Social Distortion is an American punk rock band from Fullerton, California. The band has been through a number of lineup changes, and currently includes founding member Mike Ness on guitar and vocals, rhythm guitarist Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham (since 2000), bassist Brent Harding (since 2005) and drummer David Hidalgo Jr. (since 2010).
History Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by guitarist Mike Ness, bassist Mark Garrett, drummer Casey Royer and vocalist Tom Corvin. Garrett was eventually replaced by Rikk Agnew later that year. After roughly a year in the band, Corvin left and Ness assumed vocal duties while Agnew and Royer also left to play in a separate band named Social Distortion, which also included Garrett, before joining the Adolescents, when Ness brought in Dennis Danell to take over on guitar. When Social Distortion released its first single, Mainliner/Playpen in 1981, the group consisted of Ness on vocals and guitar, Dannell on bass, and John "Carrot" Stevenson on drums. Partway through 1981, Danell switched to rhythm guitar as Brent Liles took over on bass, joining alongside new drummer Derek O'Brien. The group released its debut album Mommy's Little Monster in 1983. During a show on New Year's Eve, both Liles and O'Brien left abruptly in response to Ness' heroin use. Early the next year, the departed members were replaced by John Maurer (bass) and Christopher Reece (drums). Bob Stubbs briefly served as drummer before Reece.
The band's lineup remained stable for ten years, producing three studio albums, before Reece left in October 1994 on amicable terms. He was initially replaced by Randy Carr, who lasted only until the following spring when he was fired on the recommendation of the band's producer Michael Beinhorn. Session drummer Deen Castronovo performed on the album, after which Chuck Biscuits joined the band as Carr's replacement. The band released Live at the Roxy in 1998, before taking a hiatus the following year as Ness released two solo albums and embarked on a promotional tour. On February 29, 2000, Danell died of a brain aneurysm. In June, Social Distortion returned with a new lineup including rhythm guitarist Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham and drummer Charlie Quintana.
Shortly after recording the band's sixth studio album Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, Maurer left Social Distortion to spend more time with his family. He was initially replaced by Rancid's Matt Freeman, although by January he had been replaced by Brent Harding, who had previously performed with Ness on his second solo album. In April 2009, Quintana announced his departure from Social Distortion, with Adam "Atom" Willard of Angels & Airwaves taking his place. Willard left again in March 2010, with Fu Manchu drummer Scott Reeder filling in for a South American tour. The group enlisted the services of Josh Freese for the 2011 album Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, before David Hidalgo Jr. joined as the full-time replacement for Willard a few months later.
Members Current ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsMike Ness1978–presentall Social Distortion releasesJonny "2 Bags" Wickersham2000–presentall Social Distortion releases from Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004) onwardsBrent Harding2005–presentall Social Distortion releases from "Far Behind" (2007) onwardsDavid Hidalgo Jr.2010–present
Former ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsCasey Royer1978–1979noneTom CorvinvocalsMark Garrett1978 Rikk Agnew1978–1979Dennis Danell1979–2000all Social Distortion releases from "Mainliner/Playpen" (1981) to Live at the Roxy (1998)John "Carrot" Stevenson1979–1981drumsBrent Liles1981–1983bassDerek O'Brien1981–1983John Maurer1984–2004all Social Distortion releases from Prison Bound (1988) to Live in Orange County (2004)Bob Stubbs1984drumsnoneChristopher Reece1984–1994Randy Carr1994–1995noneChuck Biscuits1996–2000Live at the Roxy (1998)Charlie "Chalo" Quintana2000–2009all Social Distortion releases from Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004) to "Far Behind" (2007)Matt Freeman2004–2005noneAdam "Atom" Willard2009–2010drums
Touring musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetailsRon Emory2006lead guitarEmory took over on lead guitar from Ness when the frontman broke his wrist in early 2006.Scott Reeder2010drumsReeder filled in for a South American tour after the departure of Atom Willard in March 2010.David Kalish2011–presentKalish has toured with Social Distortion since 2011, performing keyboards and Hammond organ.
Timeline
Lineups PeriodMembersReleases1978Mike Ness – guitars, backing vocals Casey Royer – drums, backing vocals Tom Corvin – lead vocals Mark Garrett – bass, backing vocalsnoneLate 1978 – late 1979Mike Ness – guitars, backing vocals Casey Royer – drums, backing vocals Tom Corvin - lead vocals Rikk Agnew – bass, backing vocalsLate 1979 – summer 1981Mike Ness – guitars, vocals Dennis Danell – bass John Carrot – drums"Mainliner/Playpen" (1981) "1945" (1982)Summer 1981 – December 1983Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar Brent Liles – bass Derek O'Brien – drums, backing vocalsMommy's Little Monster (1983)Early – mid-1984Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar John Maurer – bass, backing vocals Bob Stubbs – drumsnoneMid-1984 – October 1994Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar John Maurer – bass, backing vocals Christopher Reece – drumsPrison Bound (1988) Social Distortion (1990) Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992)Late 1994 – spring 1995Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar John Maurer – bass, backing vocals Randy Carr – drumsnoneAugust 1995 – June 1996Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar John Maurer – bass, backing vocalsWhite Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996)July 1996 – February 2000Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar John Maurer – bass, backing vocals Chuck Biscuits – drumsLive at the Roxy (1998)June 2000 – August 2004Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals John Maurer – bass, backing vocals Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Charlie Quintana – drumsSex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004) Live in Orange County (2004)August 2004 – January 2005Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Charlie Quintana – drums Matt Freeman – bass, backing vocalsnoneJanuary 2005 – April 2009Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Charlie Quintana – drums Brent Harding – bass, backing vocals"Far Behind" (2007)April 2009 – March 2010Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Brent Harding – bass, backing vocals Atom Willard – drumsnoneMarch – July 2010Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Brent Harding – bass, backing vocals Scott Reeder – drums Josh Freese – drums, percussion Danny McGough - hammond (organ), pianoHard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011)July 2010 – presentMike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals Brent Harding – bass, backing vocals David Hidalgo Jr. – drums, percussion"Up Around the Bend" (2013) Machine Gun Melodies (2017) Born to Kill (album) (2026)
References
External links Social Distortion official website