Social Distortion

Like many others I am extremely saddened by the untimely passing of Johnny Ramone. We toured together and spent time together so his influence was personal as well as professional. The Ramones were the single greatest reason why I became a musician and formed a band. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

“If you don’t like the way things are and you want to make changes, then you gotta vote!” – Mike Ness

October 3, the deadline to register to vote in many states, is fast approaching. Registering is easy and can be done at many locations including your local post office or city hall. You can also use the National Mail Voter Registration Form we’ve linked to below. The only major requirements to register are that you are a US citizen and will be 18 years old or older on or before election day.

Check Your State’s Deadline:
http://www.fec.gov/votregis/state_voter_reg_deadlines02.htm

The National Mail Voter Registration Form:
http://www.fec.gov/votregis/vr.htm

Those of you who may not be old enough to vote are still old enough make an impact. Here’s how:

• help register your family, friends and others to vote
• learn where the candidates stand on the issues and keep your family and friends informed
• And most important of all, make sure everyone gets to the polls on Election Day

Election Day is Tuesday, November 2.

Cult punk film Another State of Mind will be released on DVD for the time on August 24, 2004. Social Distortion and Youth Brigade take on six weeks and ten thousand miles in a broken down school bus to make their mark on North America. More than just concert footage, this film documents the rich collections of characters in and around the tour, and the hardships and dangers of life on the road. Additional features included on the DVD is commentary by Mike Ness, Youth Brigade and directors Adam Small and Peter Stuart.

Is the title of what you’ve all been waiting for, the first studio album from Social Distortion in 8 years! To be released on September 28, 2004, Mike Ness reveals a more optimistic side on this record, including the emotional journey of love, loss and acceptance on “Don’t Take Me For Granted”, written for the late Dennis Danell. But, don’t let that fool you into thinking he’s forgotten his punk rock edge. Ness’ signature wrath can be felt throughout, especially on tracks like “Reach For The Sky” and “Nickels And Dimes.”

Your wait has been long, but you will find that it will definitely be worthwhile.

After 20 years of serving as Social Distortion’s bass player John Maurer has decided to leave the band. Maurer completed the recording of "Sex, Love and Rock and Roll’, the new Social Distortion full length studio recording but has decided to forgo the usual extended promotion and touring in order to stay home and devote time to his wife and two children.

“For the better part of twenty years I would finish making a record and then leave my home and family for long periods of time”, Maurer said. “It was a blast and I have great memories but the hiatus between records in the past six years has given me a chance to develop other interests at home and hang with my family. I just don’t want to leave.”

Mike Ness commented, “I have known John since junior high. I respect what he is doing but we will sure miss him a lot.”

Matt Freeman, one of the premier bass players in punk rock, has come aboard for this record cycle. “Rancid is always going to be my priority”, Matt said. “But Tim has the Transplants and Lars has the Bastards. I like to think I have a pretty cool side band now too.”

Ness said the decision to call Freeman was only complicated by Matt’s well-known loyalty for Rancid. “We asked ourselves who the best guy out there was and it was Matt. We figured there was no way but it looks like Rancid is going to have just enough down time for us to keep Matt busy. These shows are going to be real special with him in the band.”

Social Distortion’s new record, "Sex, Love and Rock and Roll’ is due in stores September 28th. The DVD documentary, “Live in OC” was released on July 27th. The band begins touring in August and plan to be on the road through 2005.

Social Distortion will be releasing their first ever full-length concert release entitled “Live In Orange County” on July 27, 2004, coming out on Time Bomb Recordings. This is only the second time (since Another State of Mind) that the group has been captured on film. This event was filmed on January 19, 2003, at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA, and will feature back stage footage, interviews, a photo gallery and more.

“Live In Orange County” spans the guys extensive history, and will take you from “Mommy’s Little Monster” through “White Light, White Heat, White Trash”, and includes two never before released songs, “Footprints On My Ceiling” and “I Wasn’t Born To Follow”. Both songs are to be included on Social Distortion’s forthcoming studio album due out later this year.

Set List:
Making Believe
1945
Telling Them
Bad Luck
Footprints On My Ceiling
Don’t Drag Me Down
I Wasn’t Born To Follow
Another State Of Mind
The Creeps
Mommy’s Little Monster
Mass Hysteria
99 To Life
Ring Of Fire
Story Of My Life

Bonus Features:
Pre-show Warm Up
Rollin’ For 4-5-6
Outhouse Acoustics
Interview and Hi-Jinx
The New School
Cruizin’ The ’36
Photo Gallery
Nona Split

Cameron Webb and Mike Ness are currently in a Los Angeles studio mixing the songs recorded for the new record. Below is a list of song names that will be on the album. They’re not in the final sequence, but we wanted to give you the first glance at the songs you’ve been waiting for. A title for the record is still in the works, but we will be sure to let you in on what is as soon as we get it from the big man himself.

Songs:
Reach For The Sky
Highway 101
Don’t Take Me For Granted
Footprints On My Ceiling
Nickels and Dimes
I Wasn’t Born To Follow
Winners and Losers
Faithless
Live Before You Die
Angels Wings

That’s right, it’s been 20 years since Another State of Mind debuted in the theater. Thanks in part to the Los Angeles Film Festival you have a chance to see it on the silver screen once again. Another State of Mind will be playing at 10:00pm on Saturday, June 19, 2004, at the Laemmle Sunset 5 Theatres in Los Angeles, CA. To purchase tickets, or to get more information on the Los Angeles Film Festival you can click on the following link:
http://www.lafilmfest.com/home.html .
Hope to see you there!

Hey gang! Tracking for the forthcoming untitled Social D record has come to an end. The guys have hit all their licks, and laid all the tracks that will make up the new record. Ness and the boys are now currently reviewing the songs, and taking notes before going in to have it mixed. The record was produced by Cameron Webb and Mike Ness, and word of who’s mixing is soon to be announced!

Stay tuned for more info. as well as song titles, artwork, and live footage of
the guys in the studio.

Look for Social D, Rise Against, Pennywise, Against Me!, NOFX, and many more to be included on Fat Wreck Chords forthcoming Rock Against Bush compilation. This compilation to be released on April 20th is the first of two volumes, and will feature a bonus DVD that has informative material and music videos from bands like Bad Religion, Strike Anywhere and NOFX. For further information click here

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	Wed 06/19/13 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theater
	Fri 06/21/13 Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall
	Sat 06/22/13 Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Summer Stage
	Sun 06/23/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
	Wed 06/26/13 Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE