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.
Prodigal Son
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Modern-istocrat Horatio Alger
Clever, never hesitating in the baiting, ever waiting
For the canticle of manacles abating
Did you ever forget you had a regret, and what you only guessed at
Might still be waiting?
[Chorus:]
Well, he's a morning star with a champagne heart at his curtain call
And father never understood the way the work gets done
Don't look at me; no, I ain't one, no prodigal son
Don't look at me; no, I ain't one, no prodigal son
When everybody about is ready to bout you about controversial values
Don't you think you better readdress the level of the cowardice rising to drown you?
Did you ever connect or come to reject or even inspect
That dream that hounds you?
[Chorus]
When you least expect it, he's going to run
Like the blood red path of the western sun, oh yeah
The prodigal son is waiting, waiting for his moment to come
Well, hell no, don't look at me
Can't you see? I ain't one, no prodigal son
It ain't me; no, I ain't one, no prodigal son
The lyrics of "Prodigal Son" by Bad Religion address the theme of redemption and forgiveness, using the parable of the prodigal son as a reference. The song opens with a nostalgic tone, wondering about the addressee's fate, who is referred to as a "Modern-istocrat Horatio Alger". This phrase evokes the legacy of the American author, who wrote rags-to-riches stories and became a symbol of the self-made man's success. The lyrics suggest that the person addressed might have achieved success through cunning and ruthlessness, using the metaphor of the "canticle of manacles abating", which means that the person is waiting for a moment when their power over others is reduced.
The chorus states that at some point, the prodigal son will return home, but when he does, he will be celebrated as a "morning star with a champagne heart at his curtain call." This line suggests that despite his wayward past, the prodigal son will be welcomed and rewarded for his accomplishments. However, the father (or the authority) "never understood the way the work gets done," implying that the prodigal son's success might have been achieved through dubious means. The song finishes with a defiant stance, with the singer claiming that he is not the prodigal son, rejecting any association with past mistakes or wrongdoings.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, can't you feel the nostalgia?
Do you remember the good old days?
I wonder about ya
I am curious about your life
Modern-istocrat Horatio Alger
Modern society's version of self-made man
Clever, never hesitating in the baiting, ever waiting
Smart, always ready to provoke, waiting for the right opportunity
For the canticle of manacles abating
Waiting for freedom from oppression
Did you ever forget you had a regret, and what you only guessed at
Might still be waiting?
Did you ever forget about something you regret, and that something might still be unresolved?
When the prodigal son with a caroming shadow of hate comes to land at home
When someone who has been away and full of anger returns home
Well, he's a morning star with a champagne heart at his curtain call
He is a brilliant, charismatic person who enjoys luxury
And father never understood the way the work gets done
His father doesn't understand the methods he uses
Don't look at me; no, I ain't one, no prodigal son
Don't compare me to the prodigal son
When everybody about is ready to bout you about controversial values
When everyone is ready to argue about controversial beliefs
Don't you think you better readdress the level of the cowardice rising to drown you?
Aren't you afraid to stand up for what you believe in?
Did you ever connect or come to reject or even inspect
That dream that hounds you?
Did you ever examine the dream that keeps haunting you?
When you least expect it, he's going to run
Like the blood red path of the western sun, oh yeah
When you least expect it, he will leave like the setting sun
The prodigal son is waiting, waiting for his moment to come
The prodigal son is waiting for his chance to shine
It ain't me; no, I ain't one, no prodigal son
I am not the prodigal son
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT W. GUREWITZ, 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….