Some Bad Religion Facts

Bobby Schayer is the youngest member of Bad Religion. He joined the band in 1991 after Pete Finestone left the band. He was born in Encino, San Fernando Valley and was one of the early Bad Religion fans. He started playing drums in 1980, but learned to play both the guitar and the bass first. He currently lives in Seattle.

"Mr." Brett Gurewitz is one of Bad Religions founding members (together with Greg G. and Jay Ziskrout). He's a highschool dropout and spent a lot of money Bad Religion earned in the early years to drugs: he was a heroin and crack addict, but he has been clean for nine years now (according to himself). His nickname is "Starbolt" (just look at the "Suffer" cover, for example). He played his last show with Bad Religion on the 30th of June 1994. He is currently president of Epitaph records, singer/songerwriter/guitarist of the Daredevils and multimillionaire (punk, he?). His alltime favourite band are the Beatles. He currently lives in LA.

Brian Baker began his career in the early 80's playing bass (later on guitar) in legendary straight edge band Minor Threat. He was also a founding member of Dag Nasty. It is known that he turned down an offer from REM to come play with them on the Monster Tour when he received the offer from Bad Religion to become their guitarist. He currently lives in Washington DC.

Greg Graffin was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He's currently living in Ithaca, NY were he's studying evolutionary biology at Cornell University. He's one of Bad Religion founding members (together with Brett and Jay Ziskrout). He went to Junior High and Highschool together with Jay Bentley. His musical favourites include Todd Rundgren, Elvis Costello and the Ramones.

Greg Hetson was born in Brooklyn, NY but moved to LA when he was only two years old. He was a founding member of legendary punkrock band the Circle Jerks. In fact he played in both the Circle Jerks and Bad Religion for a while. He was the one who convinced Greg G. to restart Bad Religion in '84. His nickname is "the clown". He still lives in LA.

Jay Bentley was born in Kansas. He went to the same junior high and highschool as Greg G. who asked him to come play bass in Bad Religion. He also played in Wasted Youth and TSOL (for a while). His musical favourites include (among others) NOFX, Nirvana, the Jam, the Buzzcocks and Elvis Costello. He currently lives in the Bow Island area of Alberta.

Pete Finestone joined the band after Jay Ziskrout left during the recording of "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?". During Bad Religions split-up in the mid 80's he went to the UK to study. He left the band in 1991. He currently plays in Fifi and the Brothers. He lives in LA (if I'm right).

Jay Ziskrout is one of the founding members of Bad Religion (together with Greg G. and Brett). He played the drums for some time but suddenly left during the recording of "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?". He was replaced by Bobby Schayer. He's currently president of the Grita! label which releases material from latin punkbands.

The "Bad Religion" EP and "How Could Hell Be Any Worse?" were both financed by a loan from Bretts father.

Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder did some vocals on "Recipe for Hate" (the "I saw a man...put to sleep" part in "Watch It Die" and backup vocals on "American Jesus").

Because Brett loves the Beatles he also borrowed some of their lyrics. "1234567...All good children go to heaven" (in "Anesthesia") is from "You Never Give Me You Money" (from the "Abbey Road" album) and "There's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend" (in "You") is from "We Can Work It Out" (from the "Day Tripper" single, also on "A Collection of Oldies... but Goldies").

The background vocals in the middle of "American Jesus" are: "In God we trust/because he's one of us/break down, cave in/we can redeem your sins/strong heart, clear mind/and infinitely kind/you lose, we win/he's our champion".

The outro lyrics on "21st Century Digital Boy" are: "Cat's foot, iron claw/neurosurgeons scream for more/innocents raped with napalm fire/everything I want, I really need/21st century schizoid boy/21st century sofa boy/21st century digital boy/21st century video boy".

The missing verse from "Skyscraper" is: "Will madness reign? And paradise drown?/When Babel's walls came crashing down/Now the echoes roar/For story lived/That was hardly understood/And never any good".