Spinner

Bad Religion Celebrate 30th Anniversary With Special Shows

Greg Graffin of Bad ReligionSomehow, pioneer punk band Bad Religion has reached adulthood and turned 30 this year. Looking back on his time in Bad Religion since its formation in 1980, singer-songwriter Greg Graffin tells Spinner can't believe how quickly three decades has gone by. While he's not surprised that the Los Angeles veteran group is still alive and kicking, he never expected to still be playing to such vital young audiences across the country.

"If we were being offered to play as a heritage act, I don't think I'd feel so motivated," says Graffin, who currently plays alongside original members Brett Gurewitz and Jay Bentley as well as Greg Hetson, Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman. "But we're still getting to play every year in new places with vibrant punk scenes, so we still feel relevant."

Bad Religion is planning to celebrate the milestone with a year of special shows and studio time. Beginning March 17 in Anaheim, the veteran rockers will play a string of 12 shows at West Coast House of Blues venues with special set lists that span the band's discography. Graffin says that the shows will vary in song selection and theme, with the band possibly running through all of 1988 classic 'Suffer' one night and playing a hodgepodge of greatest hits the next.

A few weeks before rehearsals begin for the shows, Graffin says that he's looking forward to pulling out songs he wrote as a teenager and seeing how they sound today. "As a singer, those songs don't recreate my great skills," he laughs. "When we pull out songs from the first album, though, it's just a ton of fun."

Following the anniversary shows, Bad Religion will return to the studio to record their 15th album, tentatively due this fall. The band has written 16 songs for the album, which Graffin says is "as personal as [1993 album] 'Recipe for Hate,'" and plans to support the songs on the road later this year.

Graffin, who received a PhD at Cornell University and is readying a book titled 'Anarchy Evolution,' enjoys discussing the band's illustrious history, from the small beginnings in the early 1980s to the 2002 hit single 'Sorrow.' When asked which album is the band's definitive statement, however, Graffin can't answer.

"I like to believe I can still define myself. If I couldn't, it'd be time to quit," he says. "We can still make great albums, so maybe our definitive record is coming."

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Hippy Killer

I wish Bad Religion would come to the East cost more! We need some love over here!

April 12 2010 at 2:22 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric P

4 days and counting til Anaheim House Of Blues!!So stoked! gonna be leaving work early this friday to get to the venue early with my girl!!!weve both been waiting for this for over a month since we bought the tix!

March 30 2010 at 11:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Chris

Congratulations to BR. I hope they are still playing with such energy and depth of meaning when I'm 30 (another 12 years). There really isn't anyone else like them.

March 08 2010 at 4:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eric P

I am so there House of Blues Anaheim just got my tickets today for Friday April 2nd!!!! So stoked!!!! Long Live The Kings Of Punk!!!!BAD RELIGION!!!!!

March 05 2010 at 7:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gertrude

This is great news! thank you Spinner. I like Recipe For Hate

February 26 2010 at 8:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mpeel

Rock on my brothers. Bad Religion. Always relevant!

February 26 2010 at 10:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply