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.
All There Is
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With grave allegiances so meaningless and vain
The walking wounded,in a pageant of contenders,
Who balance on a rail of pain just for a pail of rain.
And everything, is barely mist- blood relations and bricks.
My expression, my confession
Add it up, extract a lesson more than this
Can that be all there is?
In my rectory of doubt I kneel to pray like one devout.
As time the great grey dreamless sleep of a modern useless modern God
Erodes away each storied day as wretched Adams with hell to pay.
Content upon a rail of pain for just a little rain.
And everything is dearly missed- blood relations and bricks.
My expression, my confession
Add it up, extract a lesson more than this
Once again, like a bullet, as a friend tell me
Can that be all there is?
There's an endless disposition and it doesn't mean a god damn thing.
There's space for a paper airplane race in the eye of a hurricane.
And if pigs could fly then surely so could I.
But this pedestrian knows better than to even try.
My divinity is caught between the colors of a butterfly
And everything is dearly missed- blood relations and bricks.
My expression, my confession
Add it up, extract a lesson more than this
Once again, like a bullet, as a friend tell me
Can that be all there is?
All there is?
The lyrics of Bad Religion's song "All There Is" explore the sense of hopelessness and despair that can overwhelm those who struggle through life amidst pain and suffering. The opening lines address the "hopeless sinners" who have lost faith in the meaning and purpose of their lives, who find themselves engaged in a hollow, meaningless struggle. They are "walking wounded" who are engaged in a "pageant of contenders" as they try to balance on a "rail of pain" while seeking "just a little rain" to soothe their suffering. The song suggests that life can be reduced to a bleak existence, devoid of meaningful connections or purpose, with everything reduced to meaningless fragments of reality.
The lyrics present a bleak picture of life as a series of losses and missed opportunities, with the things that are important slipping away as we struggle to keep our balance on the "rail of pain." The song highlights the idea that existence itself is fragile and fleeting, and that it is all too easy to lose sight of our purpose and the things that matter most in life. The final lines of the song ask the poignant question: "Can that be all there is?" suggesting that working hard and pushing ourselves to the limit may not be enough to make our lives fulfilling or meaningful.
Line by Line Meaning
This song goes out to all the hopeless sinners,
The song is dedicated to individuals who have lost hope and are struggling to find meaning in their lives.
With grave allegiances so meaningless and vain
People are devoted to things that hold no true value or significance.
The walking wounded, in a pageant of contenders,
Those who are hurt and struggling to find their place in life, and competing with others to do so.
Who balance on a rail of pain just for a pail of rain.
People continue to struggle and endure pain for very little gain or benefit.
And everything, is barely mist - blood relations and bricks.
Even the most fundamental things in life, like family and home, are fleeting and easily lost.
My expression, my confession
The song is about the emotional expression and confession of the singer.
Add it up, extract a lesson more than this
The singer is searching for a deeper meaning or lesson to be learned from their experiences.
Once again, like a bullet, as a friend tell me
The singer is looking for guidance or advice from a friend.
Can that be all there is?
The singer is questioning whether or not there is more to life than what they have experienced thus far.
In my rectory of doubt I kneel to pray like one devout.
The singer is experiencing a crisis of faith and is praying for guidance and clarity.
As time the great grey dreamless sleep of a modern useless modern God
The singer is questioning the existence and relevance of a higher power in the modern world.
Erodes away each storied day as wretched Adams with hell to pay.
Life is full of struggles and challenges, and people are constantly paying the price for their mistakes.
Content upon a rail of pain for just a little rain.
People are settling for very little reward, and enduring a lot of pain in the process.
There's an endless disposition and it doesn't mean a god damn thing.
Life is full of meaningless patterns and cycles that never seem to lead to anything significant.
There's space for a paper airplane race in the eye of a hurricane.
Even in the midst of chaos and destruction, there can be moments of joy and playfulness.
And if pigs could fly then surely so could I.
The singer is expressing a desire to do the impossible, and is feeling empowered and optimistic.
But this pedestrian knows better than to even try.
The singer recognizes the limitations of their abilities and is cautious about taking risks.
My divinity is caught between the colors of a butterfly
The singer's sense of spirituality and purpose is uncertain and fragile, like a butterfly.
And everything is dearly missed - blood relations and bricks.
The most important things in life are often taken for granted and only appreciated once they are gone.
All there is?
The singer is asking if the current state of their life is all there is, or if there is more to be experienced and discovered.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT W. GUREWITZ, GREG GRAFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Pelaz González
One of my all time favourite bad religion’s songs!! Long life to BR From Spain!
squeeps
"There's an endless disposition and it doesn't mean a god damn thing.
There's space for a paper airplane race in the eye of a hurricane."
Always thought those lines were amazing.
brownpunk
That solo just rips
Pedro S
É uma banda dessa que falta no Rock In Rio :/
Matheus Motta
Pedro S Pois é...
Ike Sours
All my years of fandom and it's the philosophical side of BR that still gets me the most. Total doomer candy without the sugar coating.
Po0p
Found this song through PUP's drummer, he referenced it in a video and I'm glad he did!
Lord of The Frogs
Same my dude
류재훈
same
Po0p
@Yuni X2 ayy! PUP are quite possibly my favourite band at this point, love pretty much everything they've ever released.