List of Social Distortion band members
| Social Distortion | |
|---|---|
 Social Distortion in Germany in 2005. Left to right: Jonny Wickersham, Brent Harding, Charlie Quintana, and Mike Ness. | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Social D |
| Origin | Fullerton, California, United States |
| Genres | Punk rock, hardcore punk, alternative rock[1] |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Members |
Mike Ness Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham Brent Harding David Hidalgo, Jr. |
| Past members |
Rikk Agnew Frank Agnew Casey Royer Tom Corvin Mark Garrett Dennis Danell John "Carrot" Stevenson Brent Liles Derek O'Brien John Maurer Bob Stubbs Christopher Reece Scott "Remy Rude" Guzman (Drummer) Randy Carr Eddie Livingston Deen Castronovo Chuck Biscuits Charlie Quintana Matt Freeman Adam "Atom" Willard Scott Reeder |
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band which currently consists of vocalist and guitarist Mike Ness, guitarist Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham, bassist Brent Harding and drummer David Hidalgo Jr.. The band was formed in Fullerton, California in 1978, and originally comprised Ness, Rikk Agnew and his brother Frank on guitar, Casey Royer on drums, Tom Corvin on vocals and Mark Garrett on bass. The first lineup change took place in 1979, when Garrett was replaced by Dennis Danell, who had known Ness for years.
The third Social Distortion lineup change took place in 1981, when the Agnew brothers and Royer left the band to form The Adolescents. They were replaced by Brent Liles and Derek O'Brein on bass and drums respectively. By 1983, the band (then consisting of Ness, Danell, Liles and O'Brien) had managed to release their first album, Mommy's Little Monster, which is often considered a landmark hardcore album. After the release of that album, Liles and O'Brien left the band in 1984, and were replaced soon thereafter by John Maurer, who knew Ness from school in Fullerton, CA, and Christopher Reece on drums. However, the new lineup almost did not last as Ness's drug habit continued throughout 1984 and 1985 as the band continued to gain success with Another State of Mind appearing as one of the punk rarities on MTV, and touring in California and Arizona. As a result of Ness's escalating drug habit and troubles with the law, Social Distortion briefly went on hiatus in 1985. During this time, Ness was in and out of rehabilitation centers as well as serving short stints in various jails.
After Ness finished his drug rehabilitation program, Social Distortion ended their hiatus in 1986 with the same lineup consisting of Ness, Danell, Maurer and Reece. This lineup, now considered the "classic" one by fans, made three albums together: Prison Bound (1988), Social Distortion (1990) and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992). For 10 years, the band's lineup remained unchanged until Reece decided to leave the band in 1994. He was briefly replaced by Randy Carr, who briefly toured with Social Distortion and played drums on live performances before departing in 1995.
Social Distortion went on to record an album (White Light, White Heat, White Trash) without an official drummer—uncomfortable to start recording with a new drummer too early, session musician Dean Castronovo recorded all drum tracks on the album. After the recording, Social Distortion held auditions for Reece's permanent replacement. After months of auditions, Chuck Biscuits, formerly of D.O.A. and Glenn Danzig's band, was chosen as the new drummer. The lineup of Ness, Danell, Maurer and Biscuits also recorded a live album together in 1998 before going on a temporary hiatus. Following this, Ness went on to pursue a successful solo career, releasing two solo albums in 1999, one with original material (Cheating at Solitaire) and one with song covers (Under the Influences).
On February 29, 2000, longtime guitarist Dennis Danell died from an apparent brain aneurysm at his Costa Mesa, California home at the age of 38, which left Social Distortion's future in question. The three remaining members decided that Danell would want them to carry on, and the band sought a replacement. Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham, formerly of Youth Brigade, was chosen to replace Danell. At the same time, Biscuits had left Social Distortion and was replaced by Charlie Quintana, who had toured the Mike Ness solo band and recorded with him on his second solo offering Under the Influences. Between 2001 and 2004, Social Distortion had been touring almost constantly, playing sold-out shows in the Los Angeles, California area around the New Year, before they managed to release their sixth album, Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004), which had been in the process of writing since Danell's death. A month before the release of Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, Maurer decided to leave the band after 20 years of recording and performing and was briefly replaced by Matt Freeman (Rancid), and then the band hired Brent Harding (who also joined Ness' solo band) as Maurer's permanent replacement.
