Social Distortion, The Descendants, et The Chats

Social Distortion’s far spanning presence within the music industry might come as a surprise to many. The group formed in the late 70s but did not release their first album until the 80s of which was one of only two albums released within the decade. Despite the band’s infrequent releases during their start, these early recordings have become staples within the punk cannon.

The group was founded by frontman Mike Ness at the end of 1978. The band expanded into a line up including the brothers Rikk and Frank Agnew on guitars and Casey Royer on drums; however, once bassist Dennis Danell joined the band the remaining members left to form the Adolescents. Danell eventually graduated to guitars and continued on as the band’s only consistent founding member alongside Ness.

The group released their first single “Mainliner/Playpen” in 1981 through the O.C. affiliate label Posh Boy. Their single “1945” also was issued that year on the Rodney Bingenheimer compilation album “Rodney on the ROQ”. A year later the group went on an international tour supporting Youth Brigade, hitting stops around the US and Canada.

Social Distortion self-released their debut album “Mommy’s Little Monster” through 13th Floor Records in 1983. After this release the band started gaining worldwide recognition and were featured in documentaries and on popular TV channels such as MTV.

Though the band was pushing their career in an interesting direction in the early 80s and had proven themselves essential figures in the hardcore/skate punk music circuit, they disbanded in 1985 as a result of Ness‘ incapacitating drug addiction.

After Ness was released from his drug rehabilitation program he jumpstarted Social Distortion’s career, this time taking a whole new approach. The group’s new sound sported country outlaw influences touching on Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Hank Williams. The band also took cues from neighboring southwestern cow punk bands like the Meat Puppets and X. Even some of the Rolling Stones’ crossover stage to American Honky Tonk can be heard in the music of Social Distortion.

Social Distortion showcased their newly found style with 1988’s “Prison Bound”. The album was regarded as a mature step for the band and laid the template for their future releases. Their self-titled 3rd album featured a cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and entered the Billboard 200 rising to No. 128.

The group’s follow up album “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell” was a huge commercial and critical success, becoming the band’s best selling album in their career. The album included their single “Bad Luck”, which peaked at No. 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Social Distortion took yet another hiatus, but returned in 1996 with their album “White Light White Heat, White Trash” (a clear pun of the Velvet Underground’s seminal noise-rock album). The album exhibited a much harder sounding tone than it’s predecessors’ and winded up at No. 27 on the Billboard 200. It featured the single “I Was Wrong” as well as a cover of the Rolling Stone’s “Under My Thumb”. The album was preceded by a compilation album of the group’s early recordings “Mainliner: Wreckage from the Past” and was followed by the live album “Live at the Roxy”.

Social Distortion’s next studio album “Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll” did not come out until 6 years after the release of “White Light, White Heat, White Trash”. The album received very positive reviews earning the No. 456 spot in Rock Hard magazine’s book of “The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of all Time”. Additionally it landed at No. 31 on the Billboard 200. The band’s greatest hits album followed in 2007 and their 7th studio album “Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes” came out in 2011.