Social Distortion (sometimes referred to simply as Social D) is a seminal punk
rock band formed in 1978 in Orange County,
California.[1] The band currently
consists of Mike Ness (vocals, guitars), Jonny "2 Bags"
Wickersham (guitars), Brent Harding (bass) and Charlie Quintana (drums). They, along with Minor Threat,
Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Bad Religion, Bad Brains and many others, are often credited as one of
the leading bands of the 1980s American Punk (or Hardcore Punk) explosion.
The group briefly disbanded in 1985, due to frontman Ness' drug addiction, but reformed around
1986 and have continued being active today, even after the death of longtime guitarist
Dennis Danell, who succumbed to a brain aneurysm in 2000.
Since their inception the band lineup has been a virtual revolving-door of talent, with many members coming and going – Ness has
been the only constant member.
Among mainstream audiences, Social Distortion are best known for their hit singles "Ball and Chain", "Story of My Life" (both from the 1990 self-titled album), "I Was Wrong" (from the 1996 album
White Light, White Heat, White Trash) and "Reach for the Sky" (from their 2004 album Sex,
Love and Rock 'n' Roll) as well as a cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" (also from the self-titled album).
To date, Social Distortion has released six full-length studio albums, two
compilations, one live album and two DVDs. Their most
recent studio album, Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, came out on
September 28, 2004 and is their first release with current
guitarist Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham, who is Danell's replacement. Recently, there has
been a rumor that the band has returned to the studio working their seventh album, which is reportedly due for release sometime
in 2008. They also released their first Greatest Hits compilation on June 26,
2007.
History
Early years (1978-1982)
Social Distortion was formed in late 1978 by frontman Mike
Ness, out of Orange County, California. The original lineup consisted
of Ness on lead guitar, Rikk and Frank Agnew on guitars,
and Casey Royer on drums[1]. Ness met
Dennis Danell, who was a year older, in high school and insisted he join the band on bass
guitar even though Danell had never played an instrument before. When Danell was brought in, Frank, Rikk and Casey left to form
their own band.[1] Mike and Dennis remained
the only constant members for the next two decades, with bass and drums changing hands every few years.
The music was initially inspired equally by early punk, like the Sex Pistols and
Ramones, [2] and classic
acts such as The Rolling Stones and Johnny Cash.
They began playing with fellow Orange County, California bands such as
The Adolescents, China White, and
Shattered Faith as part of the nascent hardcore movement. Their music was fast,
angry and energetic.
Their first single, Mainliner/Playpen, was released in 1981 on Posh Boy, the label responsible for releasing the first singles and albums of many of the local O.C.
punk bands[1]. A disc jockey by the name of Rodney Bingenheimer of
KROQ-FM was responsible for much of the radio play in O.C. that punk received in the early 80's,
and took a liking to Social Distortion, releasing the single "1945" on his 1981 compilation album, Rodney on the ROQ,
Blood On The ROQ in 1983, and The Best Of Rodney On The ROQ in 1989.
In 1982, the band – now consisting of Ness, Danell – who now played rhythm guitar –
Brent Liles on bass, and Derek O'Brien on drums –
embarked on their first national tour with fellow punk band Youth Brigade – a trip
chronicled in the celebrated punk rockumentary, Another State of Mind.
Mommy's Little Monster and first hiatus (1983-1985)
Upon their return from the Another State of Mind tour in 1982, they recorded their debut album, Mommy's Little Monster. The album was released in early 1983 on their own label, 13th Floor
Records. Mommy's Little Monster includes the title track as well as the song for which the previous tour was named,
"Another State of Mind". This was the album that "gained the band a national name in punk circles." [1].
Ness mentions in his DVD commentary that he really had nowhere to stay when he got back to California after the tour ended, so
he would crash on the couch of whoever would have him. He details how he plunged headfirst into serious drug addiction and ended
up being strung out on heroin for weeks at a time. In 1983, Liles and O'Brien left the band in the
middle of a show on New Year's Eve, and were replaced soon thereafter by John Maurer, who knew Ness from school in Fullterton, and Christopher
Reece on drums[1]. Ness's drug habit
continued throughout 1984 and 1985 as the band continued to gain
success with Another State of Mind appearing as one of the punk rarities on MTV, and touring
in California and Arizona. As a result of Ness's escalating drug habit and troubles with the law, Social Distortion briefly went
on hiatus in 1985. During this time, Ness was in and out of rehabilitation centers as well as
serving short stints in various jails.
First comeback and Prison Bound (1986-1988)
The album cover for
Prison Bound (1988), the band's long-awaited follow-up to
Mommy's Little Monster.
The band reformed in or around 1986, once Ness finished his drug rehabilitation program. They
released their second album, Prison Bound, two years later in 1988 – over five years
after their debut. The album included then-newcomers John Maurer on bass and Christopher Reece on drums. Although Prison
Bound never charted on Billboard, the title track found airplay on the
Los Angeles, California radio station, KROQ.
A notable style change takes place in Prison Bound. While Mommy's Little Monster falls under the general
category of punk rock or hardcore punk, Prison
Bound takes on a definite country/western flavor and marks the start of the band's
entrance into a style called "cowpunk." Country legend Johnny
Cash and the Rolling Stones' honky tonk
style became more prominent influences on Social Distortion's music at this time. There are references to Cash and the Stones in
the songs "Prison Bound" and "On My Nerves," and they also cover a Stones song titled "Backstreet Girl," which has a
major key sound that foreshadows the more focused cowpunk sound of the later albums.
Although five years had passed since releasing their debut, it hurt the band not at all. Their success was just beginning and,
in fact, taking time between albums became a pattern for Social Distortion. Ness acknowledges in a 2003 interview that it
is a little backward, marketing-wise, to play songs for the fans for a few years before recording them – but it has always
worked well for them. "We know which songs are going to be fan favorites on the record before we even record them." [3]
Mainstream success (1989-1996)
The album cover for
Social Distortion (1990), the band's major label
debut release and also one of their most successful and well known albums to date.
After the release of Prison Bound, Social Distortion left Restless Records
and signed with Epic. The band then returned to the studio around the summer/fall of
1989, with producer Dave Jerden, to begin recording their
third album, titled simply Social Distortion, which was released in
1990. It was Social Distortion's first album that was not financed by the band.[1] The album includes the singles "Ball and Chain" and "Story of My Life" as well as a cover of Johnny
Cash's "Ring of Fire". The self-titled album fared better than both
Mommy's Little Monster and Prison Bound, and is often credited as Social Distortion's best known work, with sales
continuing seventeen years after its release. It is also frequently cited as the best rock
album of 1990 by many publications – the album is said to "split the difference between rockabilly and Ramones-style
punk"[4].
Their fourth album, Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, was
released in 1992. The album included two hit singles – "Bad Luck", and "When She Begins".
Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell surpassed all their previous albums in popularity, and received some general radio play
with the single, "Bad Luck".[5] The album has a
similar sound to the previous, eponymous, album, said to be a blend of "punk, blues, country and rockabilly".[5] After the release of this album, drummer
Christopher Reece left Social Distortion in 1994 and was
replaced by Randy Carr. Carr toured with the band and played drums on live performances until
he left in 1995.
The band took another hiatus after the release of Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, and did not return to the studio
until 1995.[1]
During the break Social Distortion released a compilation album, Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (1995), featuring
pre-Mommy's Little Monster cuts. It contains two versions of "1945" and
"Playpen" from their two indie labels, 13th Floor, and Posh
Boy, and also a cover of The Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb".
In June 1994, the band began demoing songs for their fifth album, [6] then returned to the studio in the following
year to record White Light, White Heat, White Trash,
which was released in 1996.[1] The title of the album is a play on the second Velvet
Underground album, White Light/White Heat (1968). The album is said to have taken on a harder sound than those preceding it,[7] and to not focus as much on their previous blues and rockabilly sound.[8] The single "I Was
Wrong" received wide radio play and is said to resemble "the classic sound more than any other track on the
album".[7] The album also features the singles
"When the Angels Sing," which is said to be a tribute to Ness's grandmother, who was an avid supporter of the band,[7] and "Don't Drag Me Down". The album also included a
re-recorded version of "Under My Thumb", a cover of The Rolling Stones, as a hidden track.
Former Danzig drummer Chuck Biscuits joined the
band between the recording and release of the album, and is credited in the liner notes although this album actually features
session drummer Deen Castronovo.[8] To date, White Light, White Heat, White Trash remains the final Social Distortion album
recorded with Dennis Danell before his death.
Second hiatus and aftermath of Danell's death (1997-2004)
In 1997, Social Distortion left Epic Records and returned
to Time Bomb Recordings for the first time in eight years. They released their
first (and only) live album, Live at the Roxy in
1998. Social Distortion went on hiatus again as Ness went solo, releasing two albums,
Cheating at Solitaire and Under
the Influences, featuring song covers, in the following year.
Dennis Danell died on February 29,
2000 in his Newport Beach home after apparently suffering a brain aneurysm, leaving Ness as the only remaining original member of the band. There have been some rumors claiming
that the band broke up again, following his death. He was replaced by former U.S. Bombs and
Youth Brigade guitarist Jonny Wickersham, who
had previously been Danell's guitar tech. Biscuits also left during that time, and was replaced by Charlie Quintana. After Danell's death, the band continued touring semi-frequently, playing sold-out
shows in the Los Angeles, California area around the New Year for three straight
years.
Social Distortion started work on their follow-up to White Light,
White Heat, White Trash in 2000, which was originally to be released in the fall of that year[9], but then it was not completed. Since
2001, the band had been promising to release it. Due to the band's ongoing tour schedule, the
album's release was put on hold several times. In the fall of 2003, after completing demos, Social
D (officially) returned to the studio with producer Cameron Webb to complete it.[9] Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, released on September
28, 2004, would be the band's first release with current guitarist Jonny Wickersham and drummer Charlie Quintana. Just a month
before the release of the album, longtime bassist John Maurer left the band to stay with his
family, and was replaced by Rancid's Matt Freeman.
He stayed until late 2004, and was replaced by current bassist Brent Harding.
Recent activities (2005-present)
Social Distortion continued touring on and off between 2005 and 2007, and recently have been confirmed to headline the Soundwave
Festival in Australa in February-March 2008, along with
Incubus and The Offspring.[10] They played with various bands, including Versus the World, Tsar, Shooter
Jennings, I Hate Kate, Flogging Molly,
Nine Black Alps, The Supersuckers,
Blackpool Lights, The Lost City Angels, The
Street Dogs, The Backyard Babies, The Hangmen, The Eyeliners, Cooper, Mest, Bullets and
Octane, and The Dead 60's.
In February 2006, Ness was injured and broke his wrist in a skateboarding accident. He had his good friend, TSOL guitarist Ron Emory fill his place on guitar for the tour while he continued to sing for the band with his arm in a cast
and sling. As of July 2006, Emory was no longer filling for Ness. The Hangmen's Bryan Small also filled for Ness.
Original member Brent Liles, who played bass on Mommy's Little Monster, died on
January 18, 2007 after being hit by a semi truck while riding a dirt bike in Placentia, California.[11]
Social Distortion released their first Greatest Hits
compilation on June 26, 2007. It includes their hit singles from
Mommy's Little Monster to Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, yet lacks any song from Mainliner. Along with a new studio recording of the song, "Far Behind", new studio recordings of 6 of their classic songs are included as well.
Rerecording these songs allowed the band to own rights to them again, instead of Epic (their former label) owning them. Through
iTunes in the U.S., as a download only, the Greatest Hits also includes a new Social Distortion cover version of the Chuck Berry
classic "Maybellene".
Ness stated in a recent interview that this 'Greatest hits' "technically means what was good with radio.” [12] Ness also stated in the same interview that “we may follow this up with
something that is more essential Social D. – songs that are the band's favorites.”
In December 2006, it was announced that Social Distortion was back in the studio
working their as-yet-untitled seventh album.[13] According to an April 2007 interview
with Ness, the album is expected to surface sometime in 2008.[14] Other new songs that the band has played live in recent years that may make it
on to the new album include "I Won't Run No More", "A Diamond in the Rough", "Road Zombie", "Private Hell", and "Bakersfield".
The new album will also mark the first Social Distortion release recorded without longtime bassist John Maurer since their first album, 1983's Mommy's Little
Monster.
Musical style
Social Distortion's musical style began as decidedly punk rock or hardcore punk when the band formed in the late 1970s. They
are thought to be one of the pioneering bands of the original Southern California punk rock movement out of Orange County, California, and their style closely associated with the The Dickies, The Germs, and other bands from that place and time. In the
mid-80's there was a notable change in their style of music – taking more from their country
music and classic rock and roll roots. Mike Ness admits in the DVD commentary from
Another State of Mind that he may have even tried too hard on the
Prison Bound album. They did eventually find their niche, and the majority of their albums from the mid-80's on to the
early 90's are considered to be cowpunk or rockabilly – a
melodic punk sound that is distinctly – and distinctively – their own.
Influences
Social Distortion's principal influences are of roots rock derivation, as well as
hardcore punk, psychedelic rock,
blues, hard rock, modern
rock, grunge and cowpunk. They have never
considered themselves a hardcore punk band in any way. Bands/artists that have influenced Social Distortion are: Johnny Cash, The Clash, Eddie
Cochran, Dead Boys, Elvis Presley,
KISS, Led Zeppelin, John
Lennon, New York Dolls, David Bowie,
Queen, Ramones, The
Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, X, and
Neil Young.
Songwriting and vocals
Most of Social Distortion's songs are written and sung by Mike Ness. There is a common theme in most of his lyrics about
"impulsiveness, its consequences and the hard struggle for maturity"[1]. Other band members who have co-written Social Distortion songs are Dennis Danell ("The Creeps",[15]
"Indulgence", "Like an Outlaw (For You)", "On My Nerves", and "I Want What I Want"); Jonny
Wickersham ("Nickels and Dimes", "Faithless", and "Angel's Wings"); and John Maurer
("Let It Be Me").
