Very few punk bands have reached notoriety without their fair share of controversy. From the start of the genre, when the old guard condemned these young bands for their frantic behavior, to the inner turmoil within these bands that broke up hopefuls, punk is a whirlwind of Denis Johnson-esque tales. Thankfully, Mike Ness and Social Distortion have been able to weave through the controversy and cement themselves as legends of punk’s hardcore era.
Social Distortion released their debut album, Mommy’s Little Monster, in 1983, but the band had already been making a name for themselves leading up to the release. In 1982, the band set off on an international tour with fellow West Coast punks, Youth Brigade, for both band’s first major tour. The tour, of course, went haywire as members of both bands became weary from poor transportation and lack of income. The ups and downs of the tour were captured on film and released as Another State of Mind, an essential tour/concert film for any punk fan.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we look at the mayhem that was a Social Distortion live show. The performance was recorded at the Winnipeg stop on the band’s first international tour, with a very young Ness showing early signs that his longevity was inevitable. The band puts on an energetic performance of the title track from their ‘83 debut, and the footage is pristine. You can watch a youthful Social Distortion tear the Canadian venue below.
