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.
Wrong Way Kids
Bad Religion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On blank sidewalk glittering asphalt somewhere summer days
The wrong way kids were something more than friends
Navigating a sprawl without end
Did you ever want to take bad advice
Did you ever want to go and take it twice
Do you remember when the world began
Right, you are my friend
So what's wrong with them
There go the wrong way kids
Singing whoa oh whoa oh whoa oh oh
Singing whoa oh whoa oh whoa oh oh
Whoa oh whoa oh whoa oh oh
And they call them the wrong way kids
The kids today are gone away petitioning the dust
With no one to look up to
Because they're looking up to us
Just misfit melancholy dregs gone lost in the mall
Wanderers to nowhere at all
Did you ever want to take bad advice
Did you ever want to go and take it twice
Do you remember when the world began
To put up its thorny fence
Right, you are my friend
So what's wrong with them
There go the wrong way kids
Singing whoa oh whoa oh whoa oh oh
Singing whoa oh whoa oh whoa oh oh
Whoa oh whoa oh whoa oh oh
And they call them the wrong way kids
The song "Wrong Way Kids" by Bad Religion is a commentary on the pressures and pitfalls of youth culture. The opening lines depict a group of young people aimlessly wandering the city, trying to find meaning in their lives. The phrase "shimmering away" invokes a sense of fleetingness, as if the kids are quickly fading from view. The chorus, with its repetition of "whoa oh whoa oh whoa oh oh," gives the song an anthemic quality, as if the wrong way kids are a group to be celebrated and admired.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of rebellion and the desire to take risks. Lines like "Did you ever want to take bad advice / Did you ever want to go and take it twice" suggest that the wrong way kids are willing to challenge authority and break rules. However, the song also acknowledges the difficulty of being a young person in a society that often doesn't understand or value their experiences. The lines "The kids today are gone away petitioning the dust / With no one to look up to / Because they're looking up to us" suggest that adults have failed to provide guidance or support for the next generation.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop them from shimmering away
Prevent them from fading into the background
On blank sidewalk glittering asphalt somewhere summer days
During sunny days in a city, with sparkling roads and mundane surroundings
The wrong way kids were something more than friends
A group of outsiders who were more like family
Navigating a sprawl without end
Attempting to find their way through a never-ending, overwhelming environment
Did you ever want to take bad advice
Have you ever been tempted to make a bad decision
Did you ever want to go and take it twice
Have you repeated a bad decision
Do you remember when the world began To put up its thorny fence
Can you recall when society started building barriers to separate people
Right, you are my friend So what's wrong with them There go the wrong way kids
Even though they don't conform, they are still valuable and important individuals
Singing whoa oh whoa oh whoa oh oh
A catchy chorus that repeats throughout the song
And they call them the wrong way kids
This group of nonconformists is referred to as 'wrong way kids'
The kids today are gone away petitioning the dust
The younger generation has lost direction and has no clear purpose
With no one to look up to Because they're looking up to us
The youth are lacking role models, and are instead trying to emulate their peers
Just misfit melancholy dregs gone lost in the mall
The out of place and downcast youth are wandering aimlessly in commercial places
Wanderers to nowhere at all
They are aimlessly roaming with no final destination
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Iván Montaño
I think we can officially say that Bad Religion is the greatest Punk-Rock band in music history. Legends
Tiffany White
💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Tiffany White
Agreed 10 years later and still true BEST PINK ROCK BAND EVER!!!😊😊😊
SexyZ0mbieKillers
what's the most expensive CD in history? any bad religion CD because you need to buy a dictionary with it (zoomers be like, "CDs?").
Paul Cordou
THE RAMONES.
i have too many accounts
@Patrick Segura oooh okay, thank you for clarifying!
NeedlesKane1994
This song puts a smile on my face every time
juan pablo
Me to bro!
Jacqueline Frusciante
Yes!!!
Stephen Benson
WhatEver_ Name_Works kinda makes me cry while I'm smiling.