Bad Religion is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
punk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band founded in
Southern CaliforniaSouthern California, or SoCal, is defined as the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population centers around three major metropolitan areas, each of which have over 3 million people; the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area with over 12 million inhabitants, the San Bernardino-Riverside...
in 1980 by
Jay BentleyJay Dee Bentley is the bassist and co-founding member of the punk rock group Bad Religion. He has played with the band through its whole existence with a small break between 1982 and 1986.-Bad Religion:...
(bass),
Greg GraffinGregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is the lead vocalist, songwriter and co-founder of the punk band Bad Religion, as well as a life sciences and paleontology lecturer at UCLA.- Career with Bad Religion :...
(vocals),
Brett GurewitzBrett Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records. Gurewitz is Jewish and grew up in Woodland Hills, California....
(guitars) and
Jay ZiskroutJay Ziskrout was the first drummer for Bad Religion, forming the group with schoolmate Brett Gurewitz in 1980. He performed on Bad Religion's self-titled EP and eight tracks on their debut full-length album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?...
(drums). They are often credited for leading the revival of punk rock and inspiring several subsequent punk bands during the late 1980s, as well as influencing a large number of other punk and rock musicians throughout their career. In the 29 years since its inception, Bad Religion has had numerous lineup changes, and Graffin has been the only constant member, although the band currently features three of the original four members.
To date, Bad Religion has released fourteen
studio albumA studio album is an original collection of new tracks by a recording artist.It usually does not contain live recordings and/or remixes, and if it does, those tracks do not make up majority of the album and are often "bonus tracks"...
s, two
EPsAn extended play is a vinyl record, CD, or music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as an LP. Usually, a CD single has around 10–28 minutes of music, an EP has up to 36 minutes, and an album generally has 30–80 minutes. Mini-LPs generally contain 20–30...
, three
compilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from multiple recording artists, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, source or subject matter...
s, one
live recordingA live album – commonly contrasted with a studio album – is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances. Live albums may be recorded at a single concert, or combine recordings made at multiple concerts...
, and two
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
s. Their 1988 album
SufferSuffer is the third album by American punk rock trio Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the label's first album that was both released and distributed by the label...
has been regarded by some critics as one of the most important punk rock albums of all time, although it was not charted in Billboard. Bad Religion rose to fame with their 1993 album
Recipe for HateRecipe for Hate is Bad Religion's seventh full-length album, released on September 21, 1993. This was their last album on Epitaph Records and the band switched to Atlantic Records before its release....
, which reached number 14 on
BillboardBillboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Heatseekers chart, marking the highest initial charting album in the band's career. Their next album,
Stranger Than Fiction, featuring the band's well-known hit singles "
21st Century (Digital Boy)"21st Century " is a song by the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was originally recorded in 1990 on their fifth full-length studio album Against the Grain and rerecorded on the 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
" and "
Infected"Infected" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz from the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was released in 1994 and appears on their eighth proper studio album Stranger Than Fiction...
", was also highly successful and became the only Bad Religion album to obtain gold status in the
USThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Following Gurewitz's departure in 1994, Bad Religion declined in popularity and poor record sales continued until the release of
The New AmericaThe New America is an album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album on Atlantic Records.The New America is also Bad Religion's last album with Bobby Schayer on drums...
in 2000. Gurewitz returned to the fold in 2001, making Bad Religion a six-piece band, and contributed to their three most recent albums. The band has discussed the possibility of recording their next studio album, which is expected to be released in 2010, and will also mark the first time that a Bad Religion line-up had not changed in four consecutive studio recordings.
They are particularly known for their sophisticated use of style, metaphor, vocabulary, imagery, and vocal harmonies (which they refer to in their album
liner notesLiner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes....
as the "oozin aahs".) Lyrics are often reflective on matters of personal feelings or of personal or
social responsibility.Social consciousness is consciousness shared within a society. It can also be defined as social awareness; to be aware of the problems that different societies and communities face on a day-to-day basis; to be conscious of the difficulties and hardships of society.- Debate :There is debate as to...
Formation and early career (1980–1982)
Bad Religion was formed in
Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles is the largest city in the state of California and the second largest in the United States. Often abbreviated as L.A. and nicknamed The City of Angels, Los Angeles has an estimated population of 3.8 million and spans over in Southern California...
in 1980 by high school students
Greg GraffinGregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is the lead vocalist, songwriter and co-founder of the punk band Bad Religion, as well as a life sciences and paleontology lecturer at UCLA.- Career with Bad Religion :...
(
vocalsSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. A person who sings is called a singer or vocalist...
, keyboards),
Jay BentleyJay Dee Bentley is the bassist and co-founding member of the punk rock group Bad Religion. He has played with the band through its whole existence with a small break between 1982 and 1986.-Bad Religion:...
(
bassThe electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum....
),
Jay ZiskroutJay Ziskrout was the first drummer for Bad Religion, forming the group with schoolmate Brett Gurewitz in 1980. He performed on Bad Religion's self-titled EP and eight tracks on their debut full-length album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?...
(
drumsA drum set is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person . The term "drum kit" first became used in the 1700s in Britain...
), and
Brett GurewitzBrett Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records. Gurewitz is Jewish and grew up in Woodland Hills, California....
, also known as "Mr. Brett" (
guitarThe guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that adapts readily to a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six strings, but four-, seven-, eight-, ten-, eleven-, twelve-, thirteen- and eighteen-string guitars also exist. The size and shape of the neck and the base of the guitar...
). James O'Hanlon from New York filled in on guitar briefly as well while Brett was in the hospital with a broken leg. The band's major influences stemmed from earlier punk acts such as The Ramones,
The AdolescentsThe Adolescents are an American punk band formed in 1980 in Fullerton, California. It is a hardcore punk supergroup, made up of early members of Agent Orange and Social Distortion...
,
Black FlagBlack Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established largely as the brainchild of Greg Ginn: the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes...
,
The GermsThe Germs are an American punk band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane West replacing Darby Crash. Their 1977 single, "Forming"/"Sexboy", is generally regarded as the first punk record from Los Angeles...
, and The Sex Pistols. Outside of the punk scene, their influences ranged from
Elvis CostelloElvis Costello is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s, and later became associated with the punk rock and New Wave musical genres...
,
The JamThe Jam were an English rock band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore neatly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes and incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock...
, and
Nick LoweNick Lowe is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
to authors like
Jack KerouacJack Kerouac was an American author, poet and painter. Alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, he is considered a pioneer of the Beat Generation....
. Greg Graffin called his influences "pop sounding rock tunes that were not necessarily commercial."
In 1981, the band released their eponymous debut
EPAn extended play is a vinyl record, CD, or music download which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as an LP. Usually, a CD single has around 10–28 minutes of music, an EP has up to 36 minutes, and an album generally has 30–80 minutes. Mini-LPs generally contain 20–30...
on the newly-formed label,
Epitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record label. Gurewitz...
, which was and continues to be managed and owned by Gurewitz. 1982 saw the release of their first full-length album,
How Could Hell Be Any Worse?How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion. It was financed by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the band when it sold 10,000 copies in under a year. The sound of the record was vastly improved...
, gaining the band a sizable following. During the recording of
How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, Jay Ziskrout left the band and was replaced by Peter Finestone.
