United States
The legendary and influential punk/alternative quartet Social Distortion was formed in 1979 in Fullerton, California by frontman Mike Ness and then-guitarist Dennis Danell. The band underwent line-up changes before releasing their first album, Mommy's Little Monster, in 1982. During that year, Social Distortion embarked on their first national tour with fellow punk band Youth Brigade – a trip chronicled in the celebrated punk rockumentary, Another State of Mind.
Social Distortion disappeared for a while before releasing their second album, Prison Bound, in 1988, which would be their first recording with the classic line-up of Ness, Danell and newcomers John Maurer on bass and Christopher Reece on drums. In 1989, the band signed a deal with Epic Records and recorded their highly successful third album, which is self-titled, containing their popular hits "Story of My Life" and "Ball and Chain" as well as the Johnny Cash cover "Ring of Fire".
The band disappeared again after the release of their fourth album, 1992's Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, and Reece left Social Distortion in 1993. After auditions were held to play drums in the band, former D.O.A./Danzig drummer Chuck Biscuits joined Social Distortion to record their next album, White Light, White Heat, White Trash, in 1996, which would be their last release on Epic Records.
In 1999, while Social Distortion wasn't touring, Ness went solo, releasing two albums, Cheating at Solitaire and Under the Influences, in the same year. Although some of Social Distortion's songs paid homage to country music artists, Cheating at Solitaire was an unalloyed expression of Ness's country influences. His second solo album, Under the Influences, contains country covers.
