The Strange Story of How I Met Social Distortion

A 100-word concert story

Cover art courtesy of Epic Records

Note: Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and in honor of Social Distortion’s self-titled record turning 35 (!) today I thought I’d reshare the 100% true, 100-word story about how I met the band. Worth noting that Mike Ness & co. were quick to steer me right toward the Gatorade (and away from everything else). Teenage me was annoyed. Middle-aged me is grateful.

KA—

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In school, I won tickets to see Social Distortion by calling into a local radio station and naming the song (“Story of My Life”).

The show was at Pine St. Theater in Portland, & the band used plastic jellyfish as de facto backstage passes. My friend Pauli got one. We did not.

After an amazing show, she went up to meet them (backstage was actually upstairs). We were out front waiting when we heard a noise above us. It was guitarist Dennis Danell, about to pee out the window. Instead, he asked us up.

And that’s how I met the band.

Have a good story about meeting one of your favorite bands? Any thoughts on this record you want to share? Sound off below!

Thanks for being here,
Kevin—

This story originally appeared here. Huge shout to Keith R. Higgons at

Abandoned Albums Podcast

for sharing the idea of the 100 Word Story and challenging me to try it.

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