Into the Unknown, Back to the Known and hiatus (1983–1985)
In 1983, the band released
Into the Unknown, a keyboard-driven
progressive rockProgressive rock is a form of rock music that evolved in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility."...
album that was enormously unpopular with the band's core fanbase. It is now officially out of print, after almost all of the 10,000 copies were surreptitiously sold out of the warehouse they were being stored in by Gurewitz's ex-girlfriend, Suzy Shaw (who currently runs Bomp Records).
The record has since become a collectors item, and has also gained acceptance from some fans. It can be seen going for more than $100 on
eBayeBay Inc. is an American Internet company that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide. A majority of the sales take place through a set-time auction format, but subsequent methods include...
.
Also in 1983, the Mystic Records compilation album "The Sound Of Hollywood, Vol. 2" was released featuring two Bad Religion songs- "Every Day" and "Waiting For The Fire" which continued in the mellow acoustic/keyboard direction of the previous album. These songs are exclusive to this vinyl-only release which has been out of print for many years.
In 1984,
Greg HetsonGreg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California since he was 2 years old...
of Circle Jerks fame, who had played the guitar solo for "Part III" on
How Could Hell Be Any Worse?How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion. It was financed by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the band when it sold 10,000 copies in under a year. The sound of the record was vastly improved...
, teamed up with Graffin on the song "Running Fast" for the soundtrack of the film
Desperate Teenage Lovedolls. Originally credited to
Greg Greg on the initial release, the 1997 CD reissue lists the artist as
Greg Graffin and Greg Hetson. Soon after, Graffin reassembled Bad Religion with Hetson replacing Gurewitz, who had gone into rehab for his drug problem. Bad Religion returned to a somewhat mellower,
rock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States after World War II in the late 1940s, from a combination of the rhythms of the blues, from the African American culture, and from America's country music and gospel music scenes...
version of their original sound with the
Back to the KnownBack to the Known is the second EP released by punk rock band Bad Religion. The name of the EP is a reference to the band abandoning the progressive rock of their 1983 previous album Into the Unknown and returning to their punk rock roots, although also reflecting influences of then current acts...
EP, but disbanded temporarily soon after.
In 1985, Brett Gurewitz released a 5-song EP on
Epitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record label. Gurewitz...
under the name
The Seeing Eye Gods. This psychedelic influenced record is long out of print and has never been released on CD.
Reunion and Suffer (1986–1988)
Bad Religion slowly reformed in 1986 out of the
Back to the Known lineup when Greg Graffin called Jay Bentley and asked him to return. Bentley's response was tentative, but after being assured that the setlist consisted mostly of tracks from
How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, he agreed to return for one show, and ended up staying on because he had so much fun. A freshly rehabilitated Gurewitz was eventually convinced to come back aboard, and with Pete Finestone returning on drums and Greg Hetson on second guitar, Bad Religion was back.
The reunited band released their long-delayed third album
SufferSuffer is the third album by American punk rock trio Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the label's first album that was both released and distributed by the label...
in 1988, cementing their comeback in the punk community. Not only is this album often cited as one of their very best by fans, but it is credited with "saving" the
Southern CaliforniaSouthern California, or SoCal, is defined as the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population centers around three major metropolitan areas, each of which have over 3 million people; the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area with over 12 million inhabitants, the San Bernardino-Riverside...
punk rock scene by fans and Bad Religion's contemporaries alike.
No Control, Against the Grain and Generator (1989–1992)
During the
Suffer tour in 1988, Bad Religion began writing "album's worth of material". In early 1989, while the band was on a brief break from their
Suffer tour, they decided to commence work on their next album and entered the
Westbeach RecordersWestbeach Recorders is a recording studio in Hollywood, California famous for recording punk rock groups, such as Bad Religion, NOFX, Rancid, The Offspring and Pennywise. It was established in 1985 by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz and re-located to Hollywood, California in February 1987 and...
studio in June of that year to record it. The resulting album,
No ControlNo Control is the fourth album by Bad Religion, which was released on November 2, 1989 on Epitaph Records...
, was released in November 1989, and ended up selling more than 50,000 copies. By the time it was released, the band had become one of the most critically-praised hardcore punk bands of the time, in spite of a lack of mainstream success.
Bad Religion's hardcore punk style continued with their next album,
Against the GrainAgainst the Grain is the fifth album by punk rock band Bad Religion released on November 23, 1990. This is the last album recorded with drummer Pete Finestone who left in 1991 to concentrate with his new project The Fishermen...
, which was released in 1990. While the album still did not break the band into mainstream audiences, it was the first 100,000 seller, and showed how quickly they were growing. "
21st Century (Digital Boy)"21st Century " is a song by the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was originally recorded in 1990 on their fifth full-length studio album Against the Grain and rerecorded on the 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
", one of the tracks off the album, is generally regarded the band's most well-known song, and has been played at almost every live show.
Drummer
Pete FinestonePete Finestone was the second drummer of the punk rock band Bad Religion. He played in the band in 1981-1982 and again from 1984 to 1991....
left Bad Religion again in April 1991 to focus on his other band, The Fishermen, which had signed with a major label, and
Bobby Schayer----Bobby Schayer was born on December 23,1966 in Los Angeles, California. He was the drummer for Bad Religion from 1991 to 2001. He was a resident of Encino, a suburb of L.A.'s San Fernando Valley...
joined the band as his replacement. In May 1991, Bad Religion entered the Westbeach Recorders studio to begin recording material for their sixth studio album,
Generator, which was not released until March 1992. The album was recorded almost live in the studio, because, at the time, Gurewitz had moved Westbeach to larger premises, and for the first time, the entire band could play in the studio at the same time. He stated that it was "time to change" and the band "did it in a different studio, but as far as the songwriting, it was a deliberate effort to try something different". To accompany the album, Bad Religion filmed their first music video "
Atomic Garden"Atomic Garden" is the seventh track on Bad Religion's sixth full-length album Generator, which was released in 1992. It was also the band's first official song to be released as a single...
", which was also their first song to be released as a single.
To coincide with the band's success, Bad Religion released a compilation album,
80-8580-85 is the first compilation album by Bad Religion, released in 1991 after the band had risen to success. It contains a list of tracks from their early recordings before the come-back of the 1988 release Suffer....
, in 1991. It is a repackaging of their debut album,
How Could Hell Be Any Worse?How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion. It was financed by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the band when it sold 10,000 copies in under a year. The sound of the record was vastly improved...
, their two EPs,
Bad ReligionBad Religion was the first release of punk band Bad Religion. It contained only six short songs, and played in just under ten minutes. It was initially released in a 7" format, and soon afterward re-issued as a 12". Compact cassettes were also produced, but they are rare...
and
Back to the KnownBack to the Known is the second EP released by punk rock band Bad Religion. The name of the EP is a reference to the band abandoning the progressive rock of their 1983 previous album Into the Unknown and returning to their punk rock roots, although also reflecting influences of then current acts...
and the band's three track contributions to the
Public ServicePublic Service is a compilation EP released in 1981 on Smoke 7 Records with songs by Hardcore punk bands Bad Religion, Circle One, Disability, RF7 and Redd Kross...
EP. This compilation did not include
Into the Unknown.
80-85 is now out of print and has been replaced by the 2004 re-issued version of
How Could Hell Be Any Worse?How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion. It was financed by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the band when it sold 10,000 copies in under a year. The sound of the record was vastly improved...
with the same track listings.
Mainstream success and depature of Gurewitz (1993–1995)
With
alternative rockAlternative rock is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s...
and
grungeGrunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
breaking into the mainstream, Bad Religion decided to leave Epitaph for
Atlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm & blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1993 and quickly re-released their seventh full-length studio album
Recipe for HateRecipe for Hate is Bad Religion's seventh full-length album, released on September 21, 1993. This was their last album on Epitaph Records and the band switched to Atlantic Records before its release....
on the label that same year. Despite receiving mixed reviews from music critics, the album finally broke Bad Religion into mainstream audiences and got their highest
U.S.The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chart position to date, debuting at #14 on Billboard's
HeatseekersTop Heatseekers is a weekly albums chart introduced by Billboard in 1993 whose purpose is to highlight sales by new and developing musical recording artists. Albums appearing on Top Heatseekers may also concurrently appear on the Billboard 200....
chart, with "
American Jesus"American Jesus" is a single by punk rock band Bad Religion from their album Recipe for Hate.The song is an attack on then-president George H. W...
" and "
Struck a Nerve"Struck a Nerve" is a song written by frontman Greg Graffin for Bad Religion's 1993 album Recipe for Hate.This song was released as a the album's second single, but never reached any major charts...
" in particular becoming major rock radio hits at their time. Also in 1993, the band recorded the song "Leaders and Followers" (which later appeared as a bonus track on the Japanese version of their next album) for the soundtrack for the Kevin Smith film,
ClerksClerks is a American comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances. Clerks was the first of Smith's...
.
Recipe for Hate was followed up by Bad Religion's eighth studio album
Stranger Than Fiction. The album met high critical reception upon its release in September 1994, and subsequently became their most successful album, scoring hits with "
Infected"Infected" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz from the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was released in 1994 and appears on their eighth proper studio album Stranger Than Fiction...
" and a re-recording of "
21st Century (Digital Boy)"21st Century " is a song by the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was originally recorded in 1990 on their fifth full-length studio album Against the Grain and rerecorded on the 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
", which was originally released on
Against the Grain. The album was Bad Religion's first to enter the
Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling new music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
; the release peaked at number 87, and was awarded
gold certificationIn the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
on March 4, 1998 for sales of over half a million copies. Before the release of
Stranger Than Fiction, Gurewitz left the band. He officially cited the reason for his departure as the increasing amount of time he was needed at Epitaph as
The OffspringThe Offspring is an American rock band formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1984. Since its formation, the band's line-up had included Dexter Holland , Noodles , Greg K. , and Ron Welty , who left in 2003...
(who had just released
SmashSmash is the third studio album by American punk rock band The Offspring, released on April 8, 1994 through Epitaph Records. The album was the band's last collaboration with record producer Thom Wilson, who produced their previous two albums, and marks their last release on Epitaph.Smash met high...
to unexpected success and acclaim) became one of the biggest bands of the mid-1990s, but it was well known that his departure was not on good terms. Gurewitz, along with many fans, accused the band of
selling out"Selling out" refers to the compromising of one's integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, 'success' or other personal gain. It is commonly associated with attempts to increase mass appeal or acceptability to mainstream society...
for leaving Epitaph to seek greater financial success despite the fact that Gurewitz was making millions off of The Offspring alone.
As tensions increased, Graffin would sing alternate lyrics during concerts such as "I want to know where Brett gets his crack" or "I want to know why Gurewitz cracked," on the song "
Stranger Than Fiction"Stranger Than Fiction" is a song by American punk rock band Bad Religion, featured on their 1994 album with the same title. It was also the album's third single and is widely considered to be one of their best known songs....
". These barbs referred to Gurewitz's struggles with crack, heroin and other addictions which plagued him for years. Brett discussed his drug use in an interview on the band's
SufferSuffer is the third album by American punk rock trio Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the label's first album that was both released and distributed by the label...
tour documentary,
Along the WayAlong the Way is the first live concert DVD from punk band Bad Religion. The concert footage was taken from fourteen different European stops on their 1989 tour for the album, Suffer, but was not released until three years later....
, and is now clean and sober. In response, Gurewitz recorded a song with his new band The Daredevils entitled "
Hate You"Hate You" is a single by Daredevils, the side project of Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz.The band has only released one single with two songs on it, "Hate You" and "Rules, Hearts". "Hate You" was allegedly about the Bad Religion bassist Jay Bentley, who said that Brett left Bad Religion for...
", reportedly directed towards Jay Bentley.
Gurewitz was replaced as a guitarist by
Brian BakerBrian Baker is an American punk rock musician. He is best known as one of the founding members of the hardcore punk band Minor Threat, and as a guitarist in Bad Religion since 1994 alongside Greg Hetson and later Brett Gurewitz as well...
, a former member of bands such as
Minor ThreatMinor Threat was an American hardcore punk band that formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. Despite being so short-lived, the band had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene....
and
Dag NastyDag Nasty was a Washington D.C. punk band formed in 1985 by Brian Baker of Minor Threat, Colin Sears and Roger Marbury , both of Bloody Mannequin Orchestra, and Shawn Brown later of Swiz and Jesuseater ....
. Since Greg Graffin and Gurewitz had split songwriting duties, Graffin was now Bad Religion's primary songwriter.
Post-Gurewitz period (1996–2000)
Bad Religion continued touring and recording without Brett Gurewitz and released three more albums for Atlantic, starting with
The Gray RaceThe Gray Race is the ninth full-length album of the punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
(1996), produced by former Cars frontman
Ric OcasekRic Ocasek is an American musician and music producer. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Bowling Green State University. He is the former vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Cars...
. Despite never garnering the amount of attention that
Stranger Than Fiction received, it would score Bad Religion a minor U.S. radio hit with the song "A Walk" as well as the European release of "Punk Rock Song" (sung in both English and German). The band would find its greatest success in Europe, where the album would reach the German music charts at #6 and score the band their first European gold record for sales in Scandinavia alone.
Their next album,
No SubstanceNo Substance is the tenth full-length album by the punk rock band Bad Religion. It was the band's third release on Atlantic Records, and their second studio album since guitarist Brett Gurewitz's departure.No Substance was anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's...
(1998), was not as well received by the critics or fans. For
The New AmericaThe New America is an album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album on Atlantic Records.The New America is also Bad Religion's last album with Bobby Schayer on drums...
(2000),
Todd RundgrenTodd Harry Rundgren is an American musician, singer-songwriter and record producer.-Early career:Rundgren was born in Upper Darby, PA. He began his career in Woody's Truck Stop, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based group based on the model of Paul Butterfield Blues Band. However, he left the band to...
