BAD RELIGION NET [ GREG GRAFFIN - AMERICAN LESION ( 1997 ) ]

Graffin's solo project/album. Pete Finestone: "I am soooo proud of him [Greg] that I almost feel embarrassed. A release [A.L.] full of recriminations but also cognizant of his own shortcomings. You need to get it".
Greg gave three solo concerts playing the AL songs in November 1997: at the Knitting Factory in New York city (November 4th), at The Haunt in Ithaca, NY (Greg's hometown) (9th) and at the Viper Room, Los Angeles (12th). In addition to A.L. tracks, the L.A. set also featured acoustic or piano-backed renditions of Struck A Nerve, Punk Rock Song, God Song, etc. The show itself was phenomenal, regarding the performance, and detestable, regarding the audience involvement and seeming lack of interest. Greg was the opening act for a band called Nickel Bag, whose singer is purportedly a backup singer for the Rolling Stones. There developed a ludicrous buzz on the street that the Stones were going to perform at the Viper Room (which holds 250 people) unannounced. Needless to say, the place was packed and nobody was there to see Greg's acoustic set. Those who did participate in the show enjoyed it thoroughly, despite the disinterest of the other patrons. Pete Finestone was there, thrilled to see acoustic renditions of Get Off and God Song. On 1.5.1998 the American Lesion Cybercast was going to be broadcast through the internet to let everyone hear this A.L. L.A. gig, but it didn't happen. The cybercast of the show was originally going to be live but had been cancelled due to technical difficulties.
On April 27, 1998, there was an AL show at CSUN (California State University Northridge, where Greg had studied back in the days). There were a few die-hard BR fans, but the majority of the people there had no clue who the hell he was. The show was awesome as usual. Greg played a few requests from the audience.
On 12.10.1997 The Oklahoma Daily ran a positively glowing review of American Lesion by Heidi Holeman. This is the review pretty much in its entirety: "American Lesion is seemingly much happier than standard BR tunes, but his is a deceptive first impression of the music. Graffin's lyrics are characteristically critical of society and biting in nature…In reference to the album, Graffin said people who try to do something that isn't profitable, regardless of the emotional benefit it creates, become lesions on the placid surface of American prosperity. He goes on to equate our new national heritage with dollar signs and a trail of broken hearts…. Despite slow, sometimes acoustic ballads, this attitude is apparent throughout most of American Lesion. The rest of the CD is more introspective than we've come to expect from the BR frontman… Fate's Cruel Hand for example, is a slow, bluesy tune about desperation in the face of complete confusion. Another standout is the piano version of 'Cease' from The Grey (sic) Race. Obviously, this CD reveals a much more emotional and personal side of Graffin, much to the appreciation of fans. And, never fear, the band hasn't broken up, this is just a side project of tunes written in the past ten years".
On November 3, 1998 (one year minus one day since the last NY gig) Greg played the Knitting Factory (New York city) again. It was an incredible show. Here's the entire in-order setlist: on acoustic guitar: Opinion, When I Fail, Shades of Truth (very uptempo, faster than on No Substance), Billy (yes, a Brett song; he said "this was written by a friend of Bad Religion's"), Dream Of Unity, The Fault Line and Punk Rock Song. On Piano: Back To Earth (he fucked up the last reprise, added an "oh shit" and when the song ended my fried Dave yelled out to play it again; Greg picked it up from where he screwed up, amazingly), Cease, Henchman (biggest ovation of the night for this one - truly amazing), Along The Way (someone shouted out from the audience "Along the Way" and Greg improvised it; He fumbled with the chord structure and mumbled something about the progression), In So Many Ways (incredible rendition of this in-itself incredible song), Predicament, Struck A Nerve (en encore, believe it or not).
The words "American Lesion" appear in Tony Kushners play "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches", 1992. Prior and Louis are gay lovers and Prior talks about his lesions: "Lesion number one. Lookit. The wine-dark kiss of the angel of death (...) I'm a lesionnaire. The foreign lesion. The American lesion. Lesionnaire's disease".American Lesion is the name under which the Adolescents, Suicidal Tendencies and TSOL published their songs (copyright American Lesion music).
There's a promo for American Lesion which is pretty non-descript, no booklet, plain white rear insert that lists the things. And one that is simply the album with some golden writting printed on the cover that reads "For promotional use only. Sale or other transfer is prohibited, must be returned on demand of recording company". No singles or song promos were released.

Text : Roger Vulture