Bad Religion was originally formed by High School friends:Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz &
Jay Bentley. They properly got to know each other through a small Radio Station called Rodney on the Roq which first broadcasted their entire first EP.
Bad Religion,a self-titled EP was released in 1980 and was particularly well noticed for it's cover which depicted a large crossbuster.The lineup at the time was Greg Graffin,
Brett Gurewitz, Jay Bentley and Jay Ziskrout on the drums.
In 1981 (or 1982,depending on where you hear it),they recorded their first LP,
How Could Hell be Any Worse?,with the same crew but Ziskrout quit and so was replaced by Peter Finestone.Greg Hetson, who was still playing with the Circle Jerks also had a guitar solo on the song, Part III.
He properly joined in 1983 and wrote the entire Into The Unknown album with Greg G which caused the breakup between '83 and '87 because it wasn't Punk and didn't do too well with BR listeners.
Graffin and Hetson stayed, Bentley joined a few other bands after not doing that much else.
Brett did pretty much the same but also focused on Epitaph Records,
who were doing quite well beside the band's ordeal.
Peter came to England to study English and Irish literiture.
Graffin got in old pals Paul Dedona and Tim Gallegos to play lead and bass and also a guy named Davy Goldman for the drums.
With this team, they recorded the Back to the Known EP in 1984 -which pulled them back to
their roots and got the former listeners back in the stores to buy the vinyls.
Not much  happenend for about 3 years until Hetson got the idea of resurrecting BR and so,
with the original crew again, Graffin, Bentley, Brett, Hetson & Pete, they recorded the
Suffer LP in 1988 which was hugely successful!
The same happened for No Control ('89), which Bentley has said to be his favourite record they've done to date,  and Against The Grain ('90).
Between this and the next new LP, Epitaph released a new CD titled 80-85 in 1991,it was a 28-track CD of all the early BR Material between 1980 and 1985, hense the title.
It's a very worthy purchase, especially as you get the entire debut album, debut EP, the second EP, plus rare and bootlegged tracks all on one invaluable disc.
Greg Hetson wrote linear notes for the booklet.
Then Pete left due to personal problems with Brett and, with new drummer, Bobby Schayer on board, the boys recorded the Generator LP in 1992, the title track being one of Brett's most praised writing acheivements.
Only a year later, the guys made the Recipe For Hate album, the title track being their #1 voted song of all time!   Read more on the discography section..
In 1994, after the Stranger Than Fiction LP, Brett quit to work full-time at Epitaph Records and was replaced by Washington Punk, Brian Baker.
Baker's first recordings with the band were heard on the 1995 BR Compilation release,
All Ages, which featured a variety of Epitaph BR Material including selected tracks from various Epitaph albums (before they went to Atlantic).
The CD has 2 "previously unrealised" tracks, which are  1995 live versions of
Do What You Want and  Fuck Armageddon.
Baker had guitar credit on just those two tracks..
He had full credit, however, for his first LP with the band, which was 1996's The Gray Race.
In 1998 came the album that some BR fans cringe over, No Substance.
Not in any way lacking great rhythm and buzzing, melodic guitar riffs, but with writing credits from all band members, lyrically, it wasn't as strong- but good nonetheless.
In 2000, Greg G was helped by his childhood Punk Rock hero, Todd Rundgren, for
The New America, a very varied move in their discography which marked a slightly mellower point in their careers. 
But is still an all-powerful album, with Brett lending his guitar and songwriting skills for the track, Believe It!
Now, in 2001, Brett has rejoined with all other members staying in the band except Bobby,
who has left under fair terms due to injuries.
And in his place is former Suicidal Tendencies drummer, Brooks Wackerman, who Greg described to be "the best drummer they've ever heard".
2002 saw the release of BR's most awaited album for years, "The Process of Belief".
Greg & Brett's full partnership since "Stranger Than Fiction",  with Brett, Hetson & Brian's buzzing guitar trio,
Graffin's ever familiar and thought-provoking voice with Jay's funky bassplaying and fluid beats being pounded out
by Brooksie, the music is enough to make you wet your pants.
The lyrics and song content are the real treat here and this surely has to be the best BR album since "The Gray Race".
Later in 2002, Epic released a "best of" CD called "Punk Rock Songs" which is like Epic's version of Epitaph's "All Ages" with just few rare and live tracks to top it off.

That's all up to date for now...

HOW IT ALL BEGAN...