We dive deep with Brian from Bad Religion to explore the band's unintentional influence on emo and pop punk culture. He shares how a band focused on "man's inhumanity to man" still finds themselves on the lineup for massive emo and black metal festivals today.
"We were just trying to talk about, like, evolution and man's inhumanity to man, and I don't really ever think we got to the core, the bedrock of emo experience."
In this episode of Emo Social Club, we chat with Brian of the legendary punk band Bad Religion about the band's enduring legacy and their connection to the emo and pop punk scene. Even with a focus on heavier topics like evolution and "man's inhumanity to man," Brian acknowledges the unintentional emo history all over their sound. He shares that their influence on the genre was never a plan but a product of being in the right place at the right time. Bad Religion's body of work has inspired people cross genre, which is why they get invited to both massive emo revival festivals and "insane black metal kill your mom festivals". Brian also gives his thoughts on the current punk environment, stressing the importance of new bands making their own thing and the pure joy of participating in music. It's a fantastic conversation connecting the original California punk scene to today's waves.
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction: Talking with Brian from Bad Religion
[00:09] Brian on his enjoyment of emo in small doses
[00:20] The most emo song he's listening to right now: "Drink Deep" by Rites of Spring
[00:34] Why Bad Religion is considered emo—the unintentional foundation
[01:01] Feeling honored to be invited into the current emo and pop-punk wave
[01:20] Playing both huge emo festivals and "insane black metal" shows
[02:05] Bad Religion's legacy: Playing good songs and genuinely loving to play
[02:30] Not wanting to see old bands that are "phoning it in"
[03:22] Why the current punk environment doesn't need Bad Religion's help or advice
[03:41] Seeing wonderful, intense, new bands like Doubt and Dry Socket
[04:28] Touring with The Offspring next year
Band Links:
Spotify:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badreligionband/?hl=en
Official Website: https://badreligion.com/
Tour Dates: https://badreligion.com/tour
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