Bad Religion is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. Built around vocalist Greg Graffin and guitarist Brett Gurewitz, the group became one of the most influential acts in the development of melodic hardcore and helped define the intellectual, politically engaged side of Southern California punk. Their music combines fast tempos, sharply focused guitar arrangements, prominent vocal harmonies, and lyrics concerned with religion, politics, social conformity, science, media, and human behavior.
The original lineup consisted of Graffin, Gurewitz, bassist Jay Bentley, and drummer Jay Ziskrout. Gurewitz founded Epitaph Records, initially as an outlet for Bad Religion's recordings, and the label later became one of the central independent companies in punk rock. The band's self-titled EP appeared in 1981, followed by the debut album How Could Hell Be Any Worse? in 1982. The record established their basic formula: forceful hardcore played with unusual melodic control and unusually dense, questioning lyrics.
Bad Religion's second album, Into the Unknown (1983), represented a dramatic departure. It introduced progressive rock influences, keyboards, and longer compositions, but its change of direction alienated much of the band's early audience. After further lineup changes and a period of personal difficulties within the group, Back to the Known (1985) returned to a more direct punk approach. Bad Religion then went on hiatus before reforming in 1987.
Their return produced a defining sequence of records. Suffer (1988) restored the band to the center of the American punk underground, while No Control (1989), Against the Grain (1990), and Generator (1992) developed a recognizable balance of speed, precision, melody, and three-part harmonies. These albums became important reference points for later melodic punk bands. The compilation All Ages (1995) further widened their audience by collecting key material from this period.
As punk entered the mainstream in the 1990s, Bad Religion signed with Atlantic Records. Recipe for Hate (1993) and Stranger Than Fiction (1994) brought the band broader exposure without abandoning its critical edge. The latter included songs such as "Infected" and "21st Century (Digital Boy)," which became among their best-known recordings. Gurewitz left the touring lineup during this era, and guitarist Brian Baker, formerly of Minor Threat and Dag Nasty, became a permanent member in 1994.
The Atlantic period continued with The Gray Race (1996), No Substance (1998), and The New America (2000). Although these albums varied in reception, the band maintained a substantial international following. Gurewitz returned in 2001, leading to The Process of Belief (2002), a widely welcomed reunion of the Graffin-Gurewitz songwriting partnership. Bad Religion subsequently released The Empire Strikes First (2004), New Maps of Hell (2007), The Dissent of Man (2010), True North (2013), and Age of Unreason (2019).
Across decades of lineup changes, Graffin remained the band's constant member, while Bentley, Gurewitz, and Baker provided continuity across different eras. Bad Religion's lasting importance lies in their ability to make punk music both immediate and intellectually ambitious, pairing concise, energetic songs with a sustained skepticism toward authority and unquestioned belief.