Greg Hetson
Encyclopedia
Greg Hetson is an American
guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California
since he was 2 years old. Active since 1979, Hetson is best known as the guitarist for the influential hardcore punk
bands Redd Kross
, Circle Jerks
and Bad Religion
.
While Hetson declares Bad Religion as his main occupation, he has alternated between both Bad Religion
and The Circle Jerks
since 1994. He was a founding member of Black President
and also plays guitar in another supergroup, Punk Rock Karaoke.
to form The Circle Jerks with former Black Flag
vocalist Keith Morris
. Soon after, they released their debut LP, Group Sex
and in 1980 were featured in the Los Angeles documentary The Decline of Western Civilization
along with several other Los Angeles punk bands.
In 1982, The Circle Jerks released their second album Wild in the Streets
. This album, while popular, did not sell nearly as much as their third LP Golden Shower of Hits
, released in 1983.
While Bad Religion was on hiatus, the Circle Jerks continued touring and recorded two more albums (Wonderful
and VI
) before breaking up around 1989. However, they reformed in 1994 and released Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities
, their last album to date, a year later. Hetson continues to play for both Bad Religion and The Circle Jerks. He's married and lives in Los Angeles.
for playing the solo for the song Part III. His first (official) release with Bad Religion was the Back to the Known
EP, released in 1985, which declared the band's return to their original punk sound after releasing the highly unsuccessful, progressive rock
album Into the Unknown, after which the band disbanded.
After the release of Back to the Known, Bad Religion broke up for a second time, but reformed in 1986 with the How Could Hell Be Any Worse? line-up and Hetson was included. Bad Religion recorded their first three highly acclaimed reunion albums, Suffer
, No Control
and Against the Grain
, before drummer Pete Finestone
quit the band in 1991.
Bad Religion replaced Finestone with Bobby Schayer
, then recorded their next album, Generator
. The album was completed in the spring of 1991, but the band was forced to delay its release until a year later. For the album, Bad Religion also filmed their first music video "Atomic Garden", which was also their first song to be released as a single. In 1993, the band left their original label Epitaph Records
and signed to Atlantic Records
, who released their next album Recipe for Hate
. While moderately successful, this was the first Bad Religion album to reach any Billboard charts and two videos for the album, "American Jesus" and "Struck a Nerve", were made.
The band's popularity grew in 1994 with their widely successful album Stranger Than Fiction
, including their well-known hits "Infected
" and "21st Century (Digital Boy)
", which are often considered concert staples. After the album was completed, longtime guitarist Brett Gurewitz
soon left Bad Religion
to concentrate on the future of Epitaph, citing the increasing amount of time he was spending at Epitaph's offices as The Offspring
became one of the biggest bands of the mid-1990s, but it was well known that his departure was not on good terms.
Gurewitz was replaced by former Minor Threat
/Dag Nasty
guitarist Brian Baker
and Bad Religion recorded three more albums without him before returning in 2001. The band's current line-up now includes Greg Graffin
(vocals), Gurewitz, Hetson, Baker (all on guitar), Jay Bentley
(bass) and Brooks Wackerman
(drums).
of NOFX
, and Steve Soto of The Adolescents
and original Social Distortion
drummer Derek O'Brien.
Other notable past and recurring members have included Bob Mothersbaugh of Devo
, Stan Lee of The Dickies
and Mike Watt of Minutemen
, Iggy and the Stooges.
, consisting of Charlie Paulson (from Goldfinger
), Pat Kim (from Unwritten Law), Ty Smith
(from Guttermouth), and Christian Martucci
(from Dee Dee Ramone
) and Roy Mayorga
(from Nausea
, Soulfly
, Stone Sour
, Amebix
). Hetson left the band prior to the September 2008 release of its self-titled debut album.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
since he was 2 years old. Active since 1979, Hetson is best known as the guitarist for the influential hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
bands Redd Kross
Redd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
, Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
and Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
.
While Hetson declares Bad Religion as his main occupation, he has alternated between both Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
and The Circle Jerks
Circle Jerks
The Circle Jerks are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Los Angeles, California. It was formed by Black Flag's original singer, Keith Morris, and future Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson. They were among the preeminent hardcore punk bands of the L.A. scene in the late 1970s.The band...
since 1994. He was a founding member of Black President
Black President (band)
Black President is an American punk rock band. It was formed in 2005 by Circle Jerks/Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson and Goldfinger guitarist Charlie Paulson.-History:...
and also plays guitar in another supergroup, Punk Rock Karaoke.
