Social Distortion

Social Distortion, Southern California's definitive blues-laced punk band, returns with Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, their first full length studio record since 1996 and first record since founding member Dennis Danell passed away. Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, is a potent journey of love and loss, an intimate portrait by writer and singer Mike Ness into his past. Like a survival manual from the trenches of punk, Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll takes listeners on a hardcore ride, venturing inside the hearts of saints and sinners, winners and losers, jailhouse poets and Cadillac tramps, all brought to life with Social Distortion's trademark sound-a muscular blend of blistering guitars and Ness' rebelwith- a-cause vocals. Equal parts poet and punk, Ness continues to cement his place in the hierarchy of punk as one of the all-time great songwriters. Picking up where 1996's brilliant White Light, White Heat, White Trash left off, Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll goes straight for the jugular in 10 lean tracks. From the uplifting opener “Reach for the Sky”-a powerful reminder to live for today because tomorrow may never come-to “Don't Take Me for Granted”-a song written three days after Danell's sudden death on Feb. 29, 2000-Ness laced the album with tributes to Danell. Discussing the heartbreaking loss of guitarist Dennis Danell Ness said, “When Dennis died, I felt a part of my youth disappear and I felt this tremendous void,” “You just don't realize how good a friend someone really is until they're gone.” “Dennis was an institution,” says Ness. “When we were teenagers, Dennis' house was where you went when you were hungry, if you needed a place to flop, if you needed help on your car. He'd drop whatever he was doing and help you. 'Don't Take Me for Granted' is the easiest song I ever wrote. You just think that they're always fucking gonna be there.” Prior to the tragic loss the band had been very busy. Post White Light, White Heat, White Trash the band released Live At the Roxy, its first ever live album recorded over a three-night run at the legendary Sunset Strip nightclub. During that time, Ness also recorded his first solo album (Cheating At Solitaire), and a cover's record (Under the Influences). After Danell passed away Ness brought in long time band friend Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham (U.S. Bombs, Cadillac Tramps). 2 Bags had been Danell's guitar tech off and on through the years and even filled in for the guitarist on a European tour when Dennis' first son was born. This year, bassist John Maurer-who recorded the new album with the band-announced he was hanging up his touring axe. As luck should have it, Rancid had decided to take a temporary hiatus and bass player Matt Freeman jumped at the chance to hit the road with Social Distortion beginning in September. A lot has changed since Social Distortion unleashed 1983's punk rock classic Mommy's Little Monster, both inside the band and out. Their external influence pioneered the tattooed, hot-rod loving, anti-hero subculture which has become more and more prevalent daily. Like a veteran prizefighter rife with swagger, Ness proves with Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll he's still the one to beat. Pound for pound, the album embraces its heart and while baring its soul. “I just go where it's real,” says Ness. “Pain is a great motivator for me.” It may have been a hard-knock life for Ness, but with each record we're reminded, his pain is our gain.