Do What You Want: The Story of Bad Religion, which I co-wrote with the band, is now available in paperback.
Published in 2020 by Hachette Books
Print: Amazon | IndieBound | Bookshop | Vermin Enterprises
Ebook: Kindle | Nook
Audio: Audible | Audio CD
Also available in French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish
Do What You Want tells the story of four teenagers in the San Fernando Valley who changed rock and roll with their unique blend of melodic hardcore, harmonizing vocals, and intelligent lyrics. For the first time, the complete 40-year history of Bad Religion is told with full cooperation and support of the band. The result of extensive interviews with current and former members, Do What You Want is essential reading for fans of punk, rock, and pop music.
INTERVIEWS & ARTCLES
Entertainment Weekly
Bad Religion’s Greg Graffin on Cramming 40 Years of Punk Chaos into One Book: “There are so many moments when I thought, ‘How on earth did this band stay together?”
Alternative Press
Bad Religion Personal Punk-Rock Rulebook Only Has One Sentence: “There were no rules or ground rules. Jim did a great job of interviewing people far and wide. We didn’t know what information he was getting, and we didn’t act as editors. But that’s not to say we didn’t learn some things”
Daily News
Author Jim Ruland’s Do What You Want Offers All-Access Look at Bad Religion: “These guys are all incredibly intelligent and I’m talking well beyond musical knowledge or talent with their instruments or savviness in the studio.”
No Echo
Author Jim Ruland on His Book About Seminal Punk Band: “I’ve always associated Bad Religion with longing for something that’s just out of reach.”
New Noise
Bad Religion Set to Release New Autobiography: “They’ve always been outspoken. And they used to get in trouble for it.”
A Journal of Musical Things
Bad Religion Becomes an Open Book in New Biography: “Four decades after hitting the scene in LA, the punk band is kicking ass and taking names — sharing some stories for the first time, thanks to a new biography. ”
AwkwardSD
Jim Ruland Knows More About Bad Religion Than You Do: “As weird as it sounds, I went to the Vatican with Greg Graffin.”
Music Journalism Insider
Jim Ruland Interview: “How did you get to where you are professionally? Zines, zines, zines!”
NEWS & REVIEWS
Publisher’s Weekly 2020 Summer Reads
“Sweat and sun are two things I associate with summer, but they’re also two things I associate with hardcore punk and Southern California, which make this biography of one of the region and genre’s most influential and important bands an epic read for the summer. It describes the prolific band’s career trajectory and discography along with their worldview, and lays out why they’re not only in the conversation for best punk band of all time, but why they deserve to be listed among the most important artists and philosophers of the past half-century.” —Seth Dellon
Publisher’s Weekly
“Ruland serves up a heady, revelatory collaboration with the enduring punk band Bad Religion… This testament to the value of hard work and independent thinking offers a thrilling alternative to the conventional rise-and-fall rock narrative.”
Bad Feeling
Do What You Want Examines Bad Religion’s Incredible 40-Year Run: “Newcomers will get a thorough look at one of the most consistent and thought-provoking punk bands of all time”—Gabriel Sigler
GQ Australia
8 New Rock And Roll Biographies That Turn It Up to 11: “Written by Bad Religion and Jim Ruland, this chronicle of a band that was one of the first to crossover from punk to rock is a testament to staying the course—David Smiedt
Winnipeg Free Press
A Higher Calling: “Few musical groups, let alone punk rock bands, are still going strong after 40 years.”—Sheldon Birnie
PODCASTS
That One Time on Tour
Jim Ruland chats with host Chris Swinney about the making of Do What You Want: The Story of Bad Religion.
EXCERPTS
Los Angeles Magazine
“A Greek organization at the University of Southern California was having a punk-themed party and naively decided to invite actual punks to perform.”
Stereogum
“No one realized at the time, but a bit of bad news changed the course of Bad Religion’s career and irrevocably altered the future of punk rock.”