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.
New America
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have you lost your sense of sustainability?
We are just a step away
From realizing what we strive to be
But we've got to break out
From this insulated blind and lame senility
Wake up the new america
Transcend the mass hysteria
Wo-oh!
Change is the thing you're wary of
Wo-oh!
We need a new america
Wo-oh!
Laurels, human triumph,
Bestowments from the past
Victories don't mean a thing
If they don't last
We are just marching toward extinction
With blinders on our eyes
Jeopardizing everything
We've learned and come to realize
You call that wise?
Open your eyes america
Wo-oh!
See through the lies they tell to us
Wo-oh!
Confront the fears that worry us
Wo-oh!
We need a new america
Wo-oh!
We don't have to be afraid to re-invent
We've got to start to build,
Progress, and implement
For when we take our fill,
And never pay the price
We only build ourselves a fleeting,
False paradise
You can live in staunch denial
And mark me as your enemy
But I'm just a voice among the throng
Who want a brighter destiny
They say with me
We are the new america
Wo-oh!
This is the new america?
Wo-oh
In the song "New America" by Bad Religion, the lyrics are a call for action and change from a society that is complacent, ignorant and unsustainable. The song starts with the question "Do you know the cost of future misery?" This question highlights the consequences of not making changes to our society today. The song suggests that we need to break out of our "insulated blind and lame senility" in order to "wake up the new america".
The song further emphasizes the need for change by criticizing the past accomplishments of society. The lyrics suggest that "laurels", or past accomplishments, don't mean anything if they don't last. This is a call for society to move forward and not rest on past successes. The song also suggests that society is "marching toward extinction" due to our ignorance and failures to take action.
The lyrics suggest that in order to create a sustainable future, society needs to confront their fears and re-invent. The song states, "We don't have to be afraid to re-invent. We've got to start to build, progress, and implement." This is a call for society to take action and become agents of change rather than passive observers. The song suggests that the creation of a "new america" is possible, but it needs people to create it.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you know the cost of future misery?
Do you understand the consequences of our unsustainable actions that will lead to a miserable future?
Have you lost your sense of sustainability?
Have you forgotten the importance of living sustainably for the sake of our future?
We are just a step away
We are very close to achieving our goals in society
From realizing what we strive to be
From achieving the society we've been working towards
But we've got to break out
But we need to break free from the current state of things
From this insulated blind and lame senility
From this ignorant and unchanging state of being
Wake up the new america
It's time to awaken and create a new America
Wo-oh!
Transcend the mass hysteria
Rise above the fear and chaos created by the media and society
Wo-oh!
Change is the thing you're wary of
You are resistant to change and its potential consequences
Wo-oh!
We need a new america
We need to create a new society in America that is sustainable and equitable
Wo-oh!
Laurels, human triumph,
Our past achievements and successes
Bestowments from the past
Gifts and accomplishments handed down from previous generations
Victories don't mean a thing
Past success does not guarantee future success or sustainability
If they don't last
If we do not maintain and preserve our achievements and successes
We are just marching toward extinction
Our unsustainable actions are leading us towards self-destruction
With blinders on our eyes
We are choosing to ignore the consequences of our actions
Jeopardizing everything
We are risking everything we've worked for and achieved
We've learned and come to realize
We've gained knowledge and understanding of the importance of sustainability
You call that wise?
Do you still think our actions are wise and justifiable given what we know?
Open your eyes america
It's time to awaken and face the reality of our actions and their consequences
Wo-oh!
See through the lies they tell to us
Stop believing the false information and propaganda fed to us by companies and the media
Wo-oh!
Confront the fears that worry us
Face our fears and address them head-on
Wo-oh!
We need a new america
We need to create a new and better society in America
Wo-oh!
We don't have to be afraid to re-invent
We shouldn't be afraid to innovate and create something new
We've got to start to build,
We need to start taking action towards building a better society
Progress, and implement
Make progress and turn our goals into reality
For when we take our fill,
When we take more than what's necessary or sustainable
And never pay the price
Without suffering the consequences of our actions
We only build ourselves a fleeting,
We are only building a temporary and unsustainable paradise
False paradise
A paradise that will eventually come to an end
You can live in staunch denial
You can choose to continue denying the consequences of our actions
And mark me as your enemy
And see me as your opponent or enemy
But I'm just a voice among the throng
But I am just one of many voices calling for change
Who want a brighter destiny
Who want a better and more sustainable future for everyone
They say with me
They agree with me and support this change
We are the new america
We represent the new and better America that we want to create
Wo-oh!
This is the new america?
This is the new and better America that we are working towards?
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….