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.
Requiem for Dissent
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An effigy, a soldier out of time
Citizen and patriot, you can't be far behind
The funeral is weighting heavy on your mind
[Chorus:]
Requiem
Bring the dissident from slumber
Raise the rebel from his grave
Requiem
Sound the revolution's thunder
A monumental blunder averted and betrayed
Dig around the cemetery, a record of the day
Friends and neighbors in stages of decay
But the saddest thing of all eludes discovery
The stimulus of this somber ceremony
[Chorus]
The sanctimonious minions - how they grovel at the feet
Authority is populist deceit
Pity yet another casualty's demoralized decline
Just a victim of irrational design
Requiem
Requiem
Requiem
Bring the dissident from slumber
Requiem
Raise the rebel from its grave
Requiem
Sound the revolution's thunder
A monumental blunder averted and betrayed
The lyrics of Bad Religion's song "Requiem for Dissent" speak of the funeral of a dissident activist who fought for a revolution against populist deceit and irrational design. The song begins with an oratory that contains hope and glory, but it is just a whisper of a rhyme, representing the feelings of the oppressed people who couldn't voice their opinions. The "effigy, a soldier out of time" refers to the dissident, who fought for change even when it was not the right time for it. And while "the funeral is weighting heavy on your mind," the chorus asks for the dissident to be brought back from slumber, raised from their grave, and that the revolution’s thunder be sounded. The blunder has been averted, but the revolution has been betrayed, and it is time to reclaim the power.
In the next verse, the song takes a darker turn as it talks of digging around the cemetery, where the record of the day resides. But the saddest thing is that the stimulus of the ceremony eludes discovery, meaning that the reason why the dissident had to sacrifice their life is yet unknown. The last verse criticizes the "sanctimonious minions" who grovel at the feet of authority, calling it "populist deceit." And even though another victim has been demoralized by the authorities’ irrational design, the chorus still insists on the requiem, asking for the dissident's revival and the sound of revolution's thunder.
Line by Line Meaning
Oratory of hope and glory, a whisper and a rhyme
Speaking out in hopefulness and glory, with soothing words and poetic verses
An effigy, a soldier out of time
A representation of something that no longer exists or is out of place, like a soldier from a different era
Citizen and patriot, you can't be far behind
As a citizen and someone who loves their country, you may be affected by what's happening
The funeral is weighting heavy on your mind
The sadness and impact of what's happening is weighing heavily on your mind
[Chorus:] Requiem Bring the dissident from slumber Requiem Raise the rebel from his grave Requiem Sound the revolution's thunder A monumental blunder averted and betrayed
A call to action to wake up the opposition and rise against those who have made a monumental error
Dig around the cemetery, a record of the day
Searching the burial ground for evidence of the past and present
Friends and neighbors in stages of decay
Those who were once close to us are now deteriorating in various ways
But the saddest thing of all eludes discovery
The most sorrowful part is still yet to be found or acknowledged
The stimulus of this somber ceremony
The cause or reason behind this depressing gathering
[Chorus]
Repeat of the call to action
The sanctimonious minions - how they grovel at the feet
The hypocritical followers are bowing down to those in power
Authority is populist deceit
Those in charge use deceitful tactics to maintain their authority and popularity
Pity yet another casualty's demoralized decline
Feeling sorrow for another who has lost morale or hope due to this situation
Just a victim of irrational design
The circumstances have resulted from an illogical plan or scheme
[Chorus]
Repeat of the call to action
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….