Social Distortion is a pioneering Southern California punk-rock band formed in Fullerton in 1978 and led by singer, guitarist and principal songwriter Mike Ness. The group developed a distinctive sound by combining punk aggression with rockabilly, country, blues and classic rock ’n’ roll, influencing generations of punk and roots-rock musicians. Its defining recordings include “Story of My Life,” “Ball and Chain,” “Bad Luck,” “I Was Wrong,” “Reach for the Sky” and a punk-rock interpretation of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” along with albums such as Mommy’s Little Monster, Prison Bound, Social Distortion, Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell and White Light, White Heat, White Trash. After a 15-year gap between studio albums, the band returned in 2026 with Born to Kill, continuing its long-running themes of struggle, survival, regret and redemption.
