Bad Religion

As longstanding heroes of the Los Angeles hardcore scene, Bad Religion have been delivering ferocious, ear-bleeding punk rock for 30 years, and finally cracked the US Top 20 with 16th studio album True North (2013). Led by Greg Graffin, the high school friends adopted a DIY spirit, starting their own label and establishing themselves alongside the likes of Black Flag, Dead Kennedys and Bad Brains as the second generation of punk rock started to explode in the early 1980s. Their logo of a no-go sign over a Christian cross caused great controversy, but they quickly became underground favourites with some breakneck live shows and albums No Control (1989), Against The Grain (1990) and Generator (1992). Full of political and social fervour, they experimented with psychedelia and heavy metal before turning to a more commercial sound by signing with major label Atlantic Records and recruiting Todd Rundgren to produce their album The New America (2000). Recognition grew with bands like Blink 182 and The Offspring citing them as a major influence, and they celebrated their 30th anniversary with The Dissent (2010), a typically raucous slice of anthemic hardcore punk.