Social Distortion Is Releasing Their First New Album In 15 Years In May

Social Distortion will release their first new album in 15 years this May, frontman Mike Ness announced during an interview at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas 2025 event, with the lead single set to arrive in January. The album and single will mark the band's first new music since Ness's 2023 tonsil cancer diagnosis, which required extensive surgery and recovery, including relearning basic functions like swallowing and eating. "I was afraid I was not gonna live," Ness told Kevin Ryder. "I've been through some hard things in my life in some dangerous situations, as you can imagine, but nothing like that." Despite these challenges, Ness reports his voice is "stronger than it's ever been," fueling the Southern California punk vets' energetic recent live shows. The band is also set to headline the 2026 edition of Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise, and has upcoming festival and headlining shows in the UK and Europe starting in June.