Social Distortion
Biography
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.
Selected Discography
Greatest Hits
2007
Sex, Love, And Rock 'n' Roll
2004
Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell
1992
Social Distortion
1990
Prison Bound
1988
The songwriting, delivery, music, and emotion behind this music blows The Ramones away. The Ramones were almost cartoonish at times. SD was, and always will be 100% genuine.
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Ness and the Social D are one of the best Rock/Punk bands I've heard. Ness's crespy voice and angst-filled performance was great in the song "I was wrong" - Great band.
Hussein Ahmed |
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good points Dorian - there was a time when emo was an amazing thing - now it makes me cring
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Mike Ness & Social D are simply the greatest punk band of all time. Old time, Clash Fan's might have something to say about this. But, the Clash were just the first punk band to be great. Social D's lyrics & music are just incredible. Social D is easily the best American punk band. SD is way better than the Ramones. Mike Ness deserves to be in the Rock & Roll Hall of fame. I think he is now eligible, but it will probably never happen.
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A Band that can play the blues and still be considered punk is a rareity in the punk subculture, which can be way more judgemental than the mainstream culture that punk openly rejects because of how judgemental the mainstream can be. But Social D is brave enough to make punk evolve past the tried and true punk formula and inovate the scene, like what Ian Mackay tried to do with bands like Rites of Spring and Fugazi. However Rites of Spring became the spring board from which we get Fall Out Boy.
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Greatest band ever! It doesn't matter what kind of mood I'm in, I can always listen to Social D. They ARE punk rock. Always have been, always will be. They may not have been the first and the won't be the last but, they are they definition of punk. They are the standard to which every other band should be held to.
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yeeeeaaah, every song they create is truly superb, many lyrics to relate to and the history makes it what it is, good fukkin' music
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Mike Ness is baddest man on the planet not to mention the best song writer all of his work turns into instant classics. Thank U Mr. Ness for your thoughts and the love u and the band have 4 music and the fans who would follow u anywhere.
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Ive been listening to them now since the 80s and Social D is still one of the best f**king bands of all time.
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Mike Ness will be to punk what Johnny Cash was to country when he's gone, thank goodness he's clean now.
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I just SO love love love this band! I remember seeing them when I was a kid, now i am 41! How DOES that happen? Anyway this band was PUNK when it wasn't the most popular way to be man, and it was COOL as F...
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Social D is one of the BEST bands ever they totaly made punk rock and i am so greatful for that!!! THANX Social D!!!
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Social Distortion has been an interesting progression through their career. Prior to Prison Bound they a fairly generic punk bank. Although I do find it interesting seeing Mike Ness in a mohawk. They hit stride with their self titled album. For me the moment that they became one of my favorite bands was realizing That Making Believe on SBH&H was a Patsy Cline cover. Wonderful band sound all their own.
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you said it all cyberjack101 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
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jsut saw them a couple weeks ago at the Ventura Theater! what an epic show!
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What makes Social Distortion so amazing is the fact that the songs are timeless. Any song off Live at the Roxy is still as good as when they were written. Ness is a true punk long before the Hot Topic bullshit as of late when being a punk meant something.
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