Back in 1980, Greg was absolutely obsessed with bands like The Gears, The Adolescents, The Chiefs, Black Flag, and the Circle Jerks. He loved their melodic and hard sound. But he also had a deep appreciation for the bands that influenced him, such as Elvis Costello, the Ramones, the Buzzcocks, and the early LA music scene. Another artist who had a huge impact on him was Todd Rundgren. Greg studied his style at a young age and learned about writing pop songs while still maintaining an underground image. His favorite Todd album is A Wizard, A True Star. The Cars were also a major influence on Greg. Their first two albums came out when he was a teenager and right around the time he started his own band, Bad Religion. Those albums were the last thing he remembers before fully embracing punk music. All the music Greg heard as a kid had a tremendous influence on him, especially because his mother’s side of the family was very religious and musically oriented. They were into traditional guitar players, and Greg could easily put on a show playing those old-timey tunes. Greg has a deep respect for artists and bands who have long careers and maintain high standards of quality in their work, regardless of whether they’re popular at the moment or not. He admires Fugazi, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, and Todd Rundgren for their consistent greatness. Even though they may not have received much mainstream attention, they never let that stop them from making incredible music. Stevie Wonder is another artist who embodies this type of dedication. Stiff Little Fingers, Sham 69, Elvis Costello, the Ramones, and DOA are also notable examples of artists who fit this definition. Greg hopes that one day Bad Religion will be recognized for their high standards and longevity, regardless of whether they ever break into the top 40 charts. In late 1996, his favorite Bad Religion song was “Cease.” In early 1996, it was “The Gray Race,” and in the summer of 1993, it was “The Answer.”
This content was originally written by the badass contributors of thebrpage.net, the best superfan resource and website that exists for any band, let alone the best band in the whole entire world. I’ve been lurking on that site for over 20 years and if you’re into Bad Religion as much as I am, I’m sure you’re familiar. If you are not, go there right now and never come back to this site again. You should, and I totally understand.
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