, an early musical inspiration for Graffin, was brought in to produce. "Todd was kind of an underground sensation back in 1974. Here's a guy who was making pop music but in a way that you wouldn't hear on the radio. So much of my early musical identity was wrapped up in the way he conducted himself." In the summer of 1999 they set out on a three month US arena tour opening for Blink 182. Unfortunately, the experience might not have been all that Greg and the rest of the band might have hoped. Interest in recording the record waned, due to Rundgren's poor attitude. Jay Bentley reflects on this by saying, "I didn't feel we were going anywhere and so did Greg. Todd didn't like Greg and that made Greg so mad! He met his idol and he was a jerk! I don't think Todd gave a shit about anything." Meanwhile,
Bobby Schayer----Bobby Schayer was born on December 23,1966 in Los Angeles, California. He was the drummer for Bad Religion from 1991 to 2001. He was a resident of Encino, a suburb of L.A.'s San Fernando Valley...
left the band following a serious shoulder injury and was replaced by
Brooks WackermanBrooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band....
(
Suicidal TendenciesSuicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash and hardcore punk band. They were formed in Venice, Los Angeles, California, in 1981 by the leader and only permanent member, singer Mike Muir. The band is credited as one of the "the fathers of crossover thrash"...
).
Bad Religion departed from Atlantic Records in 2001 and returned to Epitaph.
Reunion with Gurewitz (2001–2004)
In 2001, Brett Gurewitz rejoined the band in time to record
The Process of BeliefThe Process of Belief is an album by the punk rock band Bad Religion, released in 2002. It marks the band's first album released on Epitaph Records since 1993's Recipe for Hate and to feature original guitarist Brett Gurewitz since 1994's Stranger Than Fiction...
(2002). Graffin states, "there was a little bit of disappointment on my part when he left the band, but we never had any serious acrimony between the two of us. I can't say the same for the rest of the band. But he and I, being the songwriters from way back, we really wanted to try again."
Their next album,
The Empire Strikes FirstThe Empire Strikes First is the thirteenth studio album by Bad Religion released on June 8, 2004.-Title inspiration:The title is a reference to the new Bush Doctrine of preventive war, and a play on the name of the popular Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back.-Lyrics:Although some of the album...
, was released in June 2004. Like
The Process of Belief, it is widely regarded by fans and critics as a return to form for the band, as opposed to their time on Atlantic.
The band also re-released digitally-remastered versions of several of their early albums on Epitaph Records, including
How Could Hell Be Any Worse?,
Suffer,
No Control,
Against the Grain, and
Generator. The
How Could Hell Be Any Worse? re-issue, though reclaiming the original title of the band's debut LP, contained all of the same material as the previously issued
80-85 compilation, including their first EP, the
Public ServicePublic Service is a compilation EP released in 1981 on Smoke 7 Records with songs by Hardcore punk bands Bad Religion, Circle One, Disability, RF7 and Redd Kross...
EP (with different versions of the songs Bad Religion, Slaves, and Drastic Actions than the self-titled EP) and the "Back To The Known" EP.
New Maps of Hell and beyond (2005–present)
On March 7, 2006, a live
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
,
Live at the Palladium was released. This DVD featured a live show performed in late 2004 at the Hollywood Palladium, as well as extensive interviews, several music videos, and a photo gallery. During one of the interview segments, guitarist
Brett GurewitzBrett Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records. Gurewitz is Jewish and grew up in Woodland Hills, California....
said the band's next album would be a double length release, but this turned out not to be the case.
Greg GraffinGregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is the lead vocalist, songwriter and co-founder of the punk band Bad Religion, as well as a life sciences and paleontology lecturer at UCLA.- Career with Bad Religion :...
released his second solo album,
Cold as the ClayCold as the Clay is the second solo album by Bad Religion's vocalist Greg Graffin released on July 10, 2006 in Europe, and the following day in the USA. It was released on the label ANTI-...
, on July 11, 2006.
Bad Religion's fourteenth (and most recent) studio album,
New Maps of HellNew Maps of Hell is Bad Religion's fourteenth full-length studio album , which was released on July 10, 2007. It celebrates the 25th anniversary of their first album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, although the band had been around for twenty-seven years.The title is something of a departure for the...
, was released on July 10, 2007. On June 29 of that year (
Greg HetsonGreg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California since he was 2 years old...
's 46th birthday),
Epitaph RecordsEpitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record label. Gurewitz...
started selling
New Maps of Hell at the Warped Tour in Pomona,
CaliforniaCalifornia is the most populous state in the United States, and the third largest by area. California is the second most populous sub-national entity in the Americas, behind only São Paulo, Brazil...
. The album was a commercial success and spawned two hit singles "
Honest Goodbye"Honest Goodbye" is a song by Bad Religion. It is the first official single from their fourteenth studio album New Maps of Hell. The song was thought to be released as a digital single on May 22nd, 2007 but the date had been pushed back to June 12th. The song was inspired by Perry Smith, the...
" and "
New Dark Ages"New Dark Ages" is a song penned by Brett Gurewitz for Bad Religion's fourteenth studio album New Maps of Hell, which was released in 2007...
", and as a result,
New Maps of Hell reached number 35 on the
Billboard 200, marking Bad Religion's highest ever chart position. Bad Religion also joined the 2007
Warped TourThe Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
to support the album.
Hetson formed a
supergroupIn the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups." Supergroups tend to be short-lived, often lasting only for an album or two...
band called
Black PresidentBlack President is an American punk rock supergroup. It was formed in 2005 by Circle Jerks/Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson and Goldfinger guitarist Charlie Paulson.-History:...
, consisting of Charlie Paulson (from
GoldfingerGoldfinger is a Los Angeles pop punk/ska punk band that formed in 1994. They support the imprisoned 'SHAC 7' animal rights activists, and John Feldmann, lead singer, is an advocate for and supporter of the Animal Liberation Front.-History:...
), Jason Christopher, Wade Youman (both from
Unwritten LawUnwritten Law is an American rock band formed in 1990 in Poway, California and currently recording for Suburban Noize Records. They have released seven full-length studio albums and have toured internationally, including performances on the Warped Tour...
) and
Christian MartucciChristian Martucci a.k.a. Christian Black is an American guitarist, bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a founding member of Black President. He was Dee Dee Ramone's guitarist from late 1999-2002 and also a founding member of The Strychnine Babies...
(from
Dee Dee RamoneDee Dee Ramone, born Douglas Glenn Colvin, was a German-American songwriter and bassist, best remembered as a founding member of the punk rock band The Ramones....
).
In early March 2008, Bad Religion played several-night residences at
House of BluesHouse of Blues is a chain of music halls and restaurants founded in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock, and Dan Aykroyd. House of Blues is a venue for live music and southern-inspired cuisine that emphasizes "inspiration of music for the soul".-Overview:The first HOB opened its doors...
venues in
Southern CaliforniaSouthern California, or SoCal, is defined as the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Its population centers around three major metropolitan areas, each of which have over 3 million people; the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area with over 12 million inhabitants, the San Bernardino-Riverside...
as well as
Las VegasLas Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada, the seat of Clark County, and an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, fine dining, and entertainment. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, is famous for the number of...
. They also played at the
KROQ Weenie RoastWeenie Roast is a multi-artist alternative rock concert, presented annually by the Los Angeles, California, USA radio station KROQ, beginning in 1993. The concert had always been presented on the second or third Saturday in June since it was aired until 2004...
(y Fiesta) on May 17 along such bands as
FlobotsFlobots are an American alternative rock and hip hop group from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2000 by lead MC Jonny 5, aka Jamie Laurie. Flobots found mainstream success with its major label debut Fight with Tools , featuring the single "Handlebars", which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in...
,
MetallicaMetallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1981. Founded when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in a local newspaper, Metallica's line-up has primarily consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Kirk...
,
The OffspringThe Offspring is an American rock band formed in Huntington Beach, California in 1984. Since its formation, the band's line-up had included Dexter Holland , Noodles , Greg K. , and Ron Welty , who left in 2003...
,
PennywisePennywise is an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California, formed in 1988. Their band name is derived the monster, It from the Stephen King novel, of the same title....
,
Rise AgainstRise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. Their current lineup consists of Tim McIlrath , Joe Principe , Brandon Barnes , and Zach Blair , all of whom are straight edge PETA supporters and strict vegetarians/vegans...
and
Scars on BroadwayScars on Broadway is an American alternative metal band, founded by System of a Down members Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan. The band's eponymous debut album was released on July 29, 2008.-Early Incarnation :...
. Following that, they performed four
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
an festival appearances in
MayMay 2008 was the fifth month of the year. It began on a Thursday and ended after 31 days on a Saturday.-International holidays:* May 1 - Labour Day * May 1 - Labour Day * May 1 - Labour Day * May 1 - May Day...
and
JuneJune 2008 was the sixth month of the leap year. It began on a Sunday and ended after 30 days on a Monday.-International holidays and commemorations:* June 8 - Dragon Boat Festival * June 9 - Shavuot...
.
On July 8, 2008, Bad Religion released their first-ever deluxe edition CD, a reissue of 2007's
New Maps of HellNew Maps of Hell is Bad Religion's fourteenth full-length studio album , which was released on July 10, 2007. It celebrates the 25th anniversary of their first album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, although the band had been around for twenty-seven years.The title is something of a departure for the...
. The deluxe version includes the original 16 song CD, along with seven new acoustic tracks recorded by Graffin (vocals) and Gurewitz (guitars/back vocals). Three of the acoustic songs are new, written specifically for this release; the other four tracks are new acoustic versions of BR songs. The release also includes a DVD with an hour-long live performance, music videos and behind-the-scenes footage.
In June 2008,
Jay BentleyJay Dee Bentley is the bassist and co-founding member of the punk rock group Bad Religion. He has played with the band through its whole existence with a small break between 1982 and 1986.-Bad Religion:...
said in an interview at the Pinkpop Festival in
LandgraafLandgraaf is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.- Special information :A pop music festival called Pinkpop is held annually on the Pentecost weekend in the vicinity of Landgraaf....
,
NetherlandsThe Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...
that Gurewitz had already begun writing new material for the next Bad Religion album. Bentley stated that the band was planning to return to the studio after Graffin teaches UCLA to start work on the follow-up to
New Maps of Hell planned for a June 2009 release. However, according to a December 2008 report on the fan site The Bad Religion Page, Bentley revealed that due to Bad Religion's upcoming touring commitments for 2009, the band would not have a chance to record their new album until around the end of the year, for an expected 2010 release date.
"21st Century (Digital Boy)" was released as DLC on the
Warped TourThe Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
01 Pack for
Rock BandRock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
and
Rock Band 2Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, as the sequel to Rock Band. It is the second title in the Rock Band series. The game software was released in North America for the Xbox 360 on September 14, 2008, along with individual instrument peripherals...
In August of 2009, guitarist Brett Gurewitz sent an email to a fan site mentioning he was writing new material for the next Bad Religion album.
Lyrics and ideology
The majority of Bad Religion's lyrics are written by either Greg Graffin or Brett Gurewitz. Only on rare occasions will they co-write a song. Other band members, such as Jay Bentley, also contribute songs, but these constitute only a small percentage of the Bad Religion catalog.
Brett Gurewitz acknowledges attempting to emulate
The GermsThe Germs are an American punk band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1977 to 1980. Germs have since reformed in 2005 with Shane West replacing Darby Crash. Their 1977 single, "Forming"/"Sexboy", is generally regarded as the first punk record from Los Angeles...
singer
Darby CrashDarby Crash was an American punk musician who, along with long time friend Pat Smear , co-founded The Germs...
early on in Bad Religion's lyrical style. "He wrote some intelligent stuff, and didn't shy away from the vocabulary, which I thought was cool." In addition to their use of unusually sophisticated vocabulary for a punk band, Bad Religion is also known for their frequent use of vocal harmonies. They took their cues from
The AdolescentsThe Adolescents are an American punk band formed in 1980 in Fullerton, California. It is a hardcore punk supergroup, made up of early members of Agent Orange and Social Distortion...
, in the way that they used three-part harmonies. Bassist Jay Bentley says, "Seeing The Adolescents live, it was so brilliant. So, in a way, the Adolescents influenced us into saying we can do it too, because look, they're doing it."
Social and political issues
Many of Bad Religion's songs are about different social ills, although they try not to ascribe the causes of these ills to any single person or group. Greg Graffin believes that the current political situation in the United States can make it difficult to voice these concerns, as he doesn't want to feed the polarization of viewpoints.
The band doesn't always restrict political commentary exclusively to metaphor. Brett Gurewitz pulled no punches when he attributed his anger towards former U.S. president
George W. BushGeorge Walker Bush was the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000....
as the major inspiration for
The Empire Strikes FirstThe Empire Strikes First is the thirteenth studio album by Bad Religion released on June 8, 2004.-Title inspiration:The title is a reference to the new Bush Doctrine of preventive war, and a play on the name of the popular Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back.-Lyrics:Although some of the album...
. "Our whole album is dedicated to getting Bush out of office. I'm not a presidential scholar but I don't think you'll find a worse president in the history of the United States. He's probably one of the worst leaders in the history of world leaders. I just hate the guy."
In 2008, while at the San Diego, CA stop of the Vans Warped Tour, the band autographed a Gibson Guitar for the non-profit
Music Saves LivesMusic Saves Lives is a not for profit 5013 organization and is listed in the IRS publication 78. Established in January 2006 by founder Russel Hornbeek in Seal Beach, California. Music Saves Lives has educated students and encouraged over 120,000 summer blood donations from youth under the age of 25...
and assisted in their goal of raising the nation's blood supply.
Religion
Despite the name of the band, the members do not consider themselves antitheist. Singer Greg Graffin states that more often than not, the band prefers to use religion as a metaphor for anything that doesn't allow for an individual's freedom to think or express themselves as they choose. In this way, their songs are more about anti-religion. Greg Graffin himself is an atheist who co-authored the book 'Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant?' The band's bassist Jay Bentley has stated that he has spiritual beliefs. Brett Gurewitz is a "provisional
deistDeism or is a religious and philosophical belief that a supreme being created the universe, and that this can be determined using reason and observation of the natural world alone, without a need for either faith or organized religion...
."
