Social Distortion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Social Distortion
Left to right: Harding, Hidalgo, Ness, and Wickersham in 2011
Background information
Also known as	Social D
Origin	Fullerton, California, United States
Genres	Punk rock, cowpunk
Years active	1978–1985, 1986–present
Labels	13th Floor, Posh Boy, Restless, Epic, Time Bomb, Epitaph
Associated acts	The Adolescents, Agent Orange, D.I., D.O.A., Danzig, Rancid, Angels & Airwaves, The Offspring, China White, Shattered Faith
Members	Mike Ness Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham Brent Harding David Hidalgo, Jr.
Past members	Dennis Danell Rikk Agnew Eddie Livingston Frank Agnew Tom Corvin Tim Maag John "Carrot" Stevenson Tim Maag Brent Liles John Maurer Matt Freeman Casey Royer Bob Stubbs Chris Reece Randy Carr Chuck Biscuits Derek O'Brien Charlie Quintana Adam "Atom" Willard Scott Reeder

Social Distortion is a punk and alternative music group. It was started in Los Angeles, California in 1978. The band was formed by singer and guitarist Mike Ness. He is the leader and the only member who has been with the band since the beginning.

Social Distortion has released seven studio albums. Their first two albums were not very well known. In 1989, they signed with Epic Records. Their third album then became very popular. It included hit songs like "Let It Be Me", "Ball and Chain", "Ring of Fire", "Sick Boys", and "Story of My Life". All these songs appeared on music charts in the United States. This album was also the first time the band appeared on the top 200 of the Billboard music chart.

Their next album, Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, came out in 1992 and was also a big success. It featured "Bad Luck," which became the band's biggest hit. This song reached number 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Four years later, they released White Light, White Heat, White Trash. This was their fifth and last album with a major record label. It reached number 27 on the Billboard 200 chart, which was their highest spot yet. It also had their only song, "I Was Wrong," to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

After White Light, White Heat, White Trash was released, Social Distortion took a long break. During this time, Mike Ness worked on his own music projects. On February 29, 2000, their longtime guitarist Dennis Danell passed away at age 38. After this sad event, the band thought about stopping. However, they decided to keep going with a new guitarist, Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham. He became a permanent member of the band. From 2001 to 2004, the band toured often. They played many sold-out shows in Los Angeles and other cities. They released their sixth album in the fall of 2004. This album also reached the top 40 on the Billboard 200, at number 31. Its first song, "Reach for the Sky," became one of Social Distortion's most popular hits that fall.

As of 2009, Social Distortion was still making music. They released a new album called Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes in January 2011. It reached number 4 on the U.S. Billboard charts.

Band Members

Current Members

• Mike Ness – vocals, guitars (since 1978)
• Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham – guitars (since 2000)
• Brent Harding – bass (since 2004)
• Scott Reeder – drums (since 2010)

Past Members

• Tom Corvin – vocals (1978)
• Rikk Agnew – guitars (1978-1980)
• Frank Agnew – guitars (1978-1980)
• Timothy Maag – guitars (1978-1980)
• Dennis Danell – bass (1979-1981) & guitars (1981-2000)
• Brent Liles – bass (1981-1984)
• John Maurer – bass (1984-2004)
• Matt Freeman – bass (2004)
• Casey Royer – drums (1978-1980)
• Derek O'Brein – drums (1981-1984)
• Bob Stubbs - drums (1984-1984)
• Chris Reece – drums (1984-1994)
• Randy Carr – drums (1994-1995)
• Chuck Biscuits – drums (1996-2000)
• Charlie Quintana – drums (2000-2009)
• Adam "Atom" Willard - drums (2009-2010)

Albums

Their full-length albums include:

• Mommy's Little Monster (1983)
• Prison Bound (1988)
• Social Distortion (1990)
• Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992)
• White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996)
• Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004)
• Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011)

They have also released two collection albums:

• Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (1995)
• Greatest Hits (2007)

Images for kids

• 

  The band's 2004–2009 lineup, left to right: Wickersham, Harding, Quintana, and Ness

• 

  Social Distortion performing songs from Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes with backing vocalists Dessy Di Lauro (second from left) and Ijeoma Njaka (third from left)

• 

  The band's skeleton logo on a banner during a live show

See also

In Spanish: Social Distortion para niños