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.
The Voracious March of Godliness
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's been the scent of unseasoned wood burning in the air
And the conquest of nature meant nothing at all
While we betray exception we take all that is there
Motives are translucent in the reflection of shame
The actions ghostly remnants of our ancestral ways
And unwittingly, you just take your place in this parade
Since the dawn of our human family
There's been concentrated sepsis blowing in the breeze
And we turned on each other with ferocity
Desperation, forced, without reprieve
But the missions were misguided and the trammeled led astray
The air resounds with thunder as the victors seized the day
And the haunting voice of history lives ignored but not betrayed
The voracious march of godliness will get us close to heaven one day
The Voracious March of Godliness by Bad Religion is a powerful song that explores the destructive nature of human actions towards the environment and each other. The lyrics reflect on the history of mankind since the 17th century and how humans have been burning unseasoned wood and conquering nature without any regard for the consequences. The chorus highlights the fact that even though we may have different motives, our actions are not that different from one another, and we are all complicit in this voracious march of godliness.
The second verse of the song depicts how humans have turned on each other with ferocity and desperation, causing pain and suffering without any reprieve. The missions were misguided, and the leaders led their people astray, resulting in thunderous victories that resound through history. The haunting voice of history is ignored but not betrayed, as the voracious march of godliness brings humanity closer to heaven.
This song is a commentary on the destructive nature of progress and how we must change our ways before it's too late. It urges listeners to reflect on their actions and to take responsibility for the world we live in.
Line by Line Meaning
Since the start of the 17th century
From the beginning of the 1600s
There's been the scent of unseasoned wood burning in the air
The smell of freshly cut wood being burnt has been present in the environment
And the conquest of nature meant nothing at all
The act of overpowering and using natural resources held no significance
While we betray exception we take all that is there
We disregard the need for conservation and take all resources available
Motives are translucent in the reflection of shame
When judging our intentions, they are difficult to see through the cloud of shame
The actions ghostly remnants of our ancestral ways
Our actions are the pale remains of our ancestors' behaviors
And unwittingly, you just take your place in this parade
You don't even realize that you conform to the masses' mindset
The voracious march of godliness makes us all the same anyway
Our consuming behavior for power and control alludes to the idea that we are similar in essence
Since the dawn of our human family
From the beginning of mankind
There's been concentrated sepsis blowing in the breeze
There's been a build-up of disease that contaminates the environment
And we turned on each other with ferocity
We attacked each other with intensity
Desperation, forced, without reprieve
People acted out of despair, with no way out
But the missions were misguided and the trammeled led astray
The goals were not correctly directed and the oppressed masses were misled
The air resounds with thunder as the victors seized the day
The victors proclaimed their success with the booming sound of thunder
And the haunting voice of history lives ignored but not betrayed
The lessons from the past are forgotten but still hold relevance
The voracious march of godliness will get us close to heaven one day
By continuing to consume and dominate, we believe that we will attain the divine realm
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….