Mr. Rossi · Wikimedia Commons · CC-BY-SABad Religion
The pillars of Californian punk, behind politically engaged lyrics and the label Epitaph, which launched a whole scene.
Biography.
The journey and inspirations that shape Bad Religion's world.
Bad Religion defined Californian melodic punk, with vocal harmonies, critical lyrics and rare songwriting intelligence.
Formed in 1980 in Los Angeles by Brett Gurewitz, Greg Graffin, Jay Bentley and Jay Ziskrout, then teenagers, the band released its first EP in February 1981 on the label Epitaph, founded by Gurewitz.
Epitaph would become one of the most influential punk labels. The band followed up with "Suffer" (1988) and "No Control".
"Stranger Than Fiction" (1994) brought the band and its melodic punk to a much wider audience, without softening its lyrics.
Page last updated on 6 October 2026
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