- Years Active: 2003
- Band Members: Derek O'Brien, Rikk Agnew, Frank Agnew, Chuck Biscuits, Casey Royer, Christopher Reece, John Maurer, Dennis Danell, Brent Liles, Mike Ness
- Genre: Rock & Alternative
- Influenced by: The Rolling Stones, The Clash, X, Johnny Cash
- Followed By: Almighty Lumberjacks of Death, The Turbo A.C.'s, I Walk the Line, Last Target, Pezz, Niños Enfermos, The Ducky Boys, Nothington, Jonny Stevens, Back Porch Mary, BBS Paranoicos, Jackson Taylor, American Werewolves, Ann Beretta, Bullets and Octane, The HollowPoints, The New Breed, The Briggs, Forgotten, Frantic Flattops, Cobra Skulls, The Dragons, Dexter Holland, Spoiler NYC, Mercy Killers, The Want, Death on Wednesday, The Scotch Greens, The Explosion, Earth to Nigel, The Loved Ones, Enemy You, Matt Skiba, Chemical People, The Peawees, No Use for a Name, Dropkick Murphys, The Krays, Welt, Tiger Army, The Creepshow, Twopointeight, The Enkindels, East West
- Similar Artists: Black Flag, The Circle Jerks, The Cramps, Dead Kennedys, The Dictators, Fear, The Germs, The Godfathers, Gun Club, Joan Jett, The Stranglers, Crowd, Johnny Thunders, The Turbo A.C.'s
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. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide