Social Distortion released its long-awaited eighth album, Born To Kill, May 8 via Epitaph Records. The new record wastes no time letting the listener know where its heart is: its hard-charging title track — named as one of ROLLING STONE’s Best Songs of 2026 So Far — paying respects to Lou Reed (“Rock ’n’ Roll Animal gonna come your way!”) and Iggy and the Stooges (“The agenda is yeah to Search and Destroy”) and lionizing David Bowie (“It’s a Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide”) on “Partners in Crime.” This is a man, a band, and a record that wear their influences proudly while creating timeless anthems and ballads that chart Social Distortion’s path forward while celebrating its storied past.
Now on tour, Social Distortion perform live at The Anthem in DC on Friday, Sept. 4.
Social Distortion recently released the official video for “Tonight,” a smoking rock ballad from the veteran outfit’s “best album in years” (ROLLING STONE).
Shot on location in Tulsa, OK, “Tonight” was directed by John Swab, whose credits include cult classic Candy Land as well as the upcoming Netflix feature Fast & Loose starring Will Smith. The video sees the “rollicking cowpunk” (BROOKLYN VEGAN) of the Born To Kill standout track scoring a love story starring Johnny Angel Rios-Ness, son of Social Distortion founder Mike Ness. The two generations deliver star turns, weaving Ness’ riveting performance with a narrative inspired by the song’s tribute to his wife of more than three decades, Christine.
Watch the official music video for “Tonight” by Social Distortion on YouTube:
Co-produced by Ness and Dave Sardy, and featuring guest appearances from Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Lucinda Williams, and collaborative cover art by Ness and Shepard Fairey, Born To Kill is the latest installment in a remarkable catalog that spans nearly three generations, including Mommy’s Little Monster (1983), Prison Bound (1988), the RIAA gold-certified Social Distortion (1990) and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992), White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996), Sex, Love and Rock ’n’ Roll (2004), and Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes (2011).
But wait — the legendary Descendents open the show at The Anthem, making this a must-see concert!
Since first emerging from (and defining) the Southern California pop-punk scene in 1978, Descendents have released classic after classic, from their landmark 1982 LP Milo Goes to College to 2021’s 9th & Walnut. Now, the band — Milo Aukerman (vocals), Bill Stevenson (drums), Stephen Egerton (guitar), and Karl Alvarez (bass) — are on the road again to open Social Distortion!
Social Distortion
W/ Descendents
The Anthem
Friday, Sept. 4
Doors @ 6pm
$69.30
All ages
