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rcollins1701's review against another edition
5.0
Ruland's narration is well-done. He paces the narrative and tells the 40-year history of the greatest band on earth in a way that focuses on the creation of the music without devolving into soap-opera or anecdotal litanies of famous friends. The dramas of the group are told from the members' points-of-view and those that couldn't (or wouldn't) speak on their behalf were handled tactfully, much to the chagrin of the gossip-mongers.
On a personal level, Bad Religion has been such an important part of my life for so long, I can't imagine the person I'd have become without them in my life. They had their first rehearsal a few months before I was born. I first heard them the same year I first asked myself what kind of person I wanted to become. I found myself reliving the years of my life as I read along with the overlapping chapters of the band's history. One of the best things about Bad Religion is how earnest and human they've always been despite their success. Reading through their ups and downs humanized them even more, and—like their music has always inspired me to do—made me reflect back on my own decisions, regrets, triumphs and failures I've lived along the way. As the book caught up with today, a melancholy hung over me. Some day, Bad Religion will release their last song and play their last show. I'm not by hyperbolic to say I dread that day as much as I dread the inevitable last time I ever pick up my kids. But, everything must cease, and the inevitability of that end just means we have to cherish the present and celebrate the history, like all those things that leave their marks upon us.
No Bad Religion song can make your life complete, but more than 400 of them over 40 years can certainly enrich it in a meaningful and profound way that I, at least, will be forever grateful.
On a personal level, Bad Religion has been such an important part of my life for so long, I can't imagine the person I'd have become without them in my life. They had their first rehearsal a few months before I was born. I first heard them the same year I first asked myself what kind of person I wanted to become. I found myself reliving the years of my life as I read along with the overlapping chapters of the band's history. One of the best things about Bad Religion is how earnest and human they've always been despite their success. Reading through their ups and downs humanized them even more, and—like their music has always inspired me to do—made me reflect back on my own decisions, regrets, triumphs and failures I've lived along the way. As the book caught up with today, a melancholy hung over me. Some day, Bad Religion will release their last song and play their last show. I'm not by hyperbolic to say I dread that day as much as I dread the inevitable last time I ever pick up my kids. But, everything must cease, and the inevitability of that end just means we have to cherish the present and celebrate the history, like all those things that leave their marks upon us.
No Bad Religion song can make your life complete, but more than 400 of them over 40 years can certainly enrich it in a meaningful and profound way that I, at least, will be forever grateful.
kevingentilcore's review against another edition
3.0
I can’t think of a band that’s been such a big part of my life, consistently, for as long as Bad Religion, so fucking obviously when a new autobiography comes out about the bands history, it’s an instant read for me.
That being said, it was a fairly straight forward accounting of the bands long and legendary career. If you’re familiar with punk likely you’ve heard the stories of the west coast hardcore punk revival a million times, and there’s far more in-depth books and documentaries about that. Bad Religion were of course there but they don’t really add much to that story except their take, which is fairly uneventful, or maybe just not as dramatic as Henry Rollins or Keith Morris would recount them.
There’s some fun anecdotes and insight and overall it did a good job of laying out exactly why Bad Religion is the legendary band they are. However, while reading it I kept wishing there was a book or documentary just about Epitaph Records, which I think is one of the most monumental and important music labels ever, and one spawned into existence by necessity because of Bad Religion. There’s nuggets of info in the book about different eras of Epitaph and I’m like “damn, that’s interesting, that could be a whole chapter on its own.” Alas, this is not that book, but likely if you’re a big enough Bad Religion fan that you’d read an autobiography about them, this is the book for you. Of course, I’d recommend listening to all of their music, ever, then read this book.
That being said, it was a fairly straight forward accounting of the bands long and legendary career. If you’re familiar with punk likely you’ve heard the stories of the west coast hardcore punk revival a million times, and there’s far more in-depth books and documentaries about that. Bad Religion were of course there but they don’t really add much to that story except their take, which is fairly uneventful, or maybe just not as dramatic as Henry Rollins or Keith Morris would recount them.
There’s some fun anecdotes and insight and overall it did a good job of laying out exactly why Bad Religion is the legendary band they are. However, while reading it I kept wishing there was a book or documentary just about Epitaph Records, which I think is one of the most monumental and important music labels ever, and one spawned into existence by necessity because of Bad Religion. There’s nuggets of info in the book about different eras of Epitaph and I’m like “damn, that’s interesting, that could be a whole chapter on its own.” Alas, this is not that book, but likely if you’re a big enough Bad Religion fan that you’d read an autobiography about them, this is the book for you. Of course, I’d recommend listening to all of their music, ever, then read this book.
mommys_little_monstersd's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
lacarina's review against another edition
4.0
My love of the book has more to do with my love of the band than it does with the quality of writing. It would have been better if Gregg and Brett had written it. The book wasn’t nearly as smart as the band and the difference was palpable. But still a great read! Especially for LA folks. So much of Bad Religion’s story is set against the backdrop of my adolescence.
murray1134's review against another edition
4.0
Good look at a great band. I learned quite a bit about one of my favorite bands. Fans will find a lot to enjoy