Social Distortion

All Ages
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Since emerging from the streets of Fullerton CA in the late ‘70s, Social Distortion have become the unquestioned standard bearers for punk bands. Beginning with their classic 1983 debut album Mommy’s Little Monster and stretching through 2011’s Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, the band, led by Mike Ness, continues to reinvent itself while remaining true to its punk rock roots.
A lifelong devotee and student of rock’n’roll dating back to a childhood spent obsessively listening to the likes of The Rolling Stones, T.Rex, David Bowie, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and eventually the Sex Pistols and Ramones, Ness always maintained that Social Distortion would be more than just a punk band. That theme is evident in the band’s first seven records, with tales of outlaws, outcasts, love lost, and a hard life lived. It’s with this earnestness and viewpoint that Ness is lionized as a truth-telling songwriter to fans all around the world.
Now, 15 years after the release of Hard Times… and a couple of years after Ness faced a life-threatening illness, comes Born To Kill. Preceded by a fittingly iconic and confrontational cover image born of a collaboration between Ness and celebrated artist Shepard Fairey, the album sees Ness take a long look inside and reflect on a well-worn journey where nothing was given and everything earned. Despite the notable timespan between albums, Ness has never stopped writing. Recorded at Sunset Sound then finished at Hillside Manor Studio with Ness co-producing with producer Dave Sardy, Social Distortion plowed through 11 bone-rattling songs (which include guest appearances from Lucinda Williams and Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench), and a couple of unreleased songs going back 30 years.
“I have to dispel the myth that it took us 15 years to write an album,” Ness says. "I kept writing after Hard Times…, so when it was time to pick the songs for this record, we had over 40 songs to choose from. “
Ness aimed to capture the spirit of his formative years, describing Born To Kill as an “homage to the beginning of my career, going out every night and watching bands, listening to records over and over again, and eventually starting my own band despite society’s volatile reaction to this new style of music and culture. Ninety-nine percent of the world was telling us we couldn’t do this. Well, now we have something to prove!”
The album’s opening salvo blazes by in just under four minutes, serving as title track and mission statement not just for this record, but also succinctly summarizing the band’s 40+ year career. With fiery guitars accompanied by defiant lyrics, combined with Social Distortion’s trademark melodic flair and Ness’s knack for creating thick grooves, “Born To Kill” takes no prisoners. “I’m the underdog who ends up on top/ The rebel poet with the peacock strut/ Gonna make a change gonna rearrange/Look out man you’re in my pissing range!" Ness proclaims bombastically in a lyric that sums up his career.