The Circle Jerks
In 1980, Hetson abandoned his position as guitarist of the punk/alternative band Redd KrossRedd Kross
Redd Kross, a rock band from Hawthorne, California had their roots in 1978 in a band called The Tourists begun by Jeff and Steve McDonald while the brothers were still in middle school...
to form The Circle Jerks with former Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
vocalist Keith Morris
Keith Morris
Keith Morris is an American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, the Circle Jerks, and Off! Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the age of 21 with guitarist Greg Ginn and performed on the band's 1978 debut EP...
. Soon after, they released their debut LP, Group Sex
Group Sex
-Personnel:* Keith Morris - lead vocals* Greg Hetson - guitar* Roger Rogerson - bass* Lucky Lehrer - drumsProduction* Cary Markoff - producer* Cliff Zellman - engineer* Mackie Osborne - artwork* Diane Zincavage - cover design, cover art...
and in 1980 were featured in the Los Angeles documentary The Decline of Western Civilization
The Decline of Western Civilization
The soundtrack was released in December 1980 by Slash Records on LP. In the late 1990s it was released on CD as well. It is currently out of print. Germs singer Darby Crash appears on the soundtrack album cover. He died shortly before the film was released, though the promotional images for the...
along with several other Los Angeles punk bands.
In 1982, The Circle Jerks released their second album Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets
Wild in the Streets is a 1968 film featuring Christopher Jones, Hal Holbrook, and Shelley Winters. It was produced by American International Pictures and based on a short story by writer Robert Thom...
. This album, while popular, did not sell nearly as much as their third LP Golden Shower of Hits
Golden Shower of Hits
Golden Shower of Hits is the third studio album by the American hardcore punk band the Circle Jerks. It was released in 1983 through Allegiance Records and was the band's last album to feature Roger Rogerson on bass and Lucky Lehrer on drums...
, released in 1983.
While Bad Religion was on hiatus, the Circle Jerks continued touring and recorded two more albums (Wonderful
Wonderful (Circle Jerks album)
Wonderful is the fourth studio album by the Circle Jerks, released in 1985.-Track listing:# "Wonderful"# "Firebaugh"# "Making the Bombs"# "Mrs...
and VI
VI (album)
VI is the fifth album by the hardcore band Circle Jerks , which was released in 1987...
) before breaking up around 1989. However, they reformed in 1994 and released Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities
Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities
Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities is the sixth studio album by the Circle Jerks, which was released in 1995.Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities was the band's only full-length studio recording since their 1989 disbandment and 1994 reformation, and also their only release on a major label...
, their last album to date, a year later. Hetson continues to play for both Bad Religion and The Circle Jerks. He's married and lives in Los Angeles.
Bad Religion
Greg Hetson was credited on Bad Religion's album How Could Hell Be Any Worse?How Could Hell Be Any Worse?
How Could Hell Be Any Worse? is the first full-length album released by influential punk band Bad Religion, which was released on June 1, 1981. Released months after the release of their self-titled EP, it was financed by a $1,000 loan by guitarist Brett Gurewitz's father. Its success surprised the...
for playing the solo for the song Part III. His first (official) release with Bad Religion was the Back to the Known
Back to the Known
- Trivia :* Track 3, "Bad Religion", is actually a remake of the song from their 1981 self-titled EP.* A recent fan poll cited "Along The Way" as one of the band's best songs.- Credits :* Greg Graffin – vocals, production* Greg Hetson – electric guitar...
EP, released in 1985, which declared the band's return to their original punk sound after releasing the highly unsuccessful, progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
album Into the Unknown, after which the band disbanded.
After the release of Back to the Known, Bad Religion broke up for a second time, but reformed in 1986 with the How Could Hell Be Any Worse? line-up and Hetson was included. Bad Religion recorded their first three highly acclaimed reunion albums, Suffer
Suffer (album)
Suffer is the third album by American punk rock band Bad Religion, released on the Californian independent record label Epitaph Records on September 8, 1988. It was the first album that was both released and distributed by the label...
