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."
Playpen
Social Distortion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beer and drugs and things to say to you, to you
Lots of girls and lots of boys
Loud music and all the toys we need,
We need
[Chorus]
We have to go
We have to go
The walls have all been stained
They have to know
They can't stop us now
They have to know
We could burn this town
Old men and kids on the run
Missing teeth and now the damage is
Done, it's all been done
Losing battles, losing fights
The police would love to take away our
Rights, our rights
[Chorus]
The lyrics in Social Distortion's song "Playpen" tells the story of youth rebellion and delinquency. The first verse, "when the cat's away, the mice will play," implies that when authority figures are absent, young people are likely to engage in mischievous behavior. The lyrics then go on to describe the type of activities that take place when the "cat" is gone - "beer and drugs and things to say to you," as well as "lots of girls and lots of boys," all while blasting "loud music and all the toys we need." The chorus, "we have to go, the neighbors have complained, we have to go, the walls have all been stained," highlights the fact that the party-goers are not welcome in the neighborhood, and that their behavior is disruptive and destructive.
The second verse of the song describes the aftermath of the party, with "old men and kids on the run, missing teeth and now the damage is done, it's all been done." The reference to "losing battles, losing fights" suggests a sense of hopelessness or lack of direction among the youth involved. The final lines of the song, "the police would love to take away our rights, our rights," drives home the idea that this type of rebellious behavior is viewed as a threat to authority and ordered society.
Overall, "Playpen" is a commentary on the rebellious nature of youth culture and the clash between authority and youthful energy. The song captures the feeling of youthful rebellion and the need for independence from societal expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
When the cat's away, the mice will play
We'll indulge in drugs and alcohol while we can.
Beer and drugs and things to say to you, to you
We'll use any means necessary to have a good time.
Lots of girls and lots of boys
There will be plenty of people to party with.
Loud music and all the toys we need, We need
We'll turn up the volume and have all the fun we want to have.
[Chorus]
We're going to keep partying even if people complain about it.
Old men and kids on the run
Everyone is invited to our party, no matter their age.
Missing teeth and now the damage is, Done, it's all been done
We're not concerned with any consequences of our actions.
Losing battles, losing fights
We're determined to have fun, even in the face of opposition.
The police would love to take away our, Rights, our rights
The authorities don't want us to have fun, but we won't let them stop us.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@triple.black.6843
Best band by far, i love these guys so much!!! Definitely my favorite band!!
@The_Last_Poet_
🔥🔥🔥
❣️❣️❣️
@kellytyner1260
The pigs in my San Bernardino County locality are still fucking with me since the days of running around spray-painting S.D. on every warning sign! Ness punched a Trumpite. Good for him! He shot dope with my old punk buddy in the Orange County tank too. I saw them at the Whisky, and a Fullerton Roller Rink. Them's the days! Cheers.