Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, Cal… Read Full Bio ↴Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness (lead vocals, lead guitar), Jonny Wickersham (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Brent Harding (bass, backing vocals), David Hidalgo Jr. (drums), and David Kalish (keyboards).
Starting as a hardcore punk band in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, Social Distortion would go on a temporary hiatus in the mid-1980s, due to Ness's drug addiction and troubles with the law which resulted in extended stints in various rehabilitation centers that lasted for two years. Following their reformation, the band has shifted its style to a country, blues and early rock and roll-influenced style of punk. Since its inception, the band's lineup has seen significant turnover, with Ness as the only constant member. After 44 years of performing, Social Distortion continues to tour and record music.
To date, Social Distortion has released seven full-length studio albums, two compilations, one live album, and two DVDs. They released two albums — Mommy's Little Monster (1983) and Prison Bound (1988) — before signing a three-album contract with Epic Records in 1989. Social Distortion rose to fame with their 1990 self-titled third album, which produced their well-known hit singles "Ball and Chain", "Story of My Life", and the cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire", and was certified gold by RIAA. Many of their later albums, including their second gold record Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992), were also well received. Dubbed by Steven Blush as "the Rolling Stones of hardcore," Social Distortion is considered one of the best-selling and most influential punk rock bands, with more than three million albums sold worldwide. The band's most recent studio album is Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011), and they have spent about more than a decade working on new material their forthcoming eighth studio album.
Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by Mike Ness, inspired by the Sex Pistols and many other British punk bands as well as rock acts such as the Rolling Stones. Aside from Ness on guitar and Casey Royer on drums, early members included Mark Garrett on bass and former Cal State Fullerton basketball player Tom Corvin on vocals. Garrett was succeeded by Rikk Agnew in late 1978. On the origins of the band's name, Royer recalled "Mike was like 15, trying to play guitar but he couldn't. Social Distortion was named for my distortion pedal, which I gave to Mike to play 'cause back then he was no good."
Their early music was composed by Ness with lyrics by Royer and sometimes Corvin, and many songs were retired after only a few performances. After Corvin left in the fall of 1979 to attend graduate school at Bob Jones University, Ness recruited his high school friend Dennis Danell to join the band on guitar even though Danell had never played an instrument before. When Danell was brought in, the other members left as they did not want to wait for him to learn. Before joining the Adolescents in 1980, Royer and Agnew played with Garrett in a separate band named Social Distortion consisting of Royer on vocals, Garrett on bass, Rikk Agnew on drums, and Frank Agnew and Tim Maag on guitars. The band's first real show was in early 1979 at the Cuckoo's Nest nightclub on Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa, California. Mike and Dennis remained the only constant members for the next two decades with bass and drum members changing every few years. The Adolescents song "Kids of the Black Hole" and Social Distortion song "The Playpen" chronicled this period of the band's history.
Its first single, Mainliner/Playpen featuring Ness on guitar and vocals, Dennis on bass, and Carrot on drums 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. Rodney Bingenheimer of KROQ-FM was responsible for much of the radio play in Orange County, California, that punk received in the early 80s, 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 international tour (US and Canada) with fellow punk band Youth Brigade, a trip chronicled in the punk rockumentary 'Another State of Mind', which was not released until 1984.
The band has consistently used as their logo a skeleton holding a cigarette and a martini glass. It was designed by Mackie Osborne, wife of Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne. It is frequently featured in live performances as well as album covers. The logo came from an invitation to a New Year's Eve party that a friend of Ness' had designed. Said Ness in an April 2011 interview with Rolling Stone: "At the time, I saw that, and it just felt like, 'That's it right there. It's life and death, it's celebration.' It just felt powerful."
Starting as a hardcore punk band in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, Social Distortion would go on a temporary hiatus in the mid-1980s, due to Ness's drug addiction and troubles with the law which resulted in extended stints in various rehabilitation centers that lasted for two years. Following their reformation, the band has shifted its style to a country, blues and early rock and roll-influenced style of punk. Since its inception, the band's lineup has seen significant turnover, with Ness as the only constant member. After 44 years of performing, Social Distortion continues to tour and record music.
To date, Social Distortion has released seven full-length studio albums, two compilations, one live album, and two DVDs. They released two albums — Mommy's Little Monster (1983) and Prison Bound (1988) — before signing a three-album contract with Epic Records in 1989. Social Distortion rose to fame with their 1990 self-titled third album, which produced their well-known hit singles "Ball and Chain", "Story of My Life", and the cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire", and was certified gold by RIAA. Many of their later albums, including their second gold record Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992), were also well received. Dubbed by Steven Blush as "the Rolling Stones of hardcore," Social Distortion is considered one of the best-selling and most influential punk rock bands, with more than three million albums sold worldwide. The band's most recent studio album is Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011), and they have spent about more than a decade working on new material their forthcoming eighth studio album.
Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by Mike Ness, inspired by the Sex Pistols and many other British punk bands as well as rock acts such as the Rolling Stones. Aside from Ness on guitar and Casey Royer on drums, early members included Mark Garrett on bass and former Cal State Fullerton basketball player Tom Corvin on vocals. Garrett was succeeded by Rikk Agnew in late 1978. On the origins of the band's name, Royer recalled "Mike was like 15, trying to play guitar but he couldn't. Social Distortion was named for my distortion pedal, which I gave to Mike to play 'cause back then he was no good."
Their early music was composed by Ness with lyrics by Royer and sometimes Corvin, and many songs were retired after only a few performances. After Corvin left in the fall of 1979 to attend graduate school at Bob Jones University, Ness recruited his high school friend Dennis Danell to join the band on guitar even though Danell had never played an instrument before. When Danell was brought in, the other members left as they did not want to wait for him to learn. Before joining the Adolescents in 1980, Royer and Agnew played with Garrett in a separate band named Social Distortion consisting of Royer on vocals, Garrett on bass, Rikk Agnew on drums, and Frank Agnew and Tim Maag on guitars. The band's first real show was in early 1979 at the Cuckoo's Nest nightclub on Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa, California. Mike and Dennis remained the only constant members for the next two decades with bass and drum members changing every few years. The Adolescents song "Kids of the Black Hole" and Social Distortion song "The Playpen" chronicled this period of the band's history.
Its first single, Mainliner/Playpen featuring Ness on guitar and vocals, Dennis on bass, and Carrot on drums 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. Rodney Bingenheimer of KROQ-FM was responsible for much of the radio play in Orange County, California, that punk received in the early 80s, 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 international tour (US and Canada) with fellow punk band Youth Brigade, a trip chronicled in the punk rockumentary 'Another State of Mind', which was not released until 1984.
The band has consistently used as their logo a skeleton holding a cigarette and a martini glass. It was designed by Mackie Osborne, wife of Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne. It is frequently featured in live performances as well as album covers. The logo came from an invitation to a New Year's Eve party that a friend of Ness' had designed. Said Ness in an April 2011 interview with Rolling Stone: "At the time, I saw that, and it just felt like, 'That's it right there. It's life and death, it's celebration.' It just felt powerful."
