Suffer is the third studio 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. Following the release of the EP Back to the Known (1985), Bad Religion went on a temporary hiatus, then reunited with its original members (except drummer Jay Ziskrout) and went to work on their first full-length studio album in five years.
Although Suffer did not chart on the Billboard 200, it has been cited by some critics as one of the most important punk rock albums of all time. A plethora of third-wave punk bands cite Suffer as a major inspiration, including NOFX‘s Fat Mike, who called it “the record that changed everything.” NOFX later referenced the album with their 2001 EP, Surfer.
The songs, “, “1000 More Fools”, “How Much Is Enough?”, “Land of Competition”, “Best For You”, “Suffer”, “What Can You Do?”, and “Do What You Want”, are all fan favorites, and a few of those are staples of their live show. Up until 2018, the only song from Suffer that was never performed live was “Part IV (The Index Fossil)” which finally received its live premiere that year at the Troubadour in West Hollywood on May 2nd.
Tracklist:
SIDE ONE
- You Are (The Government) (Greg Graffin)
- 1000 More Fools (Brett Gurewitz)
- How Much Is Enough? (Gurewitz)
- When? (Graffin)
- Give You Nothing (Graffin, Gurewitz)
- Land of Competition (Graffin)
- Forbidden Beat (Graffin, Gurewitz)
- Best for You (Graffin)
SIDE TWO
- Suffer (Graffin, Gurewitz)
- Delirium of Disorder (Gurewitz)
- Part II (The Numbers Game) (Gurewitz)
- What Can You Do? (Graffin)
- Do What You Want (Gurewitz)
- Part IV (The Index Fossil) (Graffin)
- Pessimistic Lines (Graffin)
Bad Religion
Greg Graffin: lead vocals, backing vocals
Brett Gurewitz: guitar, backing vocals
Greg Hetson: guitar
Jay Bentley: bass guitar, backing vocals
Pete Finestone: drums
Additional musicians
Donita Sparks: additional guitar on “Best for You
Suzi Gardner: additional guitar on “Best for You
Jennifer Finch: back-up vocals on “Part II (The Numbers Game)
Technical
Bad Religion: producer
Donnell Cameron: engineer
Legendary Starbolt: engineer
Jerry Mahoney: artwork
