Social Distortion: Orange County Punk Meets Roots‑Rock

Social Distortion, formed in Fullerton in 1978, is chronicled from their early DIY cassette demos to signing with an independent label and releasing the debut *Mommy’s Little Monster.* The episode tracks Mike Ness’s songwriting evolution, personal struggles with addiction, and the band’s transition to major‑label production while blending punk energy with country roots. It explores how the Orange County scene shaped the group’s sound and how their later releases bridged punk rock and roots‑rock traditions.

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