In the media and legacy
Bad Religion has appeared once on
The David Letterman ShowThe David Letterman Show was a live morning NBC talk show hosted by David Letterman every weekday from June 23 to October 24, 1980.-Background:...
in 1994, twice on
The Jon Stewart ShowThe Jon Stewart Show was a short-lived talk show hosted by comedian Jon Stewart on MTV. It premiered in 1993 and became the second highest-rated program on the network behind Beavis and Butt-Head....
in 1994 and 1995, twice on
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn in 2000 and 2002 and
Late Night with Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC from 1993 to 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and stand-up comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 a.m....
five times in 1993, 1995, 1996, 2002 and 2007. In the early days, Bad Religion appeared twice on the
New Wave TheatreNew Wave Theatre was a television program broadcast locally in the Los Angeles area on UHF channel 18 and eventually on the USA Network as part of the late night variety show Night Flight during the early 1980s. The show was created and produced by David Jove, who also wrote the program with...
in 1981 and 1982. During the 90's, Bad Religion appeared a lot on
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs...
which sponsored their
The Gray Race TourThe Gray Race Tour was a concert tour by Bad Religion which lasted from February 1996 till February 1997. It was their first tour with Brian Baker after Brett Gurewitz quit the band. The European section of this tour was sponsored by MTV who did promotion for the album by advertising it and playing...
. They were considered a "classic" band on MTV's
120 Minutes120 Minutes is a television show in the U.S. dedicated to alternative music, originally airing on MTV from 1986 to 2000, and then on MTV's sister channel MTV2 from 2001 to 2003....
, appearing a number of times live on that show. They also appeared on
MTV's Most WantedMTV's Most Wanted was a 1990s MTV Europe television series broadcast from London, England, presented by Ray Cokes. It ran from 1992 until 1995....
in 1995. Frontman
Greg GraffinGregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is the lead vocalist, songwriter and co-founder of the punk band Bad Religion, as well as a life sciences and paleontology lecturer at UCLA.- Career with Bad Religion :...
appeared three times on
Politically IncorrectPolitically Incorrect was a late-night, half-hour political talk show hosted by Bill Maher that ran from 1993 to 2002. It aired on Comedy Central from 1993 to 1996, and on ABC from 1997 to 2002....
in 1994, 1996 and 2000.
In movies, Bad Religion's "Crossbuster" logo has appeared in
JunoJuno is a 2007 Canadian-American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody. Ellen Page stars as the title character, an independent-minded teenager confronting an unplanned pregnancy and the subsequent events that put pressures of adult life onto her. Michael Cera,...
,
SLC Punk!SLC Punk! is a 1998 American independent comedy-drama film written and directed by James Merendino. The film is about the young punk rock fan Steven "Stevo" Levy, a college graduate living in Salt Lake City. The character is portrayed as an exaggerated stereotype of an anarchist punk in the mid...
and
8mm8mm is a 1999 mystery/thriller film, directed by Joel Schumacher, about a private investigator, Tom Welles , who is hired to research the authenticity of an alleged snuff film found in the vault of a recently deceased billionaire, which takes him to some sleazy environments.A direct-to-video...
. Posters for
The Empire Strikes FirstThe Empire Strikes First is the thirteenth studio album by Bad Religion released on June 8, 2004.-Title inspiration:The title is a reference to the new Bush Doctrine of preventive war, and a play on the name of the popular Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back.-Lyrics:Although some of the album...
appear in
Superbad,
Strange WildernessStrange Wilderness is a 2008 comedy film produced by Adam Sandler's production company, Happy Madison Productions for Paramount Pictures, and starring Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Justin Long, Kevin Heffernan, and Jonah Hill.-Plot:...
,
Fifty PillsFifty Pills is the debut feature film of director Theo Avgerinos, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.- Synopsis :After being blamed for a party which he didn't throw or have any knowledge of, that resulted in many damages, the main character loses his scholarship...
and
SpecialSpecial is a 2006 drama film written and directed by Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore. It was released in theatres in the UK on November 17, 2006 and on DVD in the UK on March 5, 2007...
. A Bad Religion sticker appears in
The RingThe Ring is a 2002 American remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film . Both films are based on the novel of the same name by Kôji Suzuki...
; it is worth noting that
Gore VerbinskiGregor "Gore" Verbinski is an American film director and writer.- Biography :He was born the third of five children to Vic and Laurette Verbinski in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States. His siblings are Janine, Claire, Diane and Steven. His father was of Polish descent and worked as a nuclear...
, director of The Ring, directed several Bad Religion music videos early in his career. A Bad Religion poster appears in
PCUPCU is a 1994 comedy film. The movie follows in the footsteps of Animal House, showing college life at the fictional Port Chester University.-Synopsis:...
. Bad Religion music has appeared in movies such as
ClerksClerks is a American comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, who also appears in the film as Silent Bob. Starring Brian O'Halloran as Dante Hicks and Jeff Anderson as Randal Graves, it presents a day in the lives of two store clerks and their acquaintances. Clerks was the first of Smith's...
,
The ChaseThe Chase is a 1994 comedy-adventure movie starring Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson. Henry Rollins has a role in the film as a police officer...
,
Glory DazeGlory Daze is an independent film starring Ben Affleck, Sam Rockwell, and French Stewart. It had a limited release in 1996.- Plot :The film deals with five friends who share a house while attending art school at UC Santa Cruz...
,
The Hammer and
Stoked: The Rise and Fall of Gator. Two Bad Religion songs appear in the 2000 short movie entitled
"What to Do?". In TV, Bad Religion's song "New America" appeared in the final episode of
Beverly Hills, 90210Beverly Hills, 90210 is a prime time television drama series that aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
and "Portrait of Authority" was in an episode of
Lizzie McGuireLizzie McGuire is a Disney Channel Original Series that aired on the Disney Channel from 2001 till 2004. Its target demographic was preteens and adolescents. The TV show was created by Terri Minsky...
. A Bad Religion poster appears in an episode of
Weird ScienceWeird Science is a mid-1990s American comedy series made for television, based on the 1985 movie of the same name.-Plot:The show follows the adventures of Gary Wallace and Wyatt Donnelly , two socially inept high school students in an unspecified town in California...
. During the
2000 MTV Movie AwardsThe 2000 MTV Movie Awards were hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker. In conjunction with the success of a certain HBO Original Series at the time, the awards show presented a parody of Sex and the City and The Matrix during the program's opening...
, a guitar riff from "New America" was played before it cut to commercials. A sample of "Infected" was played during a commercial for
VansVans is an American based manufacturer of sneakers, BMX shoes, snowboarding boots, and other shoe types catering primarily to the skateboarder/surfer/snowboarder youth market...
Warped Tour 2009Warped Tour 2009 was the 15th installment of the annual Summer Warped Tour festival. Vans Shoes was again the tour's primary sponsor. Tour founder/organizer Kevin Lyman announced that this year's tour would feature only one main stage with bands playing 40 minutes each instead of two main stages...
. In an episode of
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, a group of kids play with a gun. One of them gets shot. In the moment he is shot he wears a Bad Religion t-shirt.
In video games, Bad Religion songs made it into
Crazy TaxiCrazy Taxi is a video game developed by Hitmaker and published by Sega. The game was first released in arcades in 1999 and was ported to the Dreamcast in 2000. Subsequently, it has been brought to the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube in 2001, and then Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance in...
,
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, often abbreviated as THPS2, is the second game in the Tony Hawk's series. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision in 2000...
,
Tony Hawk Underground,
Tony Hawk's American WastelandTony Hawk's American Wasteland, also known as THAW and unofficially as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 7, is a video game that has been released for the PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo GameCube and PC. Part of the Tony Hawk series, the game was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision. The PC...
