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.
Heroes
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hot boots invested and cracked
Poor candidates jacked in the gray light
An ultra-violent call summoning both poet and thrall
Sweet catalyst for the acolytes
Our heroes and martyrs
Present two points of view:
Into a welter of night
Flack, rounds, and roiling blight
Cracked vertebrates stacked by the wayside
An ultra-violent call summoning both poet and thrall
The inveterate blind seeking daylight
Our heroes and martyrs
Present two points of view:
Which deity you're praying to
The song "Heroes" by Bad Religion discusses the violent nature of society and how it can lead to the creation of heroes and martyrs. The opening lines describe a chaotic and violent scene, with "hot boots invested and cracked" and "flack, rounds, and roiling blight." The use of the term "ultra-violent" further emphasizes the intense and destructive nature of the situation. The call to action is seen as a catalyst for those who idolize power and violence, the "acolytes."
The chorus highlights the different beliefs and religions that play a role in shaping these heroes and martyrs. Depending on who you are praying to, you may view someone as a hero or a martyr. In other words, it is subjective and varies between individuals and groups. The song addresses the idea that these figures are often placed on a pedestal and celebrated for their violent actions, despite the harm they may have caused. The final verse describes the aftermath of this violence, with those who were injured or killed left "stacked by the wayside." The idea of the "inveterate blind seeking daylight" implies a hopelessness and desperation in the search for a way out of this cycle of violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Amid the heat and the wrack
In the middle of chaos and destruction
Hot boots invested and cracked
Military boots are worn out and broken from fighting and marching
Poor candidates jacked in the gray light
Soldiers who have been drafted are trapped in a hopeless situation
An ultra-violent call summoning both poet and thrall
A violent conflict that inspires both an artist and a servant
Sweet catalyst for the acolytes
This conflict serves as a motivator for those who want to follow a particular cause
Our heroes and martyrs
The people who fought and died for their beliefs
Present two points of view:
Each hero represents a different belief system
Which deity you are praying to
The beliefs of each hero are influenced by their religion
Into a welter of night
Into a chaotic and dark situation
Flack, rounds, and roiling blight
Explosions, gunfire, and destructive chaos
Cracked vertebrates stacked by the wayside
Dead soldiers' bodies are piled on the side of the road
The inveterate blind seeking daylight
Those who are ignorant and indoctrinated are trying to find truth in the midst of confusion
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG GRAFFIN, BRETT GUREWITZ
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….