Bad Religion

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Los Angeles, United States (1980 – 1984, 1987 – present)

Bad Religion is a punk band from Los Angeles, California, known for poignant, erudite lyrics, and biting social commentary. The band was formed in 1980 by high school students Greg Graffin (vocals), Jay Bentley (bass guitar), Jay Ziskrout (drums), and Brett Gurewitz (guitar). In 1981, they released their eponymous debut EP on their own newly-formed label, Epitaph, managed and owned by Gurewitz. 1982 saw the release of their first full-length album, How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, which gained them a sizable following. During the recording, Ziskrout left the band and was replaced by Peter Finestone.

Greg Graffin, the band’s frontman, holds a Master’s degree in geology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in zoology from Cornell University. His dissertation for Cornell was a comprehensive study of how modern scientists, especially those who believe in strict Darwinism, view theism and religion, and how their own religious beliefs, if any, affect their study and work. He has since published it for fans of the band.

In 1983, Bad Religion released Into the Unknown, a keyboard-driven psychedelic rock album that was enormously unpopular among the band’s core fan base. It is now out of print, and generally disowned by the band. However, in past years it has become a collectors item, and has gained some acceptance from fans. It now can be seen going for more than $100 on eBay, and is often pirated.

In 1984, Greg Hetson (Circle Jerks) replaced Gurewitz. Bad Religion returned to a somewhat mellower, rock and roll version of their original sound with the Back to the Known, but they disbanded soon after.

Tagged as:

punk, punk rock, rock, political, alternative
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NewDarkAges wrote:
3 hours ago

It played a part in their semi-success if we can call it that (in fact the are one of the most successful punk bands, and in the very few first if we exclude those with pop lyrics/direction) but they also had many hit songs in the 90s and 00s (not big hits ofc). In Greece most that know them are from Digital Boy. Also Broken was the known song here when TPOB came out, while it seems in most countries it was Sorrow. Broken Radio plays back then got me into BR.

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Schweinehaxxxen wrote:
4 hours ago

orly? nice tits.

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Rogar wrote:
5 hours ago

Sadly, if it weren't for the Crazy Taxi and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 games, Bad Religion would be even less well known than they are now. Most people that I know that have heard of BR have only heard of them from those two video games.

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NewDarkAges wrote:
6 hours ago

Agreed, their name and message plus the difficult vocabulary don't fit well for most people (sad think, mostly for those people, and mostly not for missing BR, but for being closeminded, having mass mentality etc). Still there's bands with some of those characteristics that have more success. For example Rage Against The Machine, Offspring (early) and some "evil" metal bands. I'd say it's a mix of these things, the comercial or not direction in sounds, the timing and promotion that decide bands' level of success.

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KatiOlen wrote:
8 hours ago

They do deserve more recognition but they'll never get it because many people just don't like the messages their songs convey. Not to speak of their not-mass-appealing name. Also, I've noticed that for many people their songs are just too hard to comprehend; masses want lyrics to be easy to understand written in simple language. And I agree, Rolemodels is kind of bland but if they want to improve, they've still got time (and potential) for it.

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NewDarkAges wrote:
22 hours ago

How could hell and Against the Grain are amazing imo too. I also pref New Dark Ages to Honest Goodbye, but the second had a great chance on mainstream success. Though I agree that it's better for them to have the fans that do love them for what they are and not for some brainwashing radio and tv play, but also think they deserve much more compared to most bands out there. I've listened to Rolemodels, Graham sounds like early Greg, and they have a nice oldschool sound, but imo their songs lack that something special early BR songs had. Like Politics, Slaves and Drastic Actions.

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Rogar wrote:
yesterday evening

It makes me sad to see Against the Grain so low on the top albums. That's one of their best, IMO.

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KatiOlen wrote:
yesterday evening

Well, I was talking in general and my opinion is solely based on my own experiences, though in a way it is also confirmed by last.fm statistics. But I must admit that NewDarkAges worded it better, STF's less underrated. But BR being underrated in general doesn't bother me, they have their own fan base and people love their music, and imo that's what it's all about. Btw, I was wondering if anyone has listened to The Rolemodels? It's featuring Graffin's son Graham as the lead singer and he sounds a _lot_ like his father.

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Spark_and_Spark wrote:
yesterday afternoon

It's kinda strange how people say stuff like "How Could Hell Be Any Worse is their best album" yet all the songs from that album only have about 2 shouts each. I think you're right about BR being underrated in general. (Well, Last.fm-wise at least.) Anyway, I just got a copy of 'Hell' yesterday and I've already listened to it about 8 times. I love it! Such an old school punk sound. Should of bought it ages ago..

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NewDarkAges wrote:
Thursday afternoon

I wouldn't say STF is overrated, nor any other BR album. It's just less underrated, as BR are heavily underrated overall, and other albums more than STF. But i think they kinda choose this low profile, at least nowadays. Brain has said he doesn't want more publicity, and they have cancelled the Honest Goodbye single. It's not one of the best BR songs or even in the New Maps album, but it could easily be a hit the way it sounds.

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Pentfixion wrote:
Wednesday evening

I can't feel this bad religion.

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Bad-Religioner wrote:
Wednesday afternoon

they don't want you, too

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Pentfixion wrote:
Wednesday morning

I don't want this bad religion.

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Spark_and_Spark wrote:
Tuesday evening

Well that's good timing, 'cause my copy of The Process of Belief just arrived in the post! Looking forward to hearing it. (How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is on it's way!)

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KatiOlen wrote:
Tuesday afternoon

I didn't say it wasn't a good album. I just think it's a tad overrated, but it still contains some very awesome songs. Spark_and_Spark, you should listen to How Could Hell Be Any Worse? and The Process of Belief, which, in my opinion, are also very good. (No Control stays my favourite, though.)

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Spark_and_Spark wrote:
Monday evening

Yep, just because it's the most popular (possibly unfairly so) doesn't stop it being an amazing album! I think if I could choose the top 4 albums on Last.fm, I'd order them... #1 Against the Grain - #2 Suffer - #3 No Control - #4... Hmm, not sure about 4th place. I haven't heard all their albums yet so my opinion isn't very fair.

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metmass wrote:
Monday evening

STF may well be a little overrated, but it is a brilliant album nonetheless. I loved it.

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MrDrop wrote:
Sunday evening

best punk mand ever! cool music

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KatiOlen wrote:
Sunday afternoon

@Rancido: it definitely had some good songs, plus I loved the acoustic tracks, but in my opinion it's not underrated.. I rather see STF as overrated.

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KatiOlen wrote:
Sunday afternoon

pretty amazing to the core!

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