Orange County punk institution Social Distortion are back.
The band have announced Born To Kill, their eighth studio album and first since 2011’s Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes. The record arrives May 8, 2026 via Epitaph Records. The hard-charging title track, which has been appearing in recent live sets, is available now alongside an official video.
Fans can pre-order the album and stream the single at
https://socialdistortion.ffm.to/borntokill
More than just a long-awaited return, Born To Kill marks Social Distortion’s first album following frontman Mike Ness’ recovery from cancer. Across 11 tracks, the record reportedly leans into what Ness has long done best: defiant, street-level rock and roll with equal parts grit and reflection.
The title track wastes no time staking its claim, nodding to Lou Reed’s Rock ’n’ Roll Animal, Iggy and the Stooges’ “Search and Destroy,” and even David Bowie’s “Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide.” Later cuts like “Tonight” and “The Way Things Were” echo the emotional pull of classics such as “Story of My Life” and “I Was Wrong,” balancing swagger with scar tissue.
The album was co-produced by Ness and Dave Sardy and features guest appearances from Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Lucinda Williams. The cover art was created collaboratively by Ness and Shepard Fairey, reinforcing the band’s longstanding ties to punk’s visual underground.
Formed in 1978, Social Distortion helped define the Orange County punk sound with early releases like Mommy’s Little Monster (1983) and Prison Bound (1988) before breaking into the mainstream with their 1990 self-titled album and 1992’s Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell. Over four decades later, Ness remains one of punk’s most recognizable voices, equal parts romantic and realist.
Fall 2026 North American Tour
Social Distortion will support Born To Kill with a 23-date North American run beginning August 25 in Phoenix and wrapping October 3 in San Diego. Select dates will feature support from The Descendents and The Chats, with The Descendents appearing on the Los Angeles dates.
Full tour details and ticket information are available at
https://www.socialdistortion.com/tours
SOCIAL DISTORTION
North America
Fall 2026
August 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre *
August 28 – Austin, TX – Moody Amphitheater *
August 29 – Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory *
August 31 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle *
September 1 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy *
September 3 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz *
September 4 – Washington, DC – The Anthem *
September 5 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Stone Pony Summer Stage *
September 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia presented by Highmark *
September 9 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner *
September 11 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount *
September 12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount *
September 14 – Toronto, ONT – HISTORY *
September 17 – Detroit, MI – The Filmore Detroit *
September 20 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory *
September 22 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom *
September 23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center *
September 25 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas *
September 26 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort – Grand Theatre *
September 2 -8 San Francisco, CA – The Masonic *
October 1 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium #
October 2 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium #
October 3 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park *
# The Descendents support
* The Descendents and The Chats support
Tickets go on sale Friday, February 27 at 10 a.m. local time.
