Bad Religion
USA, 1980–now
Los Angeles punk band formed in 1980 by Greg Graffin and Brett Gurewitz. Their signature 'oozin' aahs' harmonies, fast tempos and erudite, socially critical lyrics defined melodic hardcore and, via Gurewitz's Epitaph Records, seeded the 1990s punk explosion.
MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Bad Religion and 7 artists Bad Religion influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced Bad Religion?
- Ramones — Brett Gurewitz discovered the Ramones in the late 1970s and started Bad Religion in their wake.
Which artists did Bad Religion influence?
- The Offspring — The Offspring came up alongside Bad Religion on Epitaph Records and modelled their melodic-punk attack on them.
- NOFX — NOFX emerged from the same early-'80s LA scene as Bad Religion, sharing their fast, melodic punk approach.
- Pennywise — The melodic half, and the local one — Epitaph was Brett Gurewitz's label and Pennywise's home.
- Sum 41 — From the Epitaph run he describes going down a rabbit hole of, and still played in the car twenty years later.
- Rise Against — Bad Religion's fast, melodic and politically charged hardcore is a clear model for Rise Against's socially conscious punk.
- AFI — Bad Religion's melodic hardcore is among AFI's early punk roots.
- Sublime — Bad Religion's melodic SoCal punk is the punk half of Sublime's ska-punk/reggae fusion.