Social Distortion Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness (lead vocals, lead guitar), Jonny Wickersham (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Brent Harding (bass, backing voca ...

is an American punk rock band from Fullerton, California. Formed in late 1978, the group originally included Tom Corvin on vocals, Mike Ness on guitar, Mark Garrett on bass, and

Casey Royer Casey A. Royer, (born October 8, 1958), is an American musician. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Royer is best known as the lead vocalist for Southern Californian punk rock band D.I. and as a drummer for the Adolescents. Early years ...

on drums. The band has since been through a number of lineup changes, and currently includes Ness on guitar and vocals, rhythm guitarist Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham (since 2000), bassist

Brent Harding Brent Harding (born March 3, 1967) is an American musician who is the current bass player for the California punk group Social Distortion, which he joined in early 2005. Biography Harding joined Social Distortion in January 2005, replacing tem ...

(since 2005) and drummer David Hidalgo Jr. (since 2010).

History

Social Distortion was formed in 1978 by guitarist Mike Ness, bassist Mark Garrett, drummer

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 Adolescence () is a transitional stage of Developmental biology, physical and psychological Human development (biology), development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majo ...

, 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 ond drums. Partway through 1981, Danell switched to rhythm guitar as

Brent Liles Brent Harold Liles (September 7, 1963 – January 18, 2007) was an American musician who was the bassist for Social Distortion from 1981–1984 and later was the bassist for Agent Orange from 1988 – 1992. Early life Liles was born on Septembe ...

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 John Maurer may refer to: * John Maurer (Social Distortion) (born 1961), American punk musician * John Maurer (jazz musician), American instrumentalist and instructor * John J. Maurer (1922–2019), American politician See also

* John Mauer ...

(bass) and

Christopher Reece Christopher Reece (sometimes known as Chris Reece) (born July 28, 1959) is an American musician. He was the drummer of The Lewd (1981–1983) and Social Distortion (1984–1993). Reece was 22 years old in 1981 when he started playing drums for T ...

(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 Michael Beinhorn is a North American record producer, composer, author and musician. He has produced albums for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Hole, Violent Femmes and Marilyn Manson. Career 1977-1983: Early Years, Material, Herbie Hanco ...

. Session drummer

Deen Castronovo Deen J. Castronovo (born August 17, 1964) is an American drummer and singer, best known for being a member of classic rock band Journey and hard rock acts Bad English and Hardline. He currently plays drums and shares lead vocals for the bands Jo ...

performed on the album, after which

Chuck Biscuits Chuck Biscuits (born Charles Montgomery on April 17, 1965) is a Canadian drummer best known for his work in several punk rock bands. Biscuits was a member of D.O.A. from 1978 to 1982, playing on the band's first two albums before briefly join ...

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 Gonzalo Quintana III (January 29, 1962 – March 12, 2018), also known as Charlie Quintana or Chalo, was an American rock and punk drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the band The Plugz and as the drummer for the punk rock band Soci ...

. 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 Matthew "McCall" Freeman (born Roger Matthew Freeman; April 23, 1966) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his bass work with the punk rock bands Operation Ivy, Rancid and as the frontman of Devil's Brigade. ...

, although by January he had been replaced by

, 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 Angels & Airwaves (also written as Angels and Airwaves; stylized and abbreviated as ΛVΛ) is an American rock band, comprising Tom DeLonge (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards), David Kennedy (guitars, keyboards), Ilan Rubin (drums, keyboards, ...

taking his place. Willard left again in March 2010, with

Fu Manchu Dr. Fu Manchu () is a supervillain who was introduced in a series of novels by the English author Sax Rohmer beginning shortly before World War I and continuing for another forty years. The character featured in cinema, television, radio, com ...

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.

History

Members

Current

Former

Touring musicians

Touring substitutes

Timeline

Lineups

References

External links