Social Distortion , often called Social D or SxDx , is an American punk rock band from Fullerton, Orange County, in California>, with various influences, including country and rock 'n' roll. He has been cultivating since the album Prison Bound a style that is his own (both musically and visually, displaying references to the 1950s and the world of Hot Rods and custom in general), combining classic rock 'n' roll for the structure of the pieces, punk for aggressiveness and energy, and often melancholic melodies.
Known in the late 1970s with hardcore punk bands like Black Flag or The Adolescents, Minor Threat and Youth Brigade, he enticed many rock 'n' roll enthusiasts, more classic but energetic, thanks to his uncompromising vis-à-vis -various musical modes and the quality of his compositions and his texts.
Social Distortion is formed in 1978 in Orange County, California. The band consists of Mike Ness, then 17 (lead guitar and vocals), Rikk and Frank Agnew (guitars), and Casey Royer on drums. Mike meets Dennis Dannel in high school, and insists that he join the band on bass. However, his arrival pushes the departure of the Agnew brothers, who leave to assemble their own group. Mike and Dennis will be the only permanent members of the group for the next twenty years.
The group is first and foremost a punk band, very active in the then nascent Californian scene, which it helps to develop. Inspired by The Clash or The Ramones, with a distinct Californian touch at the time, making his music more aggressive, the band debuted alongside other OC bands, such as The Adolescents, China White and Shattered Faith , who participate in the appearance of Hardcore and its explosion a few years later.
