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.
Suffer
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lunatic, the hypocrite are all lost in the fray
Can't you see their lives are just like yours?
An unturned stone, and undiscovered
Door leading to
The gift of hope renewed
Eternity for you
The business man whose master plan controls the world each day
Is blind to indications of his species of his species' slow decay
People blow their minds
They choose to resign
This deformed society is part of a design
It'll never go away
It's in the cards that way
The masses of humanity have always had to suffer
The lyrics to Bad Religion's song Suffer invite listeners to contemplate the state of society and the human condition. The opening verse asks a rhetorical question, "did you ever see the concrete stares of everyday?" which could be interpreted to mean the bleakness and mundanity of modern life. The chorus then highlights the idea that the sufferings experienced by "the masses of humanity" are universal, regardless of socio-economic status, and encourages listeners to seek hope and a renewed sense of purpose.
The second verse shifts the focus to the wealthy and powerful, referring to "the business man whose master plan controls the world each day," suggesting that even those in positions of power are just as lost and disillusioned as the rest of us. The final lines of the verse paint a picture of a society that is "deformed" and broken, but also hint at a deeper, darker truth; that this is all part of a design, something that will never go away and is "in the cards that way." This begs the question of whether or not there is any hope for change or redemption, or if this suffering is simply an inevitable part of the human experience.
Overall, the lyrics to Suffer offer a powerful critique of modern society and the human condition, while also offering a glimmer of hope and a call to action. The repetition of the phrase "the masses of humanity have always had to suffer" reinforces the idea that suffering is a universal human experience, but the closing lines suggest that this does not have to be the end of the story, urging listeners to seek out the "gift of hope renewed" and "eternity for you."
Line by Line Meaning
Did you ever see the concrete stares of everyday?
Have you ever noticed the dull and emotionless looks on people's faces as they go through their mundane routines?
The lunatic, the hypocrite are all lost in the fray
Even those suffering from mental illness or those who act hypocritically are struggling to cope with the harsh realities of everyday life.
Can't you see their lives are just like yours?
Everyone's life is essentially the same, each person facing their own struggles and hardships along the way.
An unturned stone, and undiscovered
There are always hidden opportunities waiting to be discovered; things that we have yet to explore or realize.
Door leading to
There is always a chance for a fresh start or new beginning.
The gift of hope renewed
Through struggle there can be renewal of hope and positivity.
Eternity for you
Hope and perseverance can lead to a brighter and more fulfilling future.
The masses of humanity have always had to suffer
Throughout history, the majority of people have had to endure hardship and pain to survive.
The business man whose master plan controls the world each day
The elite and powerful individuals who control the world often have their own agenda, regardless of the impact on the rest of humanity.
Is blind to indications of his species of his species' slow decay
They are oblivious to the negative effects their actions have on the world around them and the long-term consequences they will face.
People blow their minds
People often become overwhelmed by the pressures of society or by their own personal struggles.
They choose to resign
Some choose to give up or withdraw from the challenges they face.
This deformed society is part of a design
The broken and unjust state of society is not by accident, but rather by design and perpetuated by those in power.
It'll never go away
The problems and struggles of society will always exist in some form or another.
It's in the cards that way
This fate seems predetermined and out of individuals' control.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG GRAFFIN, BRETT GUREWITZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Francisco Gonzalez
01 You Are (The Government) 0:00
02 1000 More Fools 1:22
03 How Much Is Enough? 2:57
04 When? 4:20
05 Give You Nothing 6:00
06 Land Of Competition 8:02
07 Forbidden Beat 10:06
08 Best For You 12:03
09 Suffer 13:59
10 Delirium Of Disorder 15:47
11 Part II (The Numbers Game) 17:26
12 What Can You Do? 19:07
13 Do What You Want 21:52
14 Part IV (The Index Fossil) 22:59
15 Pessimistic Lines 25:03
Mark
This album was my anthem for my youth. Expanding my vocabulary and questioning everything!
Herperof1000derps
"I bought Suffer, then I bought a thesaurus"
X Y
YES, same
Mike Carter
I bought this in 1988, I was 18 then and 46 now. I may have forgetten lyrics from other bands, but this record I still know every word.
Viva Ramirez
same here!
That Kid
Mike Carter same here..... I'm 45 !!! Lol
Stephen Coogan
47
Ich Bins
Never listened 2 Punk Rock, Born 95, but this is whuuu
Fergus MacFitheach
Likewise. And got it in vinyl... Recorded on several tapes until they got worn out. I'll be 48 in October.
Not easy to find it in Spain at that time, tough...
Never found a band able like them to channel all my rage.
Stefan Wacht
I remember putting this record on the record-player as an 11year old kid for the first time.... BOOOOOOOOOOM.... I was hooked. I´m 42 now and still know the lyrics by heart.