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.
Modern Day Catastrophists
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen to the warnings
Verify all your fears
There's a world outside
That's ready to blow
And we're all to blame
When it finally explodes
Gotta listen to what
They're telling you
Gotta listen up and think
About what they're saying to you
They're the modern day catastrophists
They've got practical solutions
(know all the right equations)
They're the self-appointed
Righteous pragmatists
And they know 50 ways
To save the world
What makes you think
You can cure our disease?
Maybe its just our biology
Maybe its time to make room
For another species
This is the 21st Century
"Modern Day Catastrophists" is a commentary on humanity's tendency to ignore the warnings signs of an impending disaster. The first few lines "Take those potatoes out of your ear, listen to the warnings, verify all your fears" are a direct call to action urging people to stop ignoring the signs of trouble and to start paying attention. The underlying message is that the world is on the brink of catastrophe, and it is everyone's responsibility to do something about it.
The song goes on to criticize those who claim to have all the answers, the "self-appointed righteous pragmatists," who believe they have all the solutions to save the world. Bad Religion suggests that their solutions are not necessarily the only way, and that there are many different approaches to solving complex global problems. The line "what makes you think you can cure our disease?" is a sharp jab at those who believe they have all the answers, suggesting that there are limits to our ability to control the world around us.
Ultimately, the song is a call to action, urging us to take responsibility for our part in shaping the future of the planet. The lyrics suggest that we all have a role to play in averting disaster and that we need to work together to find practical solutions.
Line by Line Meaning
Take those potatoes out of your ear
Stop ignoring the obvious and pay attention
Listen to the warnings
Pay attention to the signs and signals of potential disaster
Verify all your fears
Acknowledge and confirm your concerns
There's a world outside
The problems of the world extend beyond your immediate surroundings
That's ready to blow
The situation is volatile and could erupt at any moment
And we're all to blame
We are collectively responsible for the issues at hand
When it finally explodes
If/when disaster strikes, we will all suffer the consequences
You gotta listen up
Pay attention
Gotta listen to what
Listen carefully to the messages being conveyed
They're telling you
The experts/scientists/activists are informing you
Gotta listen up and think
Don't just hear, but also contemplate and react to their words
About what they're saying to you
Take heed of the message conveyed by those with expertise
They're the modern day catastrophists
Those warning of disaster in the present day
They've got practical solutions
Experts share solutions to alleviate the problem
(know all the right equations)
Experts know and have the necessary means to combat an issue
They're the self-appointed
They take it upon themselves to address the issue
Righteous pragmatists
They believe in practical real-world solutions, and consider themselves morally upright
And they know 50 ways
They have a lot of practical solutions
To save the world
To fix the immediate problem(s) causing the calamity
What makes you think
Why do you believe
You can cure our disease?
Do you have the authority/special knowledge to solve the problem?
Maybe its just our biology
It might be inherent in us as creatures
Maybe its time to make room
Perhaps it is necessary to give way to another
For another species
A new creature may thrive better in the current ecosystem
This is the 21st Century
This is the present era where these issues occur and need to be addressed
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….