, No Control
No Control (Bad Religion album)
- Release history :- Notes/Trivia :* Track 2, "Big Bang" was featured on video game Tony Hawk's Underground.* Track 3, "No Control" quotes Scottish natural historian James Hutton, "no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end."...
and Against the Grain
Against the Grain (Bad Religion album)
-Release history:-Personnel:* Greg Graffin – vocals* Brett Gurewitz – guitar, backing vocals* Greg Hetson – guitar* Jay Bentley – bass guitar, backing vocals* Pete Finestone – drums* The Legendary Starbolt – mixing...
, before drummer Pete Finestone
Pete Finestone
Pete Finestone was the second drummer of the punk rock band Bad Religion. He played in the band in 1981-1982 and again from 1984 to 1991....
quit the band in 1991.
Bad Religion replaced Finestone with Bobby Schayer
Bobby Schayer
Bobby Schayer was born on December 23, 1966 in Los Angeles, California. He was the drummer for Bad Religion from 1991 to 2001. He was a resident of Encino, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley...
, then recorded their next album, Generator
Generator (Bad Religion album)
In October 2011, the album was ranked number three on Guitar World magazine's top ten list of guitar albums of 1992.-Track listing:#"Generator" - 3:21#"Too Much to Ask" - 2:45#"No Direction" - 3:14#"Tomorrow" - 1:56...
. The album was completed in the spring of 1991, but the band was forced to delay its release until a year later. For the album, Bad Religion also filmed their first music video "Atomic Garden", which was also their first song to be released as a single. In 1993, the band left their original label Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records
Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record...
and signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, who released their next album Recipe for Hate
Recipe for Hate
Recipe for Hate is Bad Religion's seventh full-length album, released on September 21, 1993. This was their last album on Epitaph Records and the band switched to Atlantic Records before its release....
. While moderately successful, this was the first Bad Religion album to reach any Billboard charts and two videos for the album, "American Jesus" and "Struck a Nerve", were made.
The band's popularity grew in 1994 with their widely successful album Stranger Than Fiction
Stranger than Fiction (Bad Religion album)
Stranger than Fiction is the eighth full-length studio album by Bad Religion, released in 1994...
, including their well-known hits "Infected
Infected (song)
"Infected" is a song written by Brett Gurewitz from the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was released in 1994 and appears on their eighth proper studio album Stranger Than Fiction...
" and "21st Century (Digital Boy)
21st Century (Digital Boy)
"21st Century " is a song by the punk rock group Bad Religion. It was originally recorded in 1990 on their fifth full-length studio album Against the Grain and rerecorded on the 1994 album Stranger Than Fiction...
", which are often considered concert staples. After the album was completed, longtime guitarist Brett Gurewitz
Brett Gurewitz
Brett W. Gurewitz , nicknamed Mr. Brett, is the guitarist and a songwriter of Bad Religion. He is also the owner of the music label Epitaph Records and sister-labels ANTI-, Burning Heart Records, Fat Possum Records, and Hellcat Records...
soon left Bad Religion
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is a punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles in 1979. Their current line-up consists of Greg Graffin , Brett Gurewitz , Jay Bentley , Greg Hetson , Brian Baker and Brooks Wackerman . Gurewitz is also the founder of the label Epitaph Records, which has released almost all of the...
to concentrate on the future of Epitaph, citing the increasing amount of time he was spending at Epitaph's offices as The Offspring
The Offspring
The Offspring is an American punk rock band from Huntington Beach, California, formed in 1984. Known as Manic Subsidal until 1986, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dexter Holland, lead guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Greg K. and drummer Pete Parada...
became one of the biggest bands of the mid-1990s, but it was well known that his departure was not on good terms.
Gurewitz was replaced by former Minor Threat
Minor Threat
Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and disbanded in 1983. The band was relatively short-lived, but had a strong influence on the hardcore punk music scene, both stylistically and in establishing a "do it yourself" ethic for music distribution and...
/Dag Nasty
Dag Nasty
Dag Nasty was a Washington D.C. punk band formed in 1985 by guitarist Brian Baker of Minor Threat, drummer Colin Sears and bassist Roger Marbury, both of Bloody Mannequin Orchestra, and vocalist Shawn Brown...
guitarist Brian Baker
Brian Baker (musician)
Brian Baker is an American punk rock musician. He is best known as one of the founding members of the hardcore punk band Minor Threat, and as a guitarist in Bad Religion since 1994 alongside Greg Hetson...
and Bad Religion recorded three more albums without him before returning in 2001. The band's current line-up now includes Greg Graffin
Greg Graffin
Gregory Walter Graffin, Ph.D. is an American punk rock musician, college professor, and author. He is most recognized as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the noted Los Angeles band Bad Religion, which he co-founded in 1979 and is the band's only constant member, even though it now features two...