,
Tony Hawk's Project 8Tony Hawk's Project 8 , officially abbreviated as THP8, is the eighth installment in the Tony Hawk's series of video games. It was released on sixth-generation and seventh-generation consoles...
,
NCAA Football 2006,
Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller and
NHL 2K9NHL 2K9 is an ice hockey simulation made by 2K Sports, part of the NHL 2K series, and published on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. It features Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Rick Nash on the cover...
. Bad Religion's song "
Infected"Infected" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz from the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was released in 1994 and appears on their eighth proper studio album Stranger Than Fiction...
" (from
Stranger Than Fiction) is in
Guitar Hero and downloadable for
Guitar Hero 2. However, these are covers not the actual song. The song "
21st Century (Digital Boy)"21st Century " is a song by the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was originally recorded in 1990 on their fifth full-length studio album Against the Grain and rerecorded on the 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
" (from
Against the GrainAgainst the Grain is the fifth album by punk rock band Bad Religion released on November 23, 1990. This is the last album recorded with drummer Pete Finestone who left in 1991 to concentrate with his new project The Fishermen...
) is downloadable for Guitar Hero: World Tour, however the date of the song in the game claims the song was made in 2004 (possibly referring to
Against the Grains remastered date) even though it was made in 1990. The songs "Sorrow"Sorrow" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz and performed by Bad Religion. It is widely considered to be one of their best known songs. "Sorrow" was the first single to be released from their twelfth studio album, The Process of Belief, which was released in 2002, although the single was first...
" (from The Process of BeliefThe Process of Belief is an album by the punk rock band Bad Religion, released in 2002. It marks the band's first album released on Epitaph Records since 1993's Recipe for Hate and to feature original guitarist Brett Gurewitz since 1994's Stranger Than Fiction...
) and "21st Century (Digital Boy)"21st Century " is a song by the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was originally recorded in 1990 on their fifth full-length studio album Against the Grain and rerecorded on the 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
" (from Against the GrainAgainst the Grain is the fifth album by punk rock band Bad Religion released on November 23, 1990. This is the last album recorded with drummer Pete Finestone who left in 1991 to concentrate with his new project The Fishermen...
) appear as downloadable songs for both Rock Band
and Rock Band 2Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, as the sequel to Rock Band. It is the second title in the Rock Band series. The game software was released in North America for the Xbox 360 on September 14, 2008, along with individual instrument peripherals...
. On an episode of ScrewAttack'sScrewAttack is a video game-related website that showcases original entertainment for an audience of video game enthusiasts. Its content is also shown on GameTrailers and IGN...
Video Game Vault, they review Crazy Taxi and the reviewer mentions the soundtrack and makes a comment about Bad Religion and shows a picture of their "Crossbuster" and also their songs "Hear It" and "Them and Us" can be heard for brief seconds in the review. They also got another mention on ScrewAttack's Video Game Vault on September 13, 2009, during a review of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
As of 2007, the famous Los Angeles
modern rockModern rock is a term commonly used to describe a rock music format found on American commercial radio. Generally beginning with late 1970s punk but referring especially to rock music since the 1980s, the phrase "modern rock" is used to differentiate the music from "classic rock", which focuses on...
radio station
KROQKROQ-FM is a commercial radio station located in Los Angeles, California, broadcasting on 106.7 FM to the greater Los Angeles area. KROQ-FM airs a modern rock music format branded as "106.7 K-Rock". The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of the popular, long running...
has listed Bad Religion at #39 in the "top 106.7 biggest KROQ bands of all time" memorial for the past six years in a row. Bad Religion has played at all three of KROQ's festivals several times; they played at the
Weenie RoastWeenie Roast is a multi-artist alternative rock concert, presented annually by the Los Angeles, California, USA radio station KROQ, beginning in 1993. The concert had always been presented on the second or third Saturday in June since it was aired until 2004...
four times in 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2008, four times at the Almost Acoustic Christmas in 1993, 1994, 2001 and 2007, and once at the L.A. Invasion in 2002.
Concert tours
- Early Shows (1980–1987)
- Suffer Tour
The Suffer Tour was Bad Religion's first proper tour for an album as well as their first time in Europe. The tour had two legs which all together make up 42 shows. It was supporting their album Suffer. The European section of this tour was recorded and put on the VHS, Along the Way.-North America...
(1988–1989)
- No Control Tour
The No Control Tour was Bad Religion's second tour. It was their final tour with Pete Finestone on drums. It was supporting their album No Control.-Tour Dates:...
(1990)
- Against the Grain Tour
The Against the Grain Tour was Bad Religion's third official tour. It was their first tour with Bobby Schayer on drums after old drummer Pete Finestone quit the band. The tour was recorded and put on a bootleg VHS entitled "Big Bang". The tour had two legs which made up 28 shows all together. It...
(1991)
- Generator Tour
The Generator Tour was a concert tour by Bad Religion. The tour had three legs which together made up 52 shows. It was the band's first time in Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Mexico. It was supporting their album Generator.-European Leg:...
(1992–1993)
- Recipe for Hate Tour
The Recipe for Hate Tour was a concert tour made by Bad Religion from mid 1993 to early 1994. This featured the band's first time in Spain and Finland. The tour had 3 three legs which all together made up 78 shows. It was supporting their album Recipe for Hate.-European Leg:-North American,...
(1993–1994)
- Stranger Than Fiction Tour
The Stranger Than Fiction Tour was a concert tour by Bad Religion which lasted from September, 1994 till June, 1995. It was the band's first time in Scotland, Sweden and Japan. This was the last tour with Brett Gurewitz until The Process of Belief Tour...
(1994–1995)
- The Gray Race Tour
The Gray Race Tour was a concert tour by Bad Religion which lasted from February 1996 till February 1997. It was their first tour with Brian Baker after Brett Gurewitz quit the band. The European section of this tour was sponsored by MTV who did promotion for the album by advertising it and playing...
(1996–1997)
- No Substance Tour
The No Substance Tour was a concert tour by Bad Religion which lasted from April of '98 till May of '99. It features the band's first time in Slovenia, Chile and Hungary. It was supporting their album No Substance.-North American Leg:...
(1998–1999)
- The New America Tour
The New America Tour was a concert tour by Bad Religion which lasted from August 2000 till March 2001 . It was the band's first time in Portugal and Argentina...
(2000–2001)
- The Process of Belief Tour
The Process of Belief Tour was a concert tour by Bad Religion which lasted from January of 2002 till May of 2003. It was the bands first tour with Brett Gurewitz on guitar since the Stranger Than Fiction Tour, their first time with new drummer Brooks Wackerman, their first time in the Whisky a...
(2002 - 2003)
- The Empire Strikes First Tour
The Empire Strikes First Tour was a concert tour by Bad Religion which lasted from May 2004 till November 2005 thus making it Bad Religion's longest concert tour respectively. It was supporting their album The Empire Strikes First...
(2004 - 2005)
- New Maps of Hell Tour
The New Maps of Hell Tour was a concert tour by punk band Bad Religion. It features their first time in New Zealand. It was supporting their album New Maps of Hell...
(2007–2008)
Band members
Timeline
Although Greg Graffin is the only constant member of the band's line-up, the band currently features two other original members, Brett Gurewitz and Jay Bentley.
