Social Distortion Returns After 15 Years

The 15-year gap between albums is the longest in Social Distortion's history, following the release of "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes" in 2011. That album was their first on Epitaph Records and the first to feature bassist Brent Harding. The current lineup has been stable for over a decade, with Mike Ness as the sole constant member since the band's formation in 1978. The long wait for new music was partly due to frontman Mike Ness's battle with stage one tonsil cancer, which was diagnosed in June 2023. The diagnosis interrupted the album's recording process, forcing the band to postpone tour dates and halt production while Ness underwent surgery and treatment. Ness has since made a full recovery, and the new album, titled 'Born to Kill', is said to be brimming with "aggressive optimism." The album was co-produced by Ness and Dave Sardy and features guest appearances from Lucinda Williams and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The cover art is a collaboration between Ness and artist Shepard Fairey. The title track, which has been a staple in recent live shows, lyrically references rock legends like Iggy Pop, David Bowie, and Lou Reed. This is the first studio album to feature drummer David Hidalgo Jr., who joined the band shortly before the release of the last album, which used session drummer Josh Freese. To support the new record, Social Distortion will be embarking on a major North American tour from August to October 2026. The tour will feature fellow punk rock veterans the Descendents and Australian band The Chats, with additional festival and headlining dates scheduled in Europe.