In April 2009, it was announced that drummer Charlie Quintana would leave the band and be replaced by Adam "Atom" Willard of Angels & Airwaves, and formerly of Rocket from the Crypt and The Offspring. However, eleven months later, Willard decided to leave the band to continue playing in Angels & Airwaves and was temporarily replaced by Scott Reeder of Fu Manchu. David Hidalgo, Jr., formerly of Suicidal Tendencies, is now the new drummer.[2] By this time, Social Distortion had been busy working on their seventh album (Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes) which was released in January 2011, but it is not yet known if Willard or a different drummer has been involved in the recording.
Current members
- Mike Ness
- Active: 1978–present
- Instruments: lead vocals, lead guitar
- Release contributions: all Social Distortion releases
- Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham
- Active: 2000–present
- Instruments: rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Release contributions: Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004), "Far Behind" and re-recordings from Greatest Hits (2007), Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011)
- Brent Harding
- Active: 2004–present
- Instruments: bass, backing vocals
- Release contributions: "Far Behind" and re-recordings from Greatest Hits (2007), Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011)
- David Hidalgo, Jr.
- Active: 2010–present
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: None so far
Former members
- Rikk Agnew
- Active: 1978–1979
- Instruments: guitar
- Release contributions: never played on any Social Distortion release
- Frank Agnew
- Active: 1978–1979
- Instruments: guitar
- Release contributions: never played on any Social Distortion release
- Casey Royer
- Active: 1978–1979
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: never played on any Social Distortion release
- Dennis Danell
- Active: 1979–2000
- Instruments: bass (1979-1981), guitar (1981-2000)
- Release contributions: all Social Distortion releases from Mommy's Little Monster (1983) to Live at the Roxy (1998)
- John "Carrot" Stevenson
- Active: 1979–1981
- Instruments: Drums
- Release contributions: recordings on Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (1995)
- Brent Liles
- Active: 1981–1984
- Instruments: bass
- Release contributions: Mommy's Little Monster (1983), recordings on Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (1995)
- Derek O'Brien
- Active: 1981–1984
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: Mommy's Little Monster (1983), recordings on Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (1995)
- John Maurer
- Active: 1984–2004
- Instruments: bass
- Release contributions: all Social Distortion releases from Prison Bound (1988) to Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004)
- Christopher Reece
- Active: 1984–1994
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: all Social Distortion releases from Prison Bound (1988) to Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992)
- Randy Carr
- Active: 1994–1995
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: never played on any Social Distortion release
- Deen Castronovo
- Active: 1995–1996
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: sessions for White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996)
- Chuck Biscuits
- Active: 1996–2000
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: Live at the Roxy (1998)
- Charlie Quintana
- Active: 2000–2009
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004), "Far Behind" and re-recordings from Greatest Hits (2007)
- Matt Freeman
- Active: 2004–2005
- Instruments: bass
- Release contributions: never played on any Social Distortion release
- Adam "Atom" Willard
- Active: 2009–2010
- Instruments: drums, percussion
- Release contributions: never played on any Social Distortion release
Timeline
Related bands
- After leaving Social Distortion, Rikk Agnew, Frank Agnew, and Casey Royer formed The Adolescents. When The Adolescents went on hiatus, Royer formed D.I. which Agnew later joined
- Brent Liles joined Agent Orange after leaving Social Distortion.
- Prior to joining Social Distortion, Chuck Biscuits had been a member of Black Flag, D.O.A., Danzig, and numerous other bands.
- Prior to joining Social Distortion, Christopher Reece had been a member of The Lewd.
- Matt Freeman, who filled in with Social Distortion in 2004, was concurrently (and still is) a member of Rancid.
- Prior to joining Social Distortion, Atom Willard had been a member of several bands, most notably Rocket from the Crypt and The Offspring. He is currently a member of Against Me!.
- Scott Reeder, who filled in with Social Distortion in 2010, was concurrently (and still is) a member of Fu Manchu.
- David Hidalgo, Jr., who is Social Distortion's latest drummer as of July 2010, had been a member of The Drips and Suicidal Tendencies.
- After Leaving Social Distortion, Bob Stubbs went on to play with many other California,Ohio,Arizona and Detroit,MI. bands. Currently since November 2011 to date, Bob Stubbs is the drummer for Arizona Rockablly Band RHYTHM DRAGONS and has recorded 3 albums and one single with the band.