I’ve always found Greg Graffin to be one of the most interesting people in the world. As I science major myself, (biochemistry, biology, forensic pathology) I’d be honored to attend Dr. Graffin’s lectures. Also, I’m from “The Valley”...Woodland Hills, Ca. The SoCal punk bands were a huge part of my youth, and still are. I’ve raised my own children on punk and classic rock. When we wear a Bad Religion, Black Flag or Descendants shirt, we are quite familiar with their music. Rock on guys, punk’s not dead!!!
People have no idea how entirely different today's rock music scenery would look without the direct and indirect influence of BR's record, "Suffer." In 1988, Suffer was punk rock's defibrillator. It was a triumph from breathing life back into punk. It was an artistic triumph/redemption for the band after "Into the Unknown" was not well-received and they took some years off from Bad Religion. It was a commercial triumph/redemption for Epitaph. I'm 52 and Suffer is still always a great listen.
Awesome interview, Greg always has a lot of interesting things to say and in a great way too! The interviewer made a great job as well imo. About Suffer, I totally agree, it was groundbreaking and gave new impulse to the scene, even if for many people born in the 70s (like myself) probably No Control was more "representative" and influential
The Grey Race is easily my favourite album of the period without Brett writing. Find No substance and new america borderline unlistenable, that said when they played songs from those albums at their decades shows they sounded pretty good.
I think its really disappointing that GG sells his 'work' and 'lyrics'. There were a lot of us that grew up in the generation that made those 'sell'. I think we believed the message then and I think the lyrics ring sadly too true today. Too bad the guy with the pen years later would impart it all to the art rather to the message that could really make it important. Guess it struck a nerve.
