Bad Religion

In the vast chronicle of punk rock, few names command as much respect and long-standing relevance as Bad Religion. For over four decades, this Californian institution has been the genre’s conscience, challenging authority, questioning dogma, and proving that fast, aggressive music can be a vessel for profound intellectual thought. They are more than just punk rock pioneers; they are its enduring professors, and their iconic ‘Crossbuster’ logo remains a potent symbol of counter-cultural defiance.

The band’s story began in the suburban sprawl of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley around 1980. A group of precocious high school friends—Greg Graffin (vocals), Brett Gurewitz (guitar), and Jay Bentley (bass)—channelled their teenage angst and burgeoning scepticism into a blistering new sound. While their early EPs laid a foundation, it was the period after their brief, ill-fated foray into progressive rock with 1983’s Into the Unknown that would define them. Regrouping and refocusing, the band unleashed Suffer in 1988. This album was a watershed moment, a landmark release that many credit with single-handedly revitalising the punk scene and creating the blueprint for the melodic hardcore and skate punk explosion of the 1990s.

What has always set Bad Religion apart is the remarkable depth of their lyrical content. This is largely thanks to the formidable intellect of their principal songwriters. Frontman Greg Graffin is a true polymath; alongside his career in music, he earned a PhD in zoology from Cornell University and has worked as a university lecturer in life sciences and palaeontology. This academic background permeates his lyrics, which are filled with polysyllabic words, scientific metaphors, and sharp sociological critiques, challenging listeners to think rather than just react.