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Social Distortion Lyrics
03 Highway 101 Take a drive baby up the coast, yeah Highway 101 I'll…
03. Story Of My Life High school seemed like such a blur, I didn't have much…
16 Ring Of Fire Love is a burning flame And it makes the fiery rain Bound…
1945 Atom bomb, TNT New disease, poor city Flying over Hiroshima,…
99 to Life I'm broken hearted, I'm a broken Man. Driven by anger, on…
A Place in My Heart I saw her today, Oh God I miss her smile. A pleasant…
All the Answers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, You won't see these kids in heaven Colored ha…
Alone and Forsaken We met in the springtime when blossoms unfold The pastures w…
Angel You say you're down on your luck hey baby, its a…
Angel Wings You say you're down on your luck hey baby, its a…
Angel’s Wings You say you're down on your luck hey baby, its a…
Another State Of Mind Well I'm in another state, another state of mind, I wish…
Anti-Fashion You are so plastic you could be a Barbie Doll. You…
Backstreet Girl I don't want you to be high I don't want you…
Bad Luck Some people like to gamble, But you, you always lose. Some p…
Bad Luck (live acoustic) Some people like to gamble But you, you always lose Some peo…
Bakersfield Take me down that line Going to tow that heavy load I…
Ball & Chain Well it's been ten years, and a thousand tears And look…
Born to Lose I was brought in this world 1962, I didn't have much…
Bye Bye Baby I believed I was wrong but baby Now I know, you…
California Running around like you're front page news Lonely eyes and y…
Can't Take It With You I'll tell you something, baby, that's a fact Never see a…
Can’t Take It With You I'll tell you something, baby, that's a fact Never see a…
Cold Feelings Uninvited feelings They come without a warning and they stay…
Cold Feelings** Uninvited feelings They come without warning and they stay …
Crown Of Thorns Pretty much been alone now, for almost five years I could…
Dear Lover Loving, over and over again It ain't nothing girl, till you'…
Death Or Glory Every cheap hood strikes a bargain with the world And ends…
Diamond in the Rough Well I've been up yeah And I've been down Been kicked around…
Don I'm your worn in leather jacket I'm the volume in your…
Don't Drag Me Down Children are taught to hate, parents just couldn't wait Some…
Don't Take Me for Granted I'm your worn in leather jacket I'm the volume in your…
Don't think twice Well it ain't no use to sit and wonder why,…
Dont Drag Me Down Children are taught to hate, parents just couldn't wait Some…
Dont Think Twice Well it ain't no use to sit and wonder why,…
Don’t Take Me For Granted I'm your worn in leather jacket I'm the volume in your…
dope fiend blues In a police car I feel so very small I see…
Down Here You work hard now To put the food on the table You're…
Down On The World Again This ain't the way it's supposed to be There's a dark…
Drug Train It'll take you as high as the Heavens It'll take you…
Faithless I know a girl who warns the dangers of love All…
Far Behind With friends like you, who needs enemies? You ain't right, y…
Far Side of Nowhere I wake up; drink my coffee Put on my pants and…
Folsom Prison Blues I hear the train a comin' it's rollin 'round the…
Footprings on my ceiling Everybody wants a lover Nobody wants to uncover What may l…
Footprints on My Ceiling Everybody wants a lover Nobody wants to uncover What may lay…
Ghost Town Blues Ever since my baby left me you Know this ghost town…
Gimme the Sweet and Lowdown It was a moonlight mishap You lost your party hat Seems yo…
Gotta knew the rules Spent my whole life looking for something What it was, I'm…
Highway 101 Take a drive baby up the coast, yeah Highway 101 I'll…
Hour Darkness An hour of anger an hour of love, This hour of…
I Fought The Law Breaking rocks in the hot sun, I fought the law…
I Want What I Want I wanted a vintage Harley I wanted a house with a…
I Was When I was young, I was so full of fear I…
I Wasn When I grow up I'm gonna be a star Gonna sing…
I Wasn't Born to Follow When I grow up I'm gonna be a star Gonna sing…
I Wasn’t Born To Follow When I grow up I'm gonna be a star Gonna sing…
Indulgence A wish or a longing for, an obsession much too…
It Coulda Been Me I got friends who are in prison, Friends who are dead. I'm…
It Wasn't a Pretty Picture Last night a whore found murdered in the streets The skid…
It Wasn't Pretty Picture Last night a whore- found murdered in the streets The skid…
It's All Over Now Well, baby use to stay out all night long She made…
It's the Law We're sitting here in this cell, You know it's like a…
Its All Over Now Well, baby use to stay out all night long She made…
It’s the Law We're sitting here in this cell You know it's like a…
Justice for All We're sitting here in this hell You know it's like a…
King of Fools I was born a king of fools most People think I'm…
Lawless A question of morals, black market love Street survivors for…
Let It Be Me I've been in love, but now I'm waiting Don't ever want…
Like an Outlaw (For You) Like an outlaw I'd lie for you I'd kick and scream and…
Like an Outlaw For You Like an outlaw I'd lie for you, I'd kick and scream and…
live before u die When pressures up and the stress is high And I want…
Lost & Found I was looking for something anything at all something to bel…
Lost Child Picked up by the police, only seventeen. What did he do,…
Lude Boy I'm on the 714, cause I got a brand new…
Machine Gun Blues Well I'm a gangster 1934, junkies, winos, pimps and whores A…
Mainliner Nothing she can do, She's so confused Something should be do…
Making Believe Making believe, That you still love me. It's leaving me A…
Mass Hysteria An emotional outbreak, stepped on by People's feet, control…
Mommy Mommy's little monster dropped out of school, Mommy's littl…
Mommy's Little Monster Mommy's little monster dropped out of school, Mommy's little…
Moral Threat You beat us up when we're alone Come back later and…
Nickels & Dimes I'm a Cadillac tramp at the end of his road A…
Nickels and Dimes I'm a Condillac tramp at the end of his road a…
No Pain No Gain Well, I walked Man I walked Through some pain today Well, I …
On My Nerves The sound of a neighbor's barking dog, The high prices of…
Playpen When the cat's away, the mice will play Beer and drugs…
Pleasure Seeker Here I come, I'm on a run Who wants to fight…
Pleasure Seeker Here I come, I'm on a run Who wants to fight…
Pretty In Pink Caroline laughs and it's raining all day She loves to be…
Pretty Thing You pretty thing Let me buy you a wedding ring Let me…
Prison Bound Well, I'm goin' to a place where the tough guys…
Reach for the Sky When I was young I was invincible I found myself not…
Reach For the Sky Acoustic When I was young I was invincible, I found myself not…
RING Love is a burning flame And it makes the fiery rain Bound…
Ring on Fire Love is a burning flame And it makes the fiery rain Bound…
RING_OF_FIRE Love is a burning flame And it makes the fiery rain Bound…
Shame On Me Had a girl in my home town, Sorry now that I…
She S A Knockout Everywhere she goes people turn their heads She's a knockout…
Sick Boy Sick Boy, In his faded blue jeans Sick boy Black leather…
Sick Boys Sick-boy, in his faded blue jeans, Sick-boy, black leather j…
Sick Girl Sick Boy, In his faded blue jeans Sick boy Black leather…
So Far Away I've sung the blues, For every broken hearted lovesick dream…
Sometimes I Do Sometimes I like you and Sometimes I don't, I feel like…
So_Far_Away I've sung the blues, For every broken hearted lovesick drea…
Still Alive Well, I remember when we were young And you said that…
Story Of M Ylife High school seemed like such a blur, I didn't have much…
Story of My Life Story of my life Well, high school seemed like such a…
Tainted Love Sometimes I feel I've got to Run away I've got to Get…
Telling Them Well I love the sound when I smash the glass, If…
The Creeps I'll be vigilant, I'll be silent Yes, know one will know. …
This Time Darlin As I'm looking back on broken Down dreams heartbreaks and …
This time darlin´ As I'm looking back on broken Down dreams heartbreaks and Me…
Through These Eyes Through these eyes I've seen love and I've seen hate I've…
under my t Under my thumb' the girl Who once had me down Under my…
Under My Thumb Under my thumb' the girl Who once had me down Under my…
Untitled I'm heading down a lonely highway I'm running down a one-way…
want what i want I wanted a vintage Harley I wanted a house with a…
When Angels Sing At last we meet again, dear god When the angels sing The…
When She Begin I was feelin' kinda beat, I decided To hit the streets.…
When The Angels Sing At last we meet again, dear god When the angels sing The…
Winners and Losers Winners and losers, turn the pages of my life W're beggers…
Writing on the Wall There was a time when you were proud You looked up…
[Untitled] I'm heading down a lonely highway, I'm running down a…