(vocals), Gurewitz, Hetson, Baker (all on guitar), Jay Bentley
Jay Bentley
Jay Dee Bentley is the bassist and co-founding member of the punk rock group Bad Religion. He has played with the band through its whole existence with a small break between 1983 and 1985.-Bad Religion:...
(bass) and Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman
Brooks Wackerman is the current drummer for the American punk band Bad Religion and the younger brother of Chad Wackerman, formerly a member of Frank Zappa's band.-Career:...
(drums).
Punk Rock Karaoke
Hetson plays guitar in the all star band Punk Rock Karaoke with Eric MelvinEric Melvin
Eric Scott Melvin is an American musician and the rhythm guitarist in the California punk band NOFX. He has been in the band from its beginnings in the early 1980s to the present day. Eric has been known for his dreadlocks that vary in color each time NOFX performs...
of NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
, and Steve Soto of The Adolescents
The Adolescents
The Adolescents are an American punk band formed in 1980 in Fullerton, California. It is a punk supergroup, made up of early members of Agent Orange and Social Distortion. They are often credited as one of the leading bands of the 1980s hardcore punk scene....
and original Social Distortion
Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness , Jonny Wickersham , Brent Harding and David Hidalgo, Jr...
drummer Derek O'Brien.
Other notable past and recurring members have included Bob Mothersbaugh of Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, Stan Lee of The Dickies
The Dickies
The Dickies are an American punk rock group formed in San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, California, U.S. in 1977.-History:The Dickies were among the first punk rock bands to emerge from Los Angeles...
and Mike Watt of Minutemen
Minutemen
Minutemen were members of teams of select men from the American colonial partisan militia during the American Revolutionary War. They provided a highly mobile, rapidly deployed force that allowed the colonies to respond immediately to war threats, hence the name.The minutemen were among the first...
, Iggy and the Stooges.
Black President
Hetson formed a supergroup band called Black PresidentBlack President (band)
Black President is an American punk rock band. It was formed in 2005 by Circle Jerks/Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson and Goldfinger guitarist Charlie Paulson.-History:...
, consisting of Charlie Paulson (from Goldfinger
Goldfinger (band)
Goldfinger is a Los Angeles pop punk/ska punk band that formed in 1994. Currently, the band is composed of vocalist/guitarist John Feldmann, guitarist Charlie Paulson, bassist Kelly LeMieux, and drummer Darrin Pfeiffer...
), Pat Kim (from Unwritten Law), Ty Smith
Ty Smith
Ty Smith is an American studio and internationally touring drummer.Born January 2, 1977, and originally from Bethalto, Illinois, Smith self taught himself to play the drums starting at the age of three and continued through high school. He studied many styles and techniques from an early age...
(from Guttermouth), and Christian Martucci
Christian Martucci
Christian Martucci is an American guitarist, bassist, vocalist and songwriter. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is a founding member of Thousand Watt Stare, Black President, The Strychnine Babies and The Chelsea Smiles...
(from Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone
Dee Dee Ramone was an American songwriter and musician, best known as founding member, bassist and main songwriter of the punk rock band the Ramones....
) and Roy Mayorga
Roy Mayorga
Roy Maurice Mayorga is the drummer for the hard rock band Stone Sour. He is of Ecuadorian and Cuban descent.-Musical history:...
(from Nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
, Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
, Stone Sour
Stone Sour
Stone Sour is an American rock band from Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2006, the group has been composed of Corey Taylor , Jim Root , Josh Rand, , Shawn Economaki and Roy Mayorga . Original drummer Joel Ekman left the group in 2006...
, Amebix
Amebix
Amebix are an English crust punk/heavy metal band. Formed as "The Band with No Name," Amebix's original run was from 1978 to 1987, during which time they released three EPs and two full-length LPs...
). Hetson left the band prior to the September 2008 release of its self-titled debut album.
External links
- Bad Religion Tribute All About Bad Religion