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.
The band reformed in 1987 and released suffer in 1988, cementing their comeback in the punk community. Not only is this album considered one of their best by most fans, but it is often credited with "saving" the Southern Californian punk rock scene by fans and Bad Religion's contemporaries alike.
no control (1989) and against the grain (1990) further increased the band's popularity, followed by generator (1992). Before the recording sessions for the latter album commenced, drummer Pete Finestone left the band in to focus on his other band, The Fishermen. Bobby Schayer joined the band as his replacement. recipe for hate (1993) followed shortly thereafter.
With alternative rock breaking into the mainstream, Bad Religion left Epitaph for major label Atlantic and quickly re-released Recipe for Hate on the major label. 1994's stranger than fiction followed, but shortly after its release Brett Gurewitz left the band again. Officially, he cited the increasing amount of time he was spending at Epitaph's offices as the Offspring (then a part of the Epitaph roster) became one of the biggest bands of the mid-1990s. But it was well-known that the departure was not on good terms, as he later accused the band of selling out for leaving Epitaph in favor of a major label. Gurewitz recorded a song with his new band The Daredevils entitled "Hate You," reportedly directed towards Jay Bentley. Gurewitz, moreover, was struggling more seriously with heroin and other addictions that had plagued him for years.
Gurewitz was replaced by Brian Baker, former member of bands such as Minor Threat and Dag Nasty. Previously, Graffin and Gurewitz had split songwriting duties, but Gurewitz's departure left Graffin as the band's lone songwriter.
What followed were a series of moderately successful albums, the gray race (1996), no substance (1998), and the new america (2000). As their popularity waned, Bad Religion left Atlantic in 2001 and returned to Epitaph. Bobby Schayer left the band following a serious shoulder injury and was replaced by Brooks Wackerman (Suicidal Tendencies) and Brett Gurewitz rejoined the band in time to record the process of belief (2002). the empire strikes first was in June 2004. Both albums are widely regarded as a return to form for the band.
In 2004, the band released digitally-remastered versions of five of their early albums (How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, Suffer, No Control, Against the Grain, and Generator). The How Could Hell Be Any Worse? re-issue also contained all of their first EP, the Public Service EP (alternative versions of Bad Religion, Slaves and Drastic Actions from the self titled EP) and Back To The Known.
Bad Religion's fourtheenth full-length studio album, titled new maps of hell, was released on July 10, 2007. It debuted at #35 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 21,000 copies in its first week. It was originally intended to be released in 2006, but was pushed back largely due to the release of Graffin's second solo album, cold as the clay and his work at UCLA.
In 2010, Bad Religion released 30 Years Live for the band's 30th anniversary. The album was available for free to subscribers of the Bad Religion mailing list. Later the same year, Bad Religion released their fifteenth studio album, The Dissent of Man. The album took nearly two years to write and record, mainly due to the band's heavy touring schedule.
Brett Gurewitz, who still heads Epitaph Records, still records with the band and plays local shows, but doesn't tour with them. Greg Hetson can still be found at the occasional Circle Jerks show and helped open a bar in LA. Wackerman is working on a side project called The Kidneys. Graffin spends 10 weeks a year teaching two classes (Life Sciences 1 and Earth and Space Sciences 116) at UCLA. Jay Bentley keeps the Bad Religion MySpace page updated.
A World Without Melody
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a world without melody
Sometimes the rhythmic din
Of society is too much for me
But purpose is prioritized these days,
The goal is win the prize
There's a sleeping resonance we hold,
Through which we're unified
No one can deter you from your own path
There's no trip too remote
From which you can't come back
And I've got this hunch about you and me
None of us are ready
For a world without melody
Melody is the key,
It's the surest way
To unlock your individuality
Melody is the key,
It will set you free!
Don't disrelish harmony,
Community will make you whole
Work and understanding are the chords
Way deep within your soul
They only need to be struck once,
And the vibrations swell and spread
But if we mute them they decay,
Our sensibilities are dead
So let it out! don't just be one of the crowd
Hesitance and diffidence will do you in
And your soul doesn't care
For social medicine
And I've got this hunch
About you and me
None of us are ready
For a world without melody
Melody is the key,
It's the surest way
To unlock your individuality
Melody is the key,
It will set you free!
And I know,
Together we could change the world
Just you and me
But I won't live without melody
The song "A World Without Melody" by Bad Religion is a passionate call to embrace the power and importance of music in our lives. The lyrics express a deep fear of a world without melody and the idea that music is a vital part of human identity and individuality. The singer argues that in a society that often prioritizes winning and success, it's essential to remember that music is a unifying force that feeds our souls and helps us connect with each other.
The song urges listeners to embrace their own unique musical expression and not be afraid to stand out from the crowd. The lyrics suggest that melody is the key to unlocking individuality and liberty, while community and harmony are essential for personal growth and wholeness. The singer acknowledges that striking the right chords within oneself can be challenging, but once the "vibrations" are set in motion, they can "swell and spread" throughout society.
