Social Distortion w/ Descendents

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. The album, a few years in the works, 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…