Social Distortion
SOCIAL DISTORTION – BIO
"Ness is one of the most underrated pure songwriters in rock." – Los Angeles
Times
Here's how you know you've made it in the music business: You've stayed strong for three
decades on your own terms, on your own time, by your own rules, and over that time your
influence has only grown. Each of your albums has been stronger than your last. You've been
brought onstage by Bruce Springsteen, because he wanted to play one of your songs. You've
seen high times and low ones, good days and tragic days, but every night you give 100%, and
every morning you wake up still swinging.
This is the short version of the Social Distortion bio — the long version could be a 10-part miniseries.
For many years, the band have all but trademarked their sound, a brand of hard
rockabilly/punk that's cut with the melodic, road-tested lyrics of frontman Mike Ness. Their
searing guitars and a locomotive rhythm section sound as alive today as they did in '82, as do
Ness' hard-luck tales of love, loss and lessons learned. "The most common thing I hear is, 'Man,
your music got me through some hard times,'" Ness says. "And I just say, 'Me too.'"
Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes (produced, for the first time, by Ness himself) is the band's
most recent release. Social Distortion experienced a significant amount of firsts in 2011. For
starters, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and was the
highest debut that the band has yet seen. Hard Times was also the #1 Independent Album and
the #2 Modern Rock/Alternative Album week of release. The band also made their late night
television debut when they performed "Machine Gun Blues" on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and later
played for Conan on Hard Times’ release date. Taking their successes to the road, Social
Distortion played European festivals including Reading and Leeds for the first time. They also
booked their first tours of Australia and South America. And finally, Social Distortion played
Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Festival, and Coachella – all of these for the first time.
A release of new music is forthcoming in 2024.
Social Distortion’s patented mix of punk, bluesy rock n’ roll and outlaw country — while also
stretching the boundaries of their signature sound is a blend of potent power that appeals to all
ages. They are honored to have been able to reach as many people as they have so far. "I write
songs for myself, and I hope that other people will like them too," Ness says. "I think every
record you make is showing people what you've learned over the past few years. It's showing
people, 'This is what I know.' "
Now in their fifth decade, Ness and Social Distortion have officially achieved one of the most
non- punk things possible: They've failed to burn out.
"Ness is one of the most underrated pure songwriters in rock." – Los Angeles
Times
Here's how you know you've made it in the music business: You've stayed strong for three
decades on your own terms, on your own time, by your own rules, and over that time your
influence has only grown. Each of your albums has been stronger than your last. You've been
brought onstage by Bruce Springsteen, because he wanted to play one of your songs. You've
seen high times and low ones, good days and tragic days, but every night you give 100%, and
every morning you wake up still swinging.
This is the short version of the Social Distortion bio — the long version could be a 10-part miniseries.
For many years, the band have all but trademarked their sound, a brand of hard
rockabilly/punk that's cut with the melodic, road-tested lyrics of frontman Mike Ness. Their
searing guitars and a locomotive rhythm section sound as alive today as they did in '82, as do
Ness' hard-luck tales of love, loss and lessons learned. "The most common thing I hear is, 'Man,
your music got me through some hard times,'" Ness says. "And I just say, 'Me too.'"
Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes (produced, for the first time, by Ness himself) is the band's
most recent release. Social Distortion experienced a significant amount of firsts in 2011. For
starters, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and was the
highest debut that the band has yet seen. Hard Times was also the #1 Independent Album and
the #2 Modern Rock/Alternative Album week of release. The band also made their late night
television debut when they performed "Machine Gun Blues" on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and later
played for Conan on Hard Times’ release date. Taking their successes to the road, Social
Distortion played European festivals including Reading and Leeds for the first time. They also
booked their first tours of Australia and South America. And finally, Social Distortion played
Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Festival, and Coachella – all of these for the first time.
A release of new music is forthcoming in 2024.
Social Distortion’s patented mix of punk, bluesy rock n’ roll and outlaw country — while also
stretching the boundaries of their signature sound is a blend of potent power that appeals to all
ages. They are honored to have been able to reach as many people as they have so far. "I write
songs for myself, and I hope that other people will like them too," Ness says. "I think every
record you make is showing people what you've learned over the past few years. It's showing
people, 'This is what I know.' "
Now in their fifth decade, Ness and Social Distortion have officially achieved one of the most
non- punk things possible: They've failed to burn out.