"Social Distortion was formed in 1979 out of the garages of the Southern California suburb Orange County. 17-year old Mike Ness and drummer Casey Royer along with brothers Rikk and Frank Agnew started Social Distortion in the small apartment Ness lived in in Fullerton. Later, a friend and classmate Dennis Danell was recruited to join the group despite the fact he didn't yet play an instrument, and the Agnew brothers left to start a group of their own, The Adolescents.With the help of local radio station KROQ-FM and its deejay Rodney Bingenheimer, the Orange County boys heard some of their first few singles played across the Los Angeles radio, including their debut single ""Mainliner/Playpen,"" released with the Posh Boy label. In 1982, Social Distortion were subjects of a documentary, ""Another State of Mind,"" with LA's Youth Brigade and DC's Minor Threat, as Ness's outlandish behavior had gained him a reputation. The film captured the boys' nationwide tour where they traveled via school bus.A year later, the boys finally released their debut album, Mommy's Little Monster, with the 13th Floor label. With a new lineup consisting of Brent Liles on bass and Derek O'Brien on drums, the group gained a sizable punk following. After a few more members left due mostly to Ness's heroin addiction, John Maurer and Christopher Reece were added. After a series of jailings and detoxes, Social Distortion released Prison Bound in 1988. The lyrics were written by Ness as he experienced some of the toughest years of his life. 1990 saw Social Distortion's self-titled album, the group's first major-label record and gold album. The group began touring with Neil Young and released 1992's Somewhere between Heaven and Hail, another gold album. Social Distortion didn't return to the studio until 1995, when they began working on White Light White Heat White Trash, released a year later. They continue to record and see more lineup changes."
