List of Social Distortion band members

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).

Two lineups of Social Distortion performing live in 2005 (top) and 2011 (bottom).

History

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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

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Current

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Mike Ness 1978–present
  • lead vocals
  • lead guitar
all Social Distortion releases
Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham 2000–present
  • rhythm guitar
  • backing vocals
all Social Distortion releases from Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004) onwards
Brent Harding 2005–present
  • bass
  • backing vocals
all Social Distortion releases from "Far Behind" (2007) onwards
David Hidalgo Jr. 2010–present
  • drums
  • percussion

Former

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Image Name Years active Instruments Release contributions
Casey Royer 1978–1979
  • drums
  • backing vocals
none
Tom Corvin vocals
Mark Garrett 1978 (died; year of death unknown)
  • bass
  • backing vocals
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" Stevenson 1979–1981 drums
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 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
  • bass
  • backing vocals
none
Adam "Atom" Willard 2009–2010 drums

Touring musicians

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Image Name Years active Instruments Details
Ron Emory 2006 lead guitar Emory took over on lead guitar from Ness when the frontman broke his wrist in early 2006.[19]
Scott Reeder 2010 drums Reeder filled in for a South American tour after the departure of Atom Willard in March 2010.[16]
David Kalish 2011–present
  • keyboards
  • Hammond organ
Kalish has toured with Social Distortion since 2011, performing keyboards and Hammond organ.[20]

Timeline

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Lineups

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Period Members Releases
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

References

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  1. ^ "Rikk Agnew & Eric Blair part 2 His youth , Social Distortion and O.C. punk". The Blairing Out with Eric Blair Show. March 23, 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  2. ^ Wener, Ben (March 14, 2011). "O.C. punk star Casey Royer arrested after OD'ing". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  3. ^ "An Interview With Monk Rock". Strange Reaction. March 24, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  4. ^ a b The Rough Guide to Rock. London, England: APA Publications. November 17, 2003. p. 977. ISBN 978-1843531050. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  5. ^ Tinelli, Paul. "Mommy's Little Monster - Social Distortion: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  6. ^ Boehm, Mike (April 8, 1990). "Looking Back on the Darkest days". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  7. ^ "Former Social Distortion Drummer Bob Stubbs Joins New Musical Group In Phoenix, Arizona". Newswire. February 22, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  8. ^ Boehm, Mike (October 28, 1994). "Drummer Leaves Social Distortion After 10 Years". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Boehm, Mike (October 2, 1996). "Digging to Climb : Mike Ness of O.C.'s Social Distortion Delves Deep and Comes Up With 'White Light'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  10. ^ Huey, Steve. "Social Distortion: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  11. ^ Lewis, Randy (March 1, 2000). "Social Distortion's Danell Dies at 38". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  12. ^ "Social Distortion News". Social Distortion. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  13. ^ "Bassist John Maurer Exits Social Distortion, Rancid Bass Player Matt Freeman Comes Aboard". Social Distortion. August 5, 2004. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  14. ^ White, Adam (January 29, 2005). "Brent Harding joins Social Distortion". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  15. ^ "Atom Willard joins Social Distortion, replacing departing Charlie "Chalo" Quintana". Punknews.org. April 23, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  16. ^ a b "Fu Manchu Drummer Joins Social Distortion". Blabbermouth.net. March 12, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  17. ^ "Social Distortion – Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes". Killyourstereo.com. January 28, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  18. ^ Hidalgo Jr., David (January 2018). "On The Beat with David Hidalgo Jr. of Social Distortion: Balancing Bands and Styles". Modern Drummer. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  19. ^ "Mike Ness Breaks His Wrist But Show Goes On!". Social Distortion. February 13, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  20. ^ Horn, Mark C. (July 29, 2015). "Social Distortion Commemorates Breakthrough Album at Marquee in Tempe". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
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