Formation and early recordings (1980–1983)

Bad Religion was formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980 by high school students Greg Graffin, Jay Bentley, Jay Ziskrout, and Brett Gurewitz. Their first public performance was playing six or eight songs at a Fullerton, California, or Santa Ana, California, warehouse opening for Social Distortion. Graffin has said that the name "Bad Religion" came about when the then-adolescent members of the band wanted to "piss people off".

In 1981, the band released their initial eponymous six-song EP as a 7" record on the newly formed label, Epitaph Records, which was and continues to be managed and owned by Gurewitz. Also in 1981, the band began recording their first full-length album, How Could Hell Be Any Worse? During the recording of this album, drummer Jay Ziskrout quit the band and was replaced by Pete Finestone. Released in 1982, How Could Hell Be Any Worse? was also distributed by the band under the Epitaph label and sold roughly 12,000 copies.

Legacy

Various bands have cited Bad Religion as an influence, including Rise Against, AFI, Parkway Drive, NOFX, I Am the Avalanche, and Miss Vincent. Funeral for a Friend vocalist Matt Davies-Kreye has also mentioned Bad Religion as an influence, particularly with their Against the Grain album.