List of Social Distortion band members

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Social-Distortion Cologne.jpg
Social Distortion 2011-12-11 04.jpg
Two lineups of Social Distortion performing live in 2005 (top) and 2011 (bottom).

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).

Contents

History

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]

Members

Current

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions
Mike Ness RdelS 2.jpg
Mike Ness 1978–present
  • lead vocals
  • lead guitar
all Social Distortion releases
13-04-27 Groezrock Johnny Two Bags 05.jpg
Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham 2000–present
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
all Social Distortion releases from Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004) onwards
Brentnyc05.jpg
Brent Harding 2005–present
  • bass
  • backing vocals
all Social Distortion releases from "Far Behind" (2007) onwards
David Hidalgo, Jr. 013.JPG
David Hidalgo Jr. 2010–present
  • drums
  • percussion

Former

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributions
Caseyroyer.jpg
Casey Royer 1978–1979
  • drums
  • backing vocals
none
Tom Corvinvocals
Mark Garrett1978 (died; year of death unknown)
  • bass
  • backing vocals
Rikk Agnew in 2015.jpg
Rikk Agnew 1978–1979
Dennis Danell 1979–2000
(until his death)
  • rhythm guitar (1981–2000)
  • bass (1979–1981)
all Social Distortion releases from "Mainliner/Playpen" (1981) to Live at the Roxy (1998)
John "Carrot" Stevenson1979–1981drums
Brent Liles 1981–1983
(died 2007)
bass
Derek O'Brien 1981–1983
  • drums
  • backing vocals
John Maurer 1984–2004
  • bass
  • backing vocals
all Social Distortion releases from Prison Bound (1988) to Live in Orange County (2004)
Bob Stubbs1984drumsnone
Christopher Reece 1984–1994
Randy-B&W.jpg
Randy Carr 1994–1995
(died 2002)
none
Chuck Biscuits
(real name Charles Montgomery)
1996–2000Live 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)
20170617-251-Nova Rock 2017-Rancid-Matt Freeman.jpg
Matt Freeman 2004–2005
  • bass
  • backing vocals
none
Atom Willard @ Madrid.jpg
Adam "Atom" Willard 2009–2010drums

Touring musicians

ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsDetails
TSOL 2011-12-17 04.jpg
Ron Emory 2006lead guitarEmory took over on lead guitar from Ness when the frontman broke his wrist in early 2006. [19]
Scott Reeder (4520334571).jpg
Scott Reeder 2010drumsReeder filled in for a South American tour after the departure of Atom Willard in March 2010. [16]
David Kalish2011–present
  • keyboards
  • Hammond organ
Kalish has toured with Social Distortion since 2011, performing keyboards and Hammond organ. [20]

Timeline

List of Social Distortion band members

Lineups

PeriodMembersReleases
1978
  • Mike Ness – guitars, backing vocals
  • Casey Royer – drums, backing vocals
  • Tom Corvin – lead vocals
  • Mark Garrett – bass, backing vocals
none
Late 1978 – late 1979
  • Mike Ness – guitars, backing vocals
  • Casey Royer – drums, backing vocals
  • Tom Corvin - lead vocals
  • Rikk Agnew – bass, backing vocals
Late 1979 – summer 1981
  • Mike Ness – guitars, vocals
  • Dennis Danell – bass
  • John Carrot – drums
  • "Mainliner/Playpen" (1981)
  • "1945" (1982)
Summer 1981 – December 1983
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar
  • Brent Liles – bass
  • Derek O'Brien – drums, backing vocals
Early – mid-1984
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar
  • John Maurer – bass, backing vocals
  • Bob Stubbs – drums
none
Mid-1984 – October 1994
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar
  • John Maurer – bass, backing vocals
  • Christopher Reece – drums
Late 1994 – spring 1995
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar
  • John Maurer – bass, backing vocals
  • Randy Carr – drums
none
August 1995 – June 1996
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar
  • John Maurer – bass, backing vocals
July 1996 – February 2000
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar
  • John Maurer – bass, backing vocals
  • Chuck Biscuits – drums
June 2000 – August 2004
August 2004 – January 2005
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Charlie Quintana – drums
  • Matt Freeman – bass, backing vocals
none
January 2005 – April 2009
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Charlie Quintana – drums
  • Brent Harding – bass, backing vocals
April 2009 – March 2010
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Brent Harding – bass, backing vocals
  • Atom Willard – drums
none
March – July 2010
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Brent Harding – bass, backing vocals
  • Scott Reeder – drums (touring)
  • Josh Freese – drums, percussion (session)
July 2010 – present
  • Mike Ness – lead guitar, lead vocals
  • Jonny Wickersham – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Brent Harding – bass, backing vocals
  • David Hidalgo Jr. – drums, percussion

