Synopsis
"Do What You Want: The Story of Bad Religion" by Jim Ruland is a comprehensive biography that chronicles the forty-year journey of the influential American punk rock band Bad Religion, from their scrappy beginnings in 1980 to their status as genre-defining icons. The book opens in the San Fernando Valley, where a group of teenagers—Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, Jay Bentley, and Jay Ziskrout—formed the band in a garage they dubbed "The Hell Hole." Ruland vividly captures the raw energy of their early days, detailing how these young musicians, driven by a shared passion for punk’s rebellious spirit, began crafting their signature sound: a blend of melodic hardcore and intellectually charged lyrics. The narrative emphasizes the band’s relentless work ethic, evident from their DIY ethos in self-producing records and booking shows, setting the stage for their enduring legacy.
The book traces Bad Religion’s evolution through its highs and lows, weaving together the perspectives of its core members—Graffin, the choir-trained vocalist who became a punk icon; Gurewitz, the high school dropout who founded Epitaph Records; Bentley, the bassist known for his onstage antics; and later, Brian Baker, a Minor Threat alumnus who joined in 1994. Ruland delves into the band’s pivotal moments, such as the release of their 1988 album Suffer, which marked a turning point for punk rock by bridging early L.A. punk with the genre’s 1990s mainstream explosion. The biography doesn’t shy away from the band’s challenges, including lineup changes, Gurewitz’s struggles with addiction, and their brief, ill-fated experiment with prog-rock on Into the Unknown. Through extensive interviews with current and former members, Ruland paints a candid picture of the personal and professional hurdles they overcame, including financial struggles during early tours and the pressures of balancing band life with personal endeavors like Graffin’s academic career as an evolutionary biologist.
Ruland also explores Bad Religion’s broader impact on the punk rock landscape, arguing that their influence on bands like NOFX, The Offspring, Green Day, and Blink-182 was more significant than the often-cited grunge movement. The book highlights their role in shaping the Southern California punk scene and the global reach of their music, particularly after their breakthrough in Europe in the late 1980s. Anecdotes about encounters with punk legends like Darby Crash and moments like the chaotic Warped Tour festivals add color to the narrative, while the rise of Epitaph Records under Gurewitz’s leadership serves as a compelling subplot. Despite criticisms of the book’s occasionally repetitive structure—focusing heavily on the cycle of writing, recording, and touring—and its limited exploration of the band members’ personal lives due to their guarded privacy, Ruland’s work is praised for its thorough research and engaging storytelling. The title, Do What You Want, emerges as a fitting mantra, reflecting the band’s commitment to authenticity over commercial pressures, a principle that allowed them to remain relevant across decades. Ultimately, the biography is a testament to Bad Religion’s perseverance, their intellectual approach to punk, and their ability to inspire generations of fans and musicians alike, all while continuing to tour and create without slowing down.