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.
NO CONTROL
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But it has gotten melded into an enharmonic whole
Consciousness has plagued us and we can not shake it
Though we think we're in control
Questions that besiege us in life
Are testament of our helplessness
"there's no vestige of a beginning,
No prospect of an end" (Hutton, 1795)
Time is so rock solid in the minds of the hoards but they can't
Explain why it should slip away
History and future are the comforts of
Our curiosity but here we are
Rooted in the present day
If you came to conquer you'll be king for a day
But you too will deteriorate and quickly fade away
And believe these words you hear
When you think your path is clear
We have no control
We do not understand
You have no control
You are not in command!
The lyrics to Bad Religion's song "No Control" is about the illusion of control humans believe they have. Culture is the root of many of the problems humans face: it is what allowed humans to proliferate, but has also created harmony in a way that limits our individuality. Consciousness is also a burden humans carry, as it is a constant reminder that we are merely a small part of a much larger and unexplainable universe. The lyrics reference a quote from Hutton, which essentially states that there is no beginning or end to the universe, and therefore no control over it.
Time is also a subjective concept that humans cannot control. The past and future are comforts because they allow us to control our curiosity. However, we are ultimately rooted in the present, which is the only thing we have control over: the "here we are rooted in the present day." The lyrics go on to state that even if someone came to conquer, they will also deteriorate and fade away, proving that we have no control over our own lives, but act as though we are in command.
In conclusion, Bad Religion's "No Control" is about humans realizing that they have no control over their lives, despite acting as though they are in command. The lyrics reference the burden of culture, consciousness, and time, as well as the illusion of control humans create for themselves. It is a powerful and thought-provoking song that reminds us of our own mortality and insignificance in the grand scheme of things.
Line by Line Meaning
Culture was the seed of proliferation
Society's movement was the source of growth and expansion
But it has gotten melded into an enharmonic whole
Now society has combined into a uniform and monotonous entity
Consciousness has plagued us and we can not shake it
Awareness has caused us suffering and we cannot rid ourselves of it
Though we think we're in control
Despite our belief in our power
Questions that besiege us in life
Uncertainties that overwhelm us as humans
Are testament of our helplessness
Prove our lack of control
"there's no vestige of a beginning,
No prospect of an end" (Hutton, 1795)
As Hutton said in 1795, there is no evidence of a start or finish
When we all disintegrate it will all happen again
After our demise, the cycle will repeat itself
Time is so rock solid in the minds of the hoards but they can't
People consider time as a constant, although they cannot
Explain why it should slip away
Explain why it elapses quickly
History and future are the comforts of
The past and the future bring solace to
Our curiosity but here we are
Our desire for knowledge, but we are
Rooted in the present day
Tied to the current moment
If you came to conquer you'll be king for a day
If you aimed to conquer, you would rule for a short time
But you too will deteriorate and quickly fade away
But you, too, would wither and vanish promptly
And believe these words you hear
Trust these words you are listening to
When you think your path is clear
At times of absolute clarity in your thoughts
We have no control
We hold no power
We do not understand
We cannot comprehend
You have no control
You too wield no power
You are not in command!
You are not in charge!
Lyrics Ā© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG GRAFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@metalmoshingmad777
The misfits
Bad religion
Minor threat
Bad brains
Descendants
Black flag
Against me!
Rise against
The offspring
The whispers
Marked men
The clash
All bands that I find no wrong in, and I'd have no problem just listening to these bands.
@Blodhosta
English isn't my first language but then I listened to Bad Religion and momentarily the fecundity of my vocabulary metamorphosed to engender an affluency of asseverative luxuriance!
@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms
You might enjoy The Proletariat too. Similar 80s Art-Hardcore type stuff in some ways lesst up until they jumped the shark and became a Pop Punk Band. Maybe The Freeze too. I think D.I. had some original BR members who left also.
@beachbum3
Hilarious
@coronelsakura2841
Yes and snobic pretentiousness likewise!
@kylegross770
wut
@jamesdorsijiuhjuh6151
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@thepromise522
I'm a 48 year old female. I've been living this album since I was 16 or 17. It'll never get old.
@dylanchapman5987
This was my Introduction to punk and art 45 years old I have never looked back.
@craigkuzma6948
Dear Sheri,
Are you free for dinner this Friday night?
@wernerpurkhart7388
ā@@craigkuzma6948 š