Bad Religion Biography

Bad Religion is an influential American punk rock band formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California, by founding members Brett Gurewitz, Jay Ziskrout, Jay Bentley, and Greg Graffin. The band initially signed with Epitaph Records in 1981, releasing their self-titled debut album shortly thereafter. Their first two albums, Bad Religion and How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, achieved only moderate success but helped establish the band's presence within the underground punk scene.

The group's fourth album, Back to the Known, released in 1986, showcased a different musical direction with a slower pace, contributing to some lineup changes. However, Bad Religion returned to their hardcore punk roots with the release of Against the Grain in 1990, which marked their best-selling album at the time. Their sixth album, Generator, followed, leading to their mainstream breakthrough with the release of Recipe for Hate in 1993.

Recipe for Hate became a significant commercial success, reaching the top twenty on mainstream charts and producing memorable singles such as “Stranger Than Fiction,” “21st Century (Digital Boy),” and “Infected.” This marked a pivotal moment in Bad Religion's career as they garnered mainstream recognition. Their subsequent albums include The Gray Race (1996), No Substance (1998), The New America (2000), The Process of Belief (2002), The Empire Strikes First (2004), New Maps of Hell (2007), The Dissent of Man (2010), and True North (2013), expanding their repertoire and solidifying their place in punk rock history.

Over the years, Bad Religion has gained a reputation for addressing issues related to religion, politics, society, and science in their lyrics. They are celebrated for their melodic sound and the use of three-part vocal harmonies. The band's lineup has experienced multiple changes, though Greg Graffin has remained the consistent member. Founding members Jay Bentley and Brett Gurewitz have been longstanding contributors, with Brian Baker joining in 1994, and newer members Mike Dimkich and Brooks Wackerman joining in 2013 and 2015, respectively.

In addition to their musical releases, Bad Religion has made notable appearances on various television shows, such as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and their music has been featured in films like Clerks and Juno, contributing to their cultural impact. Their significant underground following paved the way for mainstream success after signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, a move that coincided with the punk rock revival of the 1990s.

After experiencing fluctuations in popularity, Bad Religion returned to Epitaph Records in the early 2000s and enjoyed a resurgence, with hits like "Sorrow," "Los Angeles Is Burning," and "The Devil in Stitches." Their sixteenth studio album, True North, was particularly successful, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard 200. Their most recent studio album, Age of Unreason, was released on May 3, 2019, and showcased their continued relevance in the punk genre. As of now, Bad Religion remains active in recording and touring, with a new album rumored to be in the works.