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).
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.[1][2] 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 ond drums.[3] Partway through 1981, Danell switched to rhythm guitar as Brent Liles took over on bass, joining alongside new drummer Derek O'Brien.[4] The group released its debut album Mommy's Little Monster in 1983.[5] During a show on New Year's Eve, both Liles and O'Brien left abruptly in response to Ness' heroin use.[6] Early the next year, the departed members were replaced by John Maurer (bass) and Christopher Reece (drums).[4] Bob Stubbs briefly served as drummer before Reece.[7]
The band's lineup remained stable for ten years, producing three studio albums, before Reece left in October 1994 on amicable terms.[8] 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.[9] Session drummer Deen Castronovo performed on the album, after which Chuck Biscuits joined the band as Carr's replacement.[9] 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.[10] On February 29, 2000, Danell died of a brain aneurysm.[11] In June, Social Distortion returned with a new lineup including rhythm guitarist Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham and drummer Charlie Quintana.[12]
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to spend more time with his family.[13] He was initially replaced by Rancid's Matt Freeman, although by January he had been replaced by Brent Harding, who had previously performed with Ness on his second solo album.[14] In April 2009, Quintana announced his departure from Social Distortion, with Adam "Atom" Willard of Angels & Airwaves taking his place.[15] Willard left again in March 2010, with Fu Manchu drummer Scott Reeder filling in for a South American tour.[16] The group enlisted the services of Josh Freese for the 2011 album Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes,[17] before David Hidalgo Jr. joined as the full-time replacement for Willard a few months later.[18]
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Ness | 1978–present |
|
all Social Distortion releases | |
| Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham | 2000–present |
|
all Social Distortion releases from Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004) onwards | |
| Brent Harding | 2005–present |
|
all Social Distortion releases from "Far Behind" (2007) onwards | |
| David Hidalgo Jr. | 2010–present |
|
|
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casey Royer | 1978–1979 |
|
none | |
| Tom Corvin | vocals | |||
| Mark Garrett | 1978 (died; year of death unknown) |
| ||
| Rikk Agnew | 1978–1979 | |||
| Dennis Danell | 1979–2000 (until his death) |
|
all Social Distortion releases from "Mainliner/Playpen" (1981) to Live at the Roxy (1998) | |
| John "Carrot" Stevenson | 1979–1981 | drums |
| |
| Brent Liles | 1981–1983 (died 2007) |
bass |
| |
| Derek O'Brien | 1981–1983 |
| ||
| John Maurer | 1984–2004 |
|
all Social Distortion releases from Prison Bound (1988) to Live in Orange County (2004) | |
| Bob Stubbs | 1984 | drums | none | |
| Christopher Reece | 1984–1994 |
| ||
| Randy Carr | 1994–1995 (died 2002) |
none | ||
| Chuck Biscuits (real name Charles Montgomery) |
1996–2000 | Live at the Roxy (1998) | ||
| Charlie "Chalo" Quintana | 2000–2009 (died 2018) |
all Social Distortion releases from Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004) to "Far Behind" (2007) | ||
| Matt Freeman | 2004–2005 |
|
none | |
| Adam "Atom" Willard | 2009–2010 | drums |
| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Kalish | 2011–present |
|
Kalish has toured with Social Distortion since 2011, performing keyboards and Hammond organ.[19] | |
| Ron Emory | 2006 | lead guitar | Emory took over on lead guitar from Ness when the frontman broke his wrist in early 2006.[20] | |
| Scott Reeder | 2010 | drums | Reeder filled in for a South American tour after the departure of Atom Willard in March 2010.[16] |
| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 |
|
none |
| Late 1978 – late 1979 |
| |
| Late 1979 – summer 1981 |
|
|
| Summer 1981 – December 1983 |
|
|
| Early – mid-1984 |
|
none |
| Mid-1984 – October 1994 |
|
|
| Late 1994 – spring 1995 |
|
none |
| August 1995 – June 1996 |
|
|
| July 1996 – February 2000 |
|
|
| June 2000 – August 2004 |
|
|
| August 2004 – January 2005 |
|
none |
| January 2005 – April 2009 |
|
|
| April 2009 – March 2010 |
|
none |
| March – July 2010 |
|
|
| July 2010 – present |
|
|
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