Bad Religion

Bad Religion is one of the most influential and commercially successful American punk groups of all time. Their intelligent (if sesquipedalian) lyrics, often dealing with religious and political philosophy, ecology and personal themes, set them apart from their legions of musical imitators, some of whom (such as NOFX) are themselves successful, influential bands. Along with Black Flag and the Descendents, Bad Religion made southern California one of the nation's hotspots for punk rock; guitarist Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph Records, originally Bad Religion's vanity imprint, has grown into perhaps the largest, best-known punk label in the world. Nearly two decades after forming Bad Religion remains one of the freshest groups around, as passionate now as when they were teenagers.

The roots of Bad Religion extend back to 1976, when frontman Greg Graffin, a native of Wisconsin, moved with his family to the San Fernando Valley; disgusted with the apathetic teenage culture of the area, he embraced the emerging punk movement and by 1979 had started his own band, Bad Religion, with El Camino High schoolmates "Mr." Brett Gurewitz (guitar), Jay Bentley (bass) and Jay Ziskrout (drums). Though, admittedly, none had any musical ability at the time, they nonetheless earned a small local following and recorded an self-titled EP in early 1981, released on their own Epitaph Records label (originally just a logo and P.O. box). Bringing on new drummer Peter Finestone, Bad Religion spent the next year improving their musicianship before recording their 1982 full-length debut, How Could Hell Be Any Worse (produced by Jim Mankey, later of Concrete Blonde), which went on to sell more than 10,000 copies in less than a year. Unfortunately, the band soon began experimenting with synthesizers, and their next release, 1983's Into the Unknown, consisted of slow, synth-laden epics and introspective acoustic ballads that alienated most of their punk fanbase. Disappointed, Bad Religion broke up; Graffin and Finestone went on to college, while Bentley joined Wasted Youth and, later, TSOL.

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	Bad Religion is one of the most influential and commercially successful American punk groups of all time. Their intelligent (if sesquipedalian) lyrics, often dealing with religious and political philosophy, ecology and personal themes, set them apart from their legions of musical imitators, some of whom (such as NOFX) are themselves successful, influential bands. Along with Black Flag and the Descendents, Bad Religion made southern California one of the nation's hotspots for punk rock; guitarist Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph Records, originally Bad Religion's vanity imprint, has grown into perhaps the largest, best-known punk label in the world. Nearly two decades after forming Bad Religion remains one of the freshest groups around, as passionate now as when they were teenagers. The roots of Bad Religion extend back to 1976, when frontman Greg Graffin, a native of Wisconsin, moved with his family to the San Fernando Valley; disgusted with the apathetic teenage culture of the area, he embraced the emerging punk movement and by 1979 had started his own band, Bad Religion, with El Camino High schoolmates "Mr." Brett Gurewitz (guitar), Jay Bentley (bass) and Jay Ziskrout (drums). Though, admittedly, none had any musical ability at the time, they nonetheless earned a small local following and recorded an self-titled EP in early 1981, released on their own Epitaph Records label (originally just a logo and P.O. box). Bringing on new drummer Peter Finestone, Bad Religion spent the next year improving their musicianship before recording their 1982 full-length debut, How Could Hell Be Any Worse (produced by Jim Mankey, later of Concrete Blonde), which went on to sell more than 10,000 copies in less than a year. Unfortunately, the band soon began experimenting with synthesizers, and their next release, 1983's Into the Unknown, consisted of slow, synth-laden epics and introspective acoustic ballads that alienated most of their punk fanbase. Disappointed, Bad Religion broke up; Graffin and Finestone went on to college, while Bentley joined Wasted Youth and, later, TSOL.