just a short phase

I also met the guys from Green Day in Berkeley in a similar way. But I never really liked Green Day. I thought they were pussies. Bu they seems very cool too.