Location: Fullerton, California
Active: 1978 – 1985, 1986 – present
Mike Ness with the an early lineup of brothers Frank (Der Stab, 45 Grave, TSOL) and Rikk Agnew (Christian Death) and Casey Royer (D.I., Adolescents, Adz). The roster altered drastically over the first year of the band, ultimately with Ness taking over on vocals, bringing in Dennis Danell, who was like Ness, a guitar novice at the time. This would be the core of the band. Their first show with this more stable lineup was in 1979.
Their first single Mainliner/Playpen came out in 1981 on Posh Boy. In 1982 they went on tour across North America, documented in the film ‘Another State Of Mind’ with their eponymous track as the theme song. After the disastrous tour limped home (spoiler: the bus didn’t survive), they followed up with their debut album ‘Mommy’s Little Monster’ on their own label. Social Distortion was also featured on the landmark compilation ’Hell Comes To Your House’ with Christian Death and 45 Grave.
The band went on hiatus in 1985 after Ness’ addiction to drugs came to a head. They returned in 1986 however and their 1988 album Prison Bound took a more country direction, oddly solicited to their already melancholic nature. The redemption cliche was successful, however, and they enjoyed widespread success among a crowd of punks who may have undergone similar reformations, not to mention a new more commercial audience.
Official: https://www.socialdistortion.com
Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/255058-Social-Distortion
BandCamp: https://craftrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/mommys-little-monster-remastered-2023
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Distortion
Related: Der Stab, 45 Grave, TSOL, Christian Death, D.I., Adolescents, Adz, Mike Ness, Rikk Agnew, Casey Royer, Dennis Danell, Another State Of Mind, Hell Comes To Your House, Fullerton, California
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