Social Distortion: Mike Ness (vocals, guitar); Dennis Danell (guitar); John Maurer (bass); Chuck Biscuits (drums).
Recorded live at The Roxy, Hollywood, California on April 7-9, 1998. Includes liner notes by Mike Ness.
One
of the longest-running California punk bands, Social Distortion began
spewing musical venom in the early '80s. Over the years, their musical
vision has been somewhat refined, but they've never compromised their
integrity or lost a bit of their punch, a fact borne out by this 1998
live recording. Singer/songwriter Mike Ness is the archetypal tough guy
with a heart of gold, chronicling the tribulations of the underclass in
post-Reagan America over a jackhammer beat.
As usual, the band
leavens their punky assault with occasional touches of country and
roots music, as on the spiritual-sounding "Ball & Chain" and a
frenzied cover of "Ring Of Fire." Though they speak from the
perspective of grizzled punk survivors, the band still targets
youngsters with their bad boy attitude, as evidenced by Ness'
incendiary, iconoclastic stage patter. LIVE AT THE ROXY is the band at
their best, blazing through new tunes and old with equal fury.
