Bad Religion has been described as punk rock, skate punk and melodic hardcore. The band's major influences stemmed from late 1970s punk acts like the Ramones, the Germs, the Sex Pistols and the Clash, along with such early 1980s American hardcore bands as Black Flag, Minor Threat, and the Circle Jerks. Unlike many other hardcore bands of the era, they also acknowledged proto-punk bands like the New York Dolls, MC5 and The Stooges. Even more unusual for a band of the scene that spawned them, they were also informed by such new wavers as Elvis Costello, the Jam, and Nick Lowe, as well as authors like Jack Kerouac.