Bad Religion Perform Live on the Interface

The day before their latest album, 'The Dissent of Man,' hit stores, Bad Religion dropped by Spinner's Beverly Hills for an Interface taping that spanned the group's 30-year career. After performing such classics as 'Sorrow' and 'American Jesus' and new material like 'The Devil in Stitches,' the band sat down to talk about the new record, their history and how they usually celebrate an album's release.

"I have a tradition of going to the record store and buying the record when it comes out," guitarist and Epitaph Records head Brett Guerwitz said. Fellow axeman Greg Hetson's tradition was quite different. "I fast," he deadpanned, causing the whole room to break out in laughter.

The ability to make each other laugh after 30 years is just one part of the group's ability to stay together. "One of the great success stories of this band has been that we've all been able to evolve as individuals and move away from each other," singer Greg Graffin said. "We've spent many years living in different cities even and then, when we come together it feels fresh and exciting. It's fun being with these guys when we come together."

Even though the band has changed lineups several times -- guitarist Brian Baker quipped that he and drummer Brooks Wackerman are "adopted" members of the family -- Bad Religion's current roster have been together longer than many bands.

"What you see right here is the longest consistent lineup the band has ever had in our 30-year career," Guerwitz said. "We never had the same lineup for nine years and now we have with this. This is the real Bad Religion."

What makes this mix so special? "It's a fantastic group of people. The talent level when Brooks came in and when Brian came in was just more than what we had in the past," bassist Jay Bentley said. "It crossed my mind that when Brian and Brooks came in the band was kind of at a low point. There was obviously a problem where somebody had left, so you kind of hit this low point and you think maybe it's over. When someone comes in and brings a vital, new fresh look at the songs that you've been playing for 20 years plus, you get excited about it again. For me, I think this is just the best group of people that we've been playing with."