Covers
The band has covered many songs, including, "Ring of Fire" (June Carter Cash, Merle Kilgore), "Backstreet Girl" (The Rolling Stones), "Under My Thumb" (The Rolling Stones), and "Death or Glory" (The Clash). Mike Ness, individually, covered 12 songs
in his solo album, Under the Influences in 1999.
Legacy and influence
Social Distortion have influenced various contemporary artists, such as Alkaline
Trio,[16] Domestic Violence, Dropkick Murphys,[17] Goldfinger,[18] Good Charlotte,[19] MxPx,[20] Pearl Jam, Rise Against, The Suicide Machines, and Sum 41,[19] as
well as many notable California punk bands such as ALL, Big Drill Car, blink-182,[21]
Bullets and Octane,[22] Chemical People,[23] Face to
Face,[24] Jawbreaker,[25] No Use for a Name,[26] The Offspring,[27] Pennywise,[19] Rancid,[28] and Thrice.[19]
The band Face to Face honored Social D by covering the song "Telling Them". In 2005, Reel Big
Fish covered "Story of My Life" on their album We're Not Happy
'Til You're Not Happy. A line in the song Riot Girl by Good Charlotte reads: "She likes Minor Threat, She likes Social
Distortion."
MxPx also covered the song "Sick Boy" on their 1998 B-sides
compilation Let It Happen.
Goldfinger singer/guitarist John Feldmann
has mentioned that he started playing music when he was 13 after listening to Social Distortion's first album Mommy's Little Monster.[18] He also pays tribute to the band in the song "Chris Clayton" (from Goldfinger's
1997 album Hang-Ups) with the lyrics "When we were kids
playing Social D".
The Offspring, started in 1984 by founders Bryan
"Dexter" Holland and Greg K, was formed of a decision outside of a Social Distortion
concert, when both were refused entry.
Bad Religion played their first ever concert, as warm-up for Social Distortion.
In Popular Culture
Social Distortion's music and merchandise seem to appear more and more in popular
culture. Social D t-shirts are offered child-size these days to accommodate old school fans who now have children to sport
the "Mommy's Little Monster" and "Sick Boy" badge. Kevin Bacon's character in the film
Stir of Echoes wears a Social Distortion t-shirt during one of his scenes.
The song "Story of My Life" has been featured in movies such as Reality Bites,
starring Winona Ryder; the movie Orange
County, starring Colin Hanks, Jack Black, and
Schuyler Fisk; the movie The Break-Up, starring Vince
Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston – when Vaughn's character is playing
billiards with his friends at his condo; and the movie Life or Something Like It, starring Angeline
Jolie. The song was featured when Jolie's character finds herself having a midlife crisis, and decides to return to her
high school punk roots. She wore a Social Distortion t-shirt during this scene, as well. The Break-Up also featured the
song "Ball and Chain" in the movie trailer.
Social D songs have appeared in television, such as "Reach for the Sky," which appeared on the television series
Smallville in its fourth season, and have been featured as background
music on MTV cribs. Social D songs also appear in video games such as Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX, which features "Don't Drag Me Down," and Tony Hawk's Underground, which features "Mommy's Little Monster". Anime comics have also used the songs, such as Kubo Tite, author of the hit
shounen manga Bleach (manga), who used the song "Don't Drag Me Down" as a theme song for
one of the characters (Isshin Kurosaki), and even said that one of the main characters
(Ichigo Kurosaki) favorite celebrity is frontman Mike Ness.
On October 3rd, 2007, it was announced that a rerecorded version "Story of My Life" would be featured in the upcoming
Activision video game Guitar Hero III:
Legends of Rock.
Members
- For past members, see List of Social Distortion band
members.
Current Line-Up
Discography
-
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j
- ^ http://www.socialdistortion.com/news.html
- ^ Steininger, Alex. "Mike Ness on politics, new album, and touring, "
In Music We Trust. Issue 63,
November-December 2003. Accessed June 19, 2006.
- ^ "Social Distortion
(import bonus tracks) - Album reviews". ArtistDirect.com. Retrieved on February 24,
2007.
- ^ a b "Social Distortion
Bio" ArtistDirect.com. Retrieved on February 24, 2007.
- ^ "Lost Tracks II: The June 1994 Demos" RateYourMusic.com. Retrieved on February
24, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Review: White Light, White Heat, White Trash"
PunkNews.org. Retrieved on February 24, 2007.
- ^ a b
- ^ a b SxDx.com News SxDx.com. Retrieved on
February 26, 2007.
- ^ Soundwave Festival Australia Lineup Announced
- ^ "Early Social
Distortion bassist ID'd in wreck". OCRegister.com. January 21, 2007. Retrieved on February 24, 2007.
- ^ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20070517-9999-lz1w17ness.html Sign On San Diego
- ^ Social Distortion Work On New Album. Ultimate-Guitar.com. Accessed
