The late ‘70’s…
The first raw, sloppy, speeding guitar chords announcing
an Orange County punk scene blared from Huntington Beach
and Fullerton California in 1978. They echoed the sound
forged in 1976-77 in the seminal punk undergrounds of
New York City, London and Los Angeles. In the early days,
O.C. punk’s unyielding musical force slammed up against
an immovable cultural object: the Orange County dream
of quiet, well-oriented, economically impregnable suburban
living. Treating rowdy, often outrageous fans as a gang
element, local authorities shut down a series of clubs
that championed the music. But O.C. punk proved too hardy
to erase. In 1979, Mike Ness forms Social Distortion with
drummer Casey Royer and brothers Rikk and Frank Agnew.
Police arrive to break up the first ever gig by Social
Distortion, at a house party in Yorba Linda, CA. A 17
year-old Mike Ness spits in a plainclothesman’s face
and is carted off to jail. "Basically, they’re
into violence," a Huntington Beach police sergeant
told the LA Times in 1979. "They have a hatred virtually
for everybody. There’s no motive, no rationale. They
just do whatever they feel like at the time." The
officer went on to plea: "We can’t do anything
with out the public’s help. It’s the only way
we’re going to stop it." Misjudging punk as
a gang movement, police in Huntington Beach and Newport
Beach detained kids on the streets snapping their mug
shots for police files. The ‘80’s… Mike
Ness was the original tenant of "the Black Hole"
a one-bedroom pad in a nondescript Fullerton apartment
complex. The walls were said to have witnessed wild experimentation
with sex and intoxicants. After meeting Dennis Danell,
a punk loving classmate, Ness insisted Danell, who at
the time didn’t play an instrument, be included in
the band as the Bass player. Not wanting to pause to break
in a novice, Royer and the Agnews left and formed their
own band instead. The next few years saw a revolving-door
membership. Ness, now almost 18, went into a rage at "the
Black Hole." He started slamming a knife into the
wall. The knife got stuck, Ness’ hand sliped and
his left index finger is sliced. KROQ-FM deejay Rodney
Bingenheimer embraced Orange County music, playing highlights
from its major local bands on his Sunday night radio show.
Robbie Fields, a small-time music entrepreneur, saw potential
in suburban punk. Fields combed the clubs and backyard
parties, signing many of the significant local bands to
his Posh Boy label for their initial singles or albums.
In the early ‘80’s, Mike Ness was brawling outside
of the Cuckoo’s Nest with a rival punk rocker who
wrestled him to the ground and bite off a chunk of his
left ear. 1981, Social Distortion release their first
single "Mainliner/Playpen" on the Posh Boy label.
In 1982 Social Distortion, along with LA’s Youth
Brigade and DC’s Minor Threat, filmed the documentary
"Another State of Mind," which follows the band’s
first stormy cross-continental tour. In early 1983 Mike
Ness punched out a bouncer before a Social Distortion
club gig in San Diego. The triumph was short lived. After
the show, a posse of bouncers grabbed Ness, beat him up
and called the police. By late1983, Social Distortion’s
first recording line up consisted of Mike Ness, Danell
(now on rhythm guitar), bassist Brent Liles, and drummer
Derek O’Brien. Released on 13th Floor, "Mommy’s
Little Monster" gained the band a national name in
punk circles. New Year’s Eve 1983, a fed-up Brent
Liles and Derek O’Brien bailed out of the band in
the middle of the show. At the beginning of 1984, Ness
and Danell recruited John Maurer, another old school buddy
from Fullerton to play bass and Christopher Reece came
in on the drums. This lineup weathered Social Distortion’s
worst years. 1984 "Another State Of Mind" was
one of the few punk videos to air on Mtv. 1984 Social
Distortion continued to play locally and on weekend get-aways
to Arizona and Northern California. Late 1985, Mike Ness,
after a series of hospitalizations and brief jailings,
had put on the brakes by going into a drug recovery program.
1988, Social Distortion release "Prison Bound,"
an album whose moving title cut about a wasted life is
one of the greatest songs ever to come out of Orange County,
Ness turned Social Distortion’s albums into an ongoing
dialogue about impulsiveness, it’s consequences and
the hard struggle for maturity. The ‘90’s…
In 1990, "Social Distortion," SD’s first
album on a major label (Epic), the first not financed
by the band itself was released. In 1992 Social Distortion
released "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell."
The second release on the major label Epic. Although Social
Distortion proudly proclaimed its Fullerton origins, other
upwardly mobile rockers played down their O.C. connections.
July 1995, Time Bomb Recordings re-issues "Mommy’s
Little Monster," "Prison Bound," and releases
the single compilation "Mainliner, Wreckage from
the Past." Social Distortion took an extended hiatus
following the release of "Somewhere Between Heaven
and Hell," and returned to the studios in the fall
of 1995 to record "White Light, White Heat, White
Trash." August1996 Chuck Biscuits becomes the new
drummer for Social Distortion. Summer of 1997, Social
Distortion play the Vans Warped Tour. Other bands on the
bill include Pennywise, Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Helmet.
February 1998, Time Bomb Recordings re-issues the punk
classic "Hell Comes To Your House." April 7,8,9
1998, Social Distortion record three nights at the Roxy
and release it as an album on Time Bomb Recordings. Early
1999, Mike Ness records and releases his first solo record
"Cheating At Solitaire." Late 1999, Mike Ness
records and releases the cover collection "Under
The Influences." The ‘00’s… February
29, 2000 Dennis Danell, the 38-year old guitarist, died
of natural causes. "I am saddened beyond any possible
form of expression. Dennis and I have been friends since
boyhood, starting Social Distortion while we where in
high school. My deepest regrets to his family." -
Mike Ness May 6, 2000 "When The Angels Sing"
a benefit for the family of Dennis Danell. Bands who were
on the bill include Social Distortion, The Offspring,
X, Pennywise, TSOL, Punk Rock Karoke, Agent Orange and
Rock Star BBQ. Fall of 2000, Jonny "2 Bags"
Wickersham becomes the new guitarist for Social Distortion.
Fall of 2000, Charlie Quintana becomes the new drummer
for Social Distortion. Fall of 2003 Social Distortion
head into the studio to record "Sex, Love and Rock'n'Roll,"
their first full length studio recordl since 1996 and
first record since founding member Dennis Danell passed
away. July 27, 2004 Social Distortion release "Live
in The Orange County" their first live DVD August
5, 2004 After 20 years of serving as Social Distortion’s
bass player John Maurer has decided to leave the band.
Maurer completed the recording of “Sex, Love and
Rock and Roll’, the new Social Distortion full length
studio recording but has decided to forgo the usual extended
promotion and touring in order to stay home and devote
time to his wife and two children. Matt Freeman of Rancid
has come aboard for the cycle of Sex, Love and Rock'n'
Roll. August 24, 2004 Another State of Mind will be released
on DVD for the time September 28, 2004 Sex, Love and Rock'n'Roll
will be released on CD and limited edition red vinyl.
Band description courtesy of
Luckymanonline.com
Back
|
