Social Distortion: The history of

The enduring L.A. punk band Social Distortion has overcome numerous personnel shifts, the demise of the Los Angeles hardcore scene that spawned them, and the heroin addiction of singer/guitarist/bandleader Mike Ness to achieve a measure mainstream acceptance for their rootsy, hard-hitting punk without compromise. Inspired by the fertile L.A. punk scene, Ness formed the group in 1978 with drummer Casey Royer and brothers Frank (bass) and Rikk Agnew (guitar). When the brothers left to join the Adolescents, Ness' schoolmate Dennis Danell joined on bass; the next few years saw a revolving-door membership. When the group finally recorded its debut album, Mommy's Little Monster in 1983, the band consisted of Ness, Danell (now on guitar), bassist Brent Liles, and drummer Derek O'Brien. Their music was often described as a punk version of the Rolling Stones, and "Another State of Mind" was one of the few punk videos to air on MTV in 1984. However, the band took four years to record a follow-up, as Ness descended into heroin addiction and self-consciously rebellious behavior. Liles and O'Brien left, and Ness, after straightening himself out, finally regrouped in 1988 with John Maurer on bass and Chris Reece on drums. This lineup recorded Prison Bound, a mature album broadening Social Distortion's roots rock influences with a country feel. Their self-titled 1990 effort included a cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and returned the group to MTV via "Ball and Chain." Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell became their most popular album to date, producing a minor radio hit in "Bad Luck" and keeping with their now-established blend of punk, blues, country, and rockabilly.

Social Distortion took an extended hiatus following the release of Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, returning in 1996 with White Light, White Heat, White Trash, which proved to be a moderate hit on MTV and modern-rock radio; former Black Flag and D.O.A. drummer Chuck Biscuits made his debut on the album, following the departure of Reece. Live at the Roxy followed in 1998, and a year later Ness issued a pair of solo albums, Cheating at Solitaire and the covers collection Under the Influences. Danell died February 29, 2000 of an apparent brain aneurysm; the guitarist was just 38-years-old. In the fall of 2000, Jonny Wickersham signed on as the group's new guitarist, and Charlie Quintana took over on drums from the often busy Biscuits. After extensive touring, the band went back into the studio in 2004 to record Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll.

Group Members
Rikk Agnew
Frank Agnew
Chuck Biscuits
Derek O'Brien
Casey Royer
Dennis Danell
John Maurer
Mike Ness
Christopher Reece
Brent Liles

Similar Artists
The Stranglers
Crowd
The Turbo A.C.'s
The Cramps
Joan Jett
The Dictators
Johnny Thunders
The Germs
Fear
Dead Kennedys
The Circle Jerks
Black Flag
The Godfathers
Gun Club

See Also
Mike Ness
Agent Orange

Influenced By
Johnny Cash
The Rolling Stones
The Clash
Followers
Chemical People
No Use for a Name
Frantic Flattops
The Enkindels
Dropkick Murphys
Matt Skiba
Forgotten
Tiger Army
Enemy You
The Want
Death on Wednesday
Twopointeight
East West
BBS Paranoicos
The Peawees
The HollowPoints
Bullets and Octane
The Loved Ones
Last Target
Mercy Killers
Performed Songs By
Mike Ness
Dennis Danell
Merle Kilgore
Keith Richards
June Carter Cash
Mick Jagger
Jimmy Work
John Maurer