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.
Stranger Than Fiction
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the children are hoping for a heart attack
Tonight the windows are watching
The streets all conspire
And the lampost can't stop crying
If I could fly high above the world
Would I see a bunch of little dots spell the word stupidity?
Or would I just see hungry lover homicides
And olly olly oxenfrees, who pick a side and hide
The world is scratching at my door
My morning papers got the scores
The human interest stories, and the obituary
Oh yeah, cockroach naps and rattling traps
How many devils can you fit upon a match head?
Caringosity killed the kerouac cat
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction
In my alley around the corner
There's a wino with feathered shoulders
And a spirit giving head for crack
He'll never want it back
There's a little kid and his family eating
Crackers like thanksgiving
And a pack of wild desperadoes scornful of living
The world is scratching at my door
My morning papers got the scores
The human interest stories, and the obituary
Oh yea, cradle for a cat, Woolf looks back,
How many angels can you fit upon a match?
I want to know why Hemmingway cracked
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction
Life is the crummiest book I ever read
There isn't a hook, just a lot of cheap shots
Pictures to shock and characters an
Amateur would never dream up
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction
The lyrics to Bad Religion's "Stranger Than Fiction" paint a grim picture of the state of the world. The first verse describes a sense of foreboding and chaos, with the violent imagery of a "febrile shocking violent smack" and the suggestion that children are hoping for a heart attack. The second verse takes a more existential turn with the singer wondering if flying above the world would reveal a sea of "little dots" spelling out "stupidity" or the tragic consequences of violence and despair as described in "loving brother suicides" and "hungry lover homicides."
The third verse brings the tragedy closer to home with the image of a "wino with feathered shoulders" exchanging sex acts for drugs and a family forced to eat crackers in the absence of a proper meal. Yet, even amid such scenes of desperation, there are still those "scornful of living" and unwilling to accept their lot in life. The chorus repeats the idea that "sometimes truth is stranger than fiction," suggesting that the reality of the world is often more shocking and unpredictable than anything one can imagine.
Overall, "Stranger Than Fiction" is a bleak but powerful commentary on the state of society, one that refuses to look away from the harsh realities of poverty, violence, and despair. The song is a call to action for listeners to confront these issues and work towards creating a more just and equitable world for all.
Line by Line Meaning
A febrile shocking violent smack
The world is in chaos and turmoil filled with aggression and violence.
And the children are hoping for a heart attack
Even the younger generation seeks an exit from this cruel world.
Tonight the windows are watching
This dark and dangerous world is unforgiving and unfriendly.
The streets all conspire
The world seems like a huge conspiracy against the individual.
And the lampost can't stop crying
The world seems to be engulfed by sadness and despair.
If I could fly high above the world
If one could detach and look at the world from an objective perspective.
Would I see a bunch of little dots spell the word stupidity?
Would the world appear as foolish and unenlightened as its actions and decisions suggest?
Or would I just see hungry lover homicides
A world filled with violence and hatred.
Loving brother suicides
Even family relationships are not devoid of self-destructive tendencies.
And olly olly oxenfrees, who pick a side and hide
People trying to fit in with the societal norms while avoiding conflicts.
The world is scratching at my door
The harsh realities of the world have seized one's mind.
My morning papers got the scores
News and media report the terrible happenings of the world every day.
The human interest stories, and the obituary
News reports consist of both everyday human dilemmas and painful losses.
Oh yeah, cockroach naps and rattling traps
Feeling trapped and disgusted by the infestation of turmoil in the world.
How many devils can you fit upon a match head?
The lowness and depravity of some aspects of the world are unfathomable.
Caringosity killed the kerouac cat
Excessive enthusiasm or concern can have deadly repercussions.
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction
Life is stranger than any story a writer could tell.
In my alley around the corner
In a localized space, where everyday people go about their lives.
There's a wino with feathered shoulders
A person who has fallen on hard times, probably struggling with his addiction.
And a spirit giving head for crack
The bleak and shamless existence of people to appease their addiction.
He'll never want it back
A person addicted to drugs may feel the effects of the drug more pleasurable than the consequences of their actions.
There's a little kid and his family eating crackers like thanksgiving
The universal human impulse of trying to enjoy the good times, no matter how little we have.
And a pack of wild desperadoes scornful of living
The people who have lost all hope and can't find any meaning in life.
Cradle for a cat, Woolf looks back
Reflecting back on the classic texts which have the wisdom to prescribe solutions to current hardships.
How many angels can you fit upon a match?
Wonders that the world has the potential for so much good, yet negates it.
I want to know why Hemmingway cracked
Questioning the morality of a life portrayed by someone who seemed to have everything.
Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction
Life is sometimes more absurd than any work of fiction.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BRETT GUREWITZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jessica Skaff
The harmonies in Tiny Voices always fucking slay me.
Super Unknown
@PeteyC_ AZ rancids best is lets go in my opinion and pennywise unknown road and about time
PeteyC_ AZ
I just got done singing that on my way hone from work. I absolutely love this album. I was 13 when it came out and I can't find many of these mid 90s punk bands that stand the test of time. Rancid is another one
Laserbeak
Better of dead is best to me
Ignacio F.
@flohamster76 the end is amazing like a church choir
flohamster76
word
Darknut Gaming
This album taught me more about real life than anything else or anyone ever could. It's both satisfying and terrifying it all could be summed up like this...I'm 39 and I still feel like I hear every song for the first time-a bit differently
Super Unknown
Yeah man i grew up on pennywise bad religion face to face all the big punk bands of the 90s im 42 gotta say i wasnt a huge fan of the album when it came out got tapped into grey race more but coming back too this album now and over the past few months its definitely gotta a different sound too it now then it did back then if that makes sense
Diogo Tabuada
Same here. Punk-rock music is my "valium".
J Sss
@Felonious Monk 99