Bad Religion Releases Decades on ‘Youtube’

Bad Religion Releases Decades on ‘Youtube’ and Look to the Road for the Future

When the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered music venues around the globe, Bad Religion was forced to postpone what would have been a milestone 40th anniversary tour. For a band defined by relentless motion—both musically and ideologically—the sudden pause could have been a setback. Instead, they pivoted. The result was Decades, a self-produced concert documentary series filmed at the empty Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles. Over the course of two seasons and eight episodes, the band constructed a living archive: four decades of punk, performed in real time, reexamined through the lens of forced isolation.

In a move sure to ignite long-time fans and inspire a new generation of punks, Bad Religion is finally making their ambitious DECADES series available for free on YouTube. Originally recorded and streamed during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, DECADES is a four-part (eight-episode) retrospective that chronicles the band’s 40-year legacy — decade by decade — in what is perhaps the most intimate, raw, and reflective project the group has ever released.

Filmed live at the iconic Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, DECADES captures Bad Religion not in front of a crowd, but in the presence of their own musical past. The series digs deep into the band’s catalog, with each episode spotlighting a different decade of output, from their raucous ‘80s beginnings to the polished urgency of their 2010s material. Season 1 focuses on performance-driven storytelling, while Season 2 expands with fly-on-the-wall rehearsal footage and extended interviews.

The series is not just a live set — it’s a self-examination. In between explosive renditions of genre-defining songs, the band opens up in candid interviews, reflecting on Reagan-era disillusionment, label fights, near breakups, and the philosophical core that’s kept them relevant for four decades. Frontman Greg Graffin, ever the scholar, reflects on how their songwriting and message evolved over time — without compromise, but with purpose.

In the 1980s episodes, viewers are taken back to Bad Religion’s roots in suburban Los Angeles, playing blistering cuts from How Could Hell Be Any Worse, Suffer, and No Control. Through the gritty riffs and melodic urgency, we’re reminded how this band carved space for intellect in punk’s fast-and-loud tradition — with biting social commentary and dense lyrical ideas that defied the genre’s stereotypes.

The 1990s entries explore their leap from underground legends to mainstream recognition — with material from Against the Grain, Stranger Than Fiction, and No Substance. The performances crackle with confidence, while interviews lay bare the internal tension that accompanied their rise. These were formative years not just in music, but in identity, and the band doesn’t shy away from addressing the costs of success.

In the 2000s segments, DECADES showcases Bad Religion in their second wind. Reinvigorated by Brett Gurewitz’s return and armed with albums like The Process of Belief and The Empire Strikes First, their sound tightens, and the lyrics grow more surgical. Here, DECADES captures the band at their most politically potent, channeling post-9/11 anxiety into relentless, purpose-driven punk.

Finally, the 2010s episodes highlight a band still willing to evolve. Songs from True North and Age of Unreason are performed live for the first time — and perhaps the last — with the pandemic halting their touring plans. There’s an introspective tone here, a sense that the band is taking stock not just of a career, but of their role in the world they’ve spent decades trying to challenge and understand.

But while DECADES looks back, Bad Religion isn’t slowing down. This summer, they’re teaming up with Dropkick Murphys for the “Summer of Discontent” tour — a powerhouse co-headlining run that’s bringing some of the most enduring names in punk rock to stages across North America. The tour kicks off in late summer with support from openers including The Interrupters, Mad Caddies, and more depending on the city. It’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated live tours of the year.

July 24th – Dunne Pennesula- Tacoma Washington

Racketeer Radio KFQX will be giving away tickets to this show of the tour, so fans should keep an eye (and ear) out — make sure you have the Racketeer Radio KFQX app for details on how to enter and win.

Whether you’re revisiting Bad Religion’s past through DECADES or gearing up to see them live this summer, one thing is clear: the fire that lit punk’s fuse in the early ‘80s is still burning — and it’s not dimming anytime soon.

Watch DECADES now on the official Bad Religion YouTube channel. New episodes drop Mondays at 6PM PT.