In conclusion, "A World Without Melody" is a powerful anthem that speaks to the universal human experience of music's uplifting power. It's ultimately a call to action, encouraging listeners to embrace their musical identity and use it to create a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want to live
Living is a choice that I make, and I don't want to exist in a world without melody.
In a world without melody
In a world devoid of harmonious sounds, life would be unbearable, and there would be no beauty worth cherishing.
Sometimes the rhythmic din
The loud, constant noise of society's demands occasionally becomes too much to bear and requires escape.
Of society is too much for me
I find society's stressful demands tiresome and crave peace and quiet to recharge and contemplate things on my own.
But purpose is prioritized these days,
In contemporary times, we prioritize our objectives and focus on attaining specific goals rather than enjoying the beauty of life.
The goal is win the prize
Life has turned into a competition of achieving success and getting rewarded, whereas the purpose should be living meaningfully.
There's a sleeping resonance we hold,
As humans, we carry a dormant vibration within ourselves that connects and unifies us, and we ought to awaken it rather than silencing it.
Through which we're unified
This hidden resonance in each of us is what brings people together, and we need to tap into that rather than focusing on differences between us that divide people.
So let it out! don't just get lost in the crowd
We need to express ourselves boldly and not blend into the monotony of societal standards and expectations.
No one can deter you from your path
Nobody should discourage or distract you from pursuing your unique course in life.
There's no trip too remote
No journey is too far-fetched or impossible to undertake and complete as long as we believe in ourselves.
From which you can't come back
There is nothing irreversible in life, and every challenge or experience is just an opportunity to learn and grow.
And I've got this hunch about you and me
I sense that you and I share the same view on life and how important melody and beauty are to it.
None of us are ready
Neither you nor I are mentally or spiritually prepared to live in a world devoid of melody.
For a world without melody
The absence of harmony and beauty would mean a world without soul, and we are not ready for such a life.
Melody is the key,
The secret to unlocking our individuality and the beauty of life lies in melody or harmonious sounds that inspire and move us.
It's the surest way
There is no better way to connect with ourselves and others than through the harmonies and rhythms of melody.
To unlock your individuality
When we allow melody to move us, we become unique and authentic individuals free of societal constraints and expectations.
Melody is the key,
Harmonious sound is fundamental to life and essential to enjoying its beauty, meaning, and purpose.
It will set you free!
Embracing melody and allowing it to inspire and move us liberates us from the expectations and pressures of society.
Don't disrelish harmony,
We should never despise or neglect harmony in our lives but rather embrace it and cherish it as a vital component of living fully.
Community will make you whole
Our connections with others and being part of a community is essential to being complete and fulfilled.
Work and understanding are the chords
Effort and empathy are the essential components of the harmony and rhythm that compose the melody of our lives.
Way deep within your soul
This rhythm and melody are within us, and we need to look deeper into our souls to discover them.
They only need to be struck once,
All it takes is one moment, one spark, to activate and awaken these fundamental rhythms and melodies within ourselves.
And the vibrations swell and spread
Once we awaken these hidden melodies within us, they grow and expand, becoming more resonant and powerful.
But if we mute them they decay,
When we ignore or suppress our inner melodies, they wither and die, and we lose a vital part of ourselves.
Our sensibilities are dead
When we lose touch with our inner rhythms and melodies, we lose the ability to appreciate beauty and enjoy life's wonders fully.
Hesitance and diffidence will do you in
Indecision and reluctance only lead to missed opportunities, regrets, and a life without melody or harmony.
And your soul doesn't care
Our inner selves crave meaning, beauty, and harmony, and ignoring these things leads to an unfulfilled, joyless existence.
For social medicine
Pleasing society and conforming to societal norms will never cure the inner emptiness and longing for beauty and harmony in our souls.
And I know,
I am certain that melody and harmony are crucial for a fulfilling life.
Together we could change the world
When we come together and embrace harmony and beauty, we can bring about significant change in ourselves and the world around us.
Just you and me
You and I don't need anyone else to start making a positive difference in the world because, together, we are more than enough.
But I won't live without melody
The beauty, harmony, and melodies of life are too essential to give up or ignore, and living without them isn't a life worth living.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG GRAFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Wow
on You
Everybody needs a slogan in their pocket or two
It never hurts to have a strategy you can go to
Sometimes I have no sense at all
As most flawed men are one to do
Just say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to
Your bad attitude
You can even get cerebral if you want to
Make a radical assessment that sticks like glue
Sometimes it takes no thought at all
The easiest thing to do
Is say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to
Your bad attitude
The reaction it brings, just one of those things
Your friends might not want you around
If the impulse is right you might get in a fight
Even though you can't hold your ground
But all rest assured, sometimes just a word
Is the most satisfying sound
Sometimes it makes no sense at all
The easiest thing to do
Is say fuck you
Pavlovian rude
A menace too
Pay homage to your bad attitude
Just say fuck you
What you gonna do to your attitude
Just say fuck you
Wtf is this shit, what retard wrote the wrong spng down….