The dream has become a reality for Aussie punk fans today, with the announcement of Social Distortion's first-ever headline tour of the country. The iconic band fronted by Mike Ness are joining forces with fellow legends of SoCal punk rock, Bad Religion for the February 2023 tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The pair of Cali punk icons will bring a combined 87 years of punk rock excellence to Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
Traversing multiple and significant line-up changes, internal challenges and tragedies, and the demise of the very Los Angeles hardcore scene that conjured them for over four decades, California mainstays Social Distortion have spent a lifetime honing their uncompromising rootsy, hard-hitting brand of punk.
Following the release of the group's debut 1983 album Mommy's Little Monster, Social Distortion's transformation from pioneers in the then-fertile L.A hardcore scene into a distinctive sonic force to be reckoned with saw the group become one of the few punk bands to be featured on MTV in its 80s glory days. Over time the band branched out to cement their now-trademark blend of punk, blues, country and rockabilly.
Currently in possession of seven studio albums, with whispers of an eighth full-length release on the horizon, Social Distortion will bring a legacy of hits including Ball and Chain, Story Of My Life and Ball and Chain to Australia for their first-ever headline tour down under and only their second-ever visit in 44 years as an active band.
Responsible for penning timeless punk staples Generator, Suffer, American Jesus, 21st Century Digital Boy, You, I Want To Conquer The World, Do What You Want and countless more, Bad Religion have defied the odds and expectations of an ever-changing industry, remaining as innovative, influential and important as ever.
Over the last 43 years, the band has become synonymous with Californian punk rock. Retaining their underground credibility while building a staggering punk empire, the band's storied career includes 17 studio albums and the status as one of the best-selling punk bands of all time. Bad Religion's career has been a journey of constant evolution and philosophical exploration. Over that journey, they've incorporated elements of psychedelia, heavy metal, hard rock and a whole lot of their trademarked vocal harmonies, while continuing to examine the world and push for change. The tour with Social Distortion marks their first headlining tour of Australia in more than a decade.
Tickets for the tour will go on sale Tuesday 30th August at 9 am via Destroy All Lines. There will be a pre-sale, starting on Friday 26th August at 9 am. Registration for that pre-sale can be found here.
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