Social Distortion

Mike Ness - Singing, Brent Harding Guitar - Basse Jonny Wickersham - Guitare, Choeurs Charlie Quintana - Battery When the punk scene of the 80s is approached several names come back irremediably: Minor Threat, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys and obviously Bad Religion. But if it is often forgotten or set aside it is indeed Social Distortion.
California 1978: The story begins like so many others, Mike Ness meets Dennis Danell at university and pushes him to join his band. Officiating in a fast, aggressive and all-classic punk, Social D makes a small reputation in the Orange County area. After almost 3 years of existence, and already changes of line-up around the unshakeable Mike and Dennis, everything accelerated in 1981 when the Posh Boy corner label released their first single "Mainliner". The band was greatly helped by the local radio in 1982, when it had its first turning point: the formation now completed by Brent Liles on bass and Derek O'Brien on drums, embarked on a national tour with Youth Brigade. This tour serves as the basis for the punk documentary: Another State of Mind .
With this journey and the success of the film, Mommy's Little Monster debuted at the dawn of 1983 via 13th Floor Records. Thanks to the fame of Another State of Mind , the album distributes very well and the band begins to make a name for itself at the national punk scene. Unfortunately the problems begin almost immediately: new line-up, but especially major drug problems for Mike caused a brief separation in 1985.
Detoxification cure completed, the group was reformed in 1986. John Maurer is then four-stringed, and Christopher Reece in the drums. But it takes two more years for Mommy's Little Monster's successor to be born: Prison Bound released in 1988 at Restless Records ( Devo , Flamming Lips ) Change without being radical marks the minds. The basic punk-rock follows a mix of punk and country, as if Johnny Cash had met The Clash, the influence of the Rolling Stones' first very blue albums is also palpable. And despite its modest success, this record, announcing what Social Distortion will be in the coming decade, brings the group into a new era.
This era will emerge with the signature at Epic in 1989, so Social D embarks on the composition of his new opus. This one was produced by Dave Jerden ( Jane's Addiction , Alice in Chains ) in March 90. In the line of Prison Bound with the additional means, this eponymous record carried by two essential singles: "Ball and Chains" & "Story Of My Life" remains for many the best album of the band.
Launched in the hard law of the major, the outings accelerated as popularity grew. Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell in 1992 is the best-selling record, while remaining faithful to past influences. After a new break and a series of drummers (Chuck Biscuit, set up in 1996 for the next four years), White Light, White Heat, White Trash , was released in the fall of 1996, which remains the group's greatest success. This particularly accessible rupture album highlights a return to the sources by leaving aside the rockabilly influences for a very energetic and always melodic punk. It climbs to 27th place of the charts, and the single "I Was Wrong" invades the radio waves. In 1997, the band left Epic to return its first love of Time Bomb Recordings (based on the ashes of 13th Floor Records) and released its Live At the Roxy in 1998. However, the combo's career was set in parenthesis with Mike Ness' solo debut. This is a tragic event that will allow Social D to emerge again, Denis Daniell died on February 29, 2000. Jonny Wickersham (US Bombs , Youth Brigade ) replaces him, Charlie Quintana takes the drums, and the band goes back for some occasional concerts. White Light's successor, White Heat, White Trash, is waiting. With first sessions and a release scheduled for 2000, the album tribute to Dennis Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll was finally released only in late 2004 with Cameron Webb (Danzig , Zebrahead ) in production.
Despite new changes that have led to the current formation, the band regularly continues to tour with notament The Dead 60's and Flogging Molly. A new registration seems planned for 2007.