Current members
- Greg Graffin
Gregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is the lead vocalist, songwriter and co-founder of the punk band Bad Religion, as well as a life sciences and paleontology lecturer at UCLA.- Career with Bad Religion :...
– lead vocals, pianoThe piano is a musical instrument which is played by means of a keyboard. Widely used in Western music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, synthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument that is capable of producing a variety of sounds by generating and combining signals of different frequencies...
, acoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only acoustic methods to project the sound produced by its strings. The term is a retronym, coined after the advent of electric guitars, which depend on electronic amplification to make their sound audible....
, main songwriterA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well as the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer.-History and background of songwriters:...
(1980 – present)
- Brett Gurewitz
Brett Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records. Gurewitz is Jewish and grew up in Woodland Hills, California....
– leadA lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, and guitar solos within a song structure.In rock, heavy metal, blues, jazz and fusion bands and some pop contexts as well as others, the lead guitar lines are usually supported by a second guitarist who plays...
and rhythm guitarRhythm guitar is the use of a guitar to provide rhythmic chordal accompaniment for a singer or other instruments in a musical ensemble. In ensembles or "bands" playing within the acoustic, country, blues, rock or metal genres , a guitarist playing the rhythm part of a composition supports the...
, backing vocals, main songwriterA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well as the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer.-History and background of songwriters:...
(1980 – 1983, 1986 – 1994, 2001 – present)
- Jay Bentley
Jay Dee Bentley is the bassist and co-founding member of the punk rock group Bad Religion. He has played with the band through its whole existence with a small break between 1982 and 1986.-Bad Religion:...
– bass guitarThe electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum....
, backing vocals (1980 – 1982, 1986 – present)
- Greg Hetson
Greg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California since he was 2 years old...
– rhythm guitarRhythm guitar is the use of a guitar to provide rhythmic chordal accompaniment for a singer or other instruments in a musical ensemble. In ensembles or "bands" playing within the acoustic, country, blues, rock or metal genres , a guitarist playing the rhythm part of a composition supports the...
(1984 – present)
- Brian Baker
Brian Baker is an American punk rock musician. He is best known as one of the founding members of the hardcore punk band Minor Threat, and as a guitarist in Bad Religion since 1994 alongside Greg Hetson and later Brett Gurewitz as well...
– leadA lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, and guitar solos within a song structure.In rock, heavy metal, blues, jazz and fusion bands and some pop contexts as well as others, the lead guitar lines are usually supported by a second guitarist who plays...
and rhythm guitarRhythm guitar is the use of a guitar to provide rhythmic chordal accompaniment for a singer or other instruments in a musical ensemble. In ensembles or "bands" playing within the acoustic, country, blues, rock or metal genres , a guitarist playing the rhythm part of a composition supports the...
, backing vocals (1994 – present)
- Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band....
– drums, percussion (2001 – present)
Discography
| Year |
Album |
US Chart position |
Vocals |
Guitars |
Bass |
Drums |
| 1982 |
How Could Hell Be Any Worse? How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion. It was financed by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the band when it sold 10,000 copies in under a year. The sound of the record was vastly improved...
|
Never charted |
Greg Graffin Gregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is the lead vocalist, songwriter and co-founder of the punk band Bad Religion, as well as a life sciences and paleontology lecturer at UCLA.- Career with Bad Religion :...
|
Mr. Brett Brett Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records. Gurewitz is Jewish and grew up in Woodland Hills, California....
|
|
|
Jay Bentley Jay Dee Bentley is the bassist and co-founding member of the punk rock group Bad Religion. He has played with the band through its whole existence with a small break between 1982 and 1986.-Bad Religion:...
|
Pete Finestone Pete Finestone was the second drummer of the punk rock band Bad Religion. He played in the band in 1981-1982 and again from 1984 to 1991....
/
Jay ZiskroutJay Ziskrout was the first drummer for Bad Religion, forming the group with schoolmate Brett Gurewitz in 1980. He performed on Bad Religion's self-titled EP and eight tracks on their debut full-length album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?...
|
| 1983 |
Into the Unknown |
Never charted |
Paul Dedona Paul Dedona was a bass guitar player of the California punk pioneers Bad Religion.He stayed in the band between late 1982 and early 1984 and his only appearance was on their second album Into the Unknown....
|
Davy Goldman |
| 1988 |
Suffer Suffer is the third album by American punk rock trio Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the label's first album that was both released and distributed by the label...
|
Never charted |
Greg Hetson Greg Hetson is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California since he was 2 years old...
|
Jay Bentley |
Pete Finestone |
| 1989 |
No Control No Control is the fourth album by Bad Religion, which was released on November 2, 1989 on Epitaph Records...
|
Never charted |
| 1990 |
Against the Grain Against the Grain is the fifth album by punk rock band Bad Religion released on November 23, 1990. This is the last album recorded with drummer Pete Finestone who left in 1991 to concentrate with his new project The Fishermen...
|
Never charted |
| 1992 |
Generator |
Never charted |
Bobby Schayer ----Bobby Schayer was born on December 23,1966 in Los Angeles, California. He was the drummer for Bad Religion from 1991 to 2001. He was a resident of Encino, a suburb of L.A.'s San Fernando Valley...
|
| 1993 |
Recipe for Hate Recipe for Hate is Bad Religion's seventh full-length album, released on September 21, 1993. This was their last album on Epitaph Records and the band switched to Atlantic Records before its release....
|
14 (Heatseekers) |
| 1994 |
Stranger Than Fiction |
87 |
| 1996 |
The Gray Race The Gray Race is the ninth full-length album of the punk rock band Bad Religion, which was released in 1996. It was the follow-up to the band's highly successful 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
|
56 |
|
Brian Baker Brian Baker is an American punk rock musician. He is best known as one of the founding members of the hardcore punk band Minor Threat, and as a guitarist in Bad Religion since 1994 alongside Greg Hetson and later Brett Gurewitz as well...
|
| 1998 |
No Substance No Substance is the tenth full-length album by the punk rock band Bad Religion. It was the band's third release on Atlantic Records, and their second studio album since guitarist Brett Gurewitz's departure.No Substance was anticipated by both music critics and fans as a result of the band's...
|
78 |
| 2000 |
The New America The New America is an album by punk band Bad Religion. It was released in 2000 and is their last album on Atlantic Records.The New America is also Bad Religion's last album with Bobby Schayer on drums...
|
88 |
| 2002 |
The Process of Belief The Process of Belief is an album by the punk rock band Bad Religion, released in 2002. It marks the band's first album released on Epitaph Records since 1993's Recipe for Hate and to feature original guitarist Brett Gurewitz since 1994's Stranger Than Fiction...
|
49 |
Mr. Brett |
Brooks Wackerman Brooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band....
|
| 2004 |
The Empire Strikes First The Empire Strikes First is the thirteenth studio album by Bad Religion released on June 8, 2004.-Title inspiration:The title is a reference to the new Bush Doctrine of preventive war, and a play on the name of the popular Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back.-Lyrics:Although some of the album...
|
40 |
| 2007 |
New Maps of Hell New Maps of Hell is Bad Religion's fourteenth full-length studio album , which was released on July 10, 2007. It celebrates the 25th anniversary of their first album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, although the band had been around for twenty-seven years.The title is something of a departure for the...
|
35 |
| 2010 |
Untitled 15th studio album |
|
External links