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Ness</span> American musician (born 1962)

Michael James Ness is an American musician who is the lead guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter for the punk rock band Social Distortion, which was formed in 1979. He has also released two solo albums, Cheating at Solitaire and Under the Influences.

Dennis Eric Danell (June 24, 1961 – February 29, 2000) was an American musician, guitarist and co-founding member of the Southern California punk rock band Social Distortion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adolescents (band)</span> American punk rock band

The Adolescents are an American punk rock band formed in Fullerton, California in 1979. Part of the hardcore punk movement in southern California in the early 1980s, they were one of the main punk acts to emerge from Orange County, along with their peers in Agent Orange and Social Distortion. Founding bassist Steve Soto was the sole constant member of the band since its inception until his 2018 death, with singer Tony Reflex being in the group for all but one album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social Distortion</span> American punk rock band

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<i>Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell</i> 1992 studio album by Social Distortion

Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell is the fourth studio album by the American punk rock band Social Distortion, released on February 11, 1992. Following up on the surprise success of their breakthrough singles "Ball and Chain" and "Story of My Life", Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell became a popular album and received positive reviews from music critics. It also spawned their highest-charting single "Bad Luck", which peaked at number 2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

<i>Prison Bound</i> 1988 studio album by Social Distortion

Prison Bound is the second studio album by Social Distortion, released in 1988. It was the first album with bass guitarist John Maurer and drummer Christopher Reece. It expands the punk rock sound of the band's first album, Mommy's Little Monster (1983), by adding influences from country music and blues rock.

<i>Mommys Little Monster</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Social Distortion

Mommy's Little Monster is the debut studio album by American punk rock band Social Distortion, released in 1983 through the label 13th Floor Records. The album is notably different from the band's subsequent releases, featuring styles of traditional punk rock, both traditional hardcore and melodic hardcore, and pop-punk. This is Social Distortion's only studio album to feature bassist Brent Liles and drummer Derek O'Brien, both of whom were out of the band by early 1984 and would be replaced by John Maurer and Chris Reece respectively. The album received underground acclaim from punk rock fanzines, and it has been acknowledged as influential and inspirational to the then-burgeoning pop-punk and skate punk scenes.

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<i>Brats in Battalions</i> 1987 studio album by the Adolescents

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Gonzalo Quintana III, 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 Social Distortion from 2000 to 2009.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Story of My Life (Social Distortion song)</span> 1990 single by Social Distortion

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Royer</span> American singer and drummer

Casey A. Royer, is an American musician and an early pioneer of the hardcore punk rock genre in Orange County. He named and formed the band Social Distortion as a teenager. In a career spanning more than 40 years, Royer is best known as the lead vocalist for Southern Californian punk rock band D.I. and as a drummer for the Adolescents.

Francis Thomas "Frank" Agnew is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being a member of punk rock band the Adolescents. Frank's brothers Rikk Agnew and Alfie Agnew, as well as his son Frank Agnew Jr., are also former Adolescents guitarists.

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<i>Live at the House of Blues</i> (Adolescents album) 2004 live album and concert film by the Adolescents

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"Amoeba" is a song by American punk rock band the Adolescents. It is the eighth track on their self-titled debut album Adolescents, released in April 1981 on Frontier Records. It is the band's signature song.

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