Social Distortion Announces Concerts in Missoula & Bozeman

Legendary punk rockers Social Distortion are coming back to Montana in 2025, performing at The Wilma in Missoula on June 23rd and The ELM in Bozeman on June 24th. They’ll be supported by post-punk band Plague Vendor.

Fronted by the iconic Mike Ness, Social Distortion has spent more than 40 years crafting their signature blend of hard rockabilly, punk, and outlaw storytelling, all while staying true to themselves — on their own time, by their own rules. With each passing decade, their influence has only grown stronger, inspiring countless fans and bands along the way.

Known for their high-octane live performances and gritty, heartfelt songwriting, Social D has cemented their place in the rock canon with staples like “Ball and Chain,” “Story of My Life,” and “Machine Gun Blues.” They’ve shared the stage with the likes of Bruce Springsteen and played massive festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza — but they’ve never lost that raw, road-tested edge that made fans fall in love in the first place.

Whether it’s a packed-out club or a major festival stage, Ness and company bring the same fiery conviction night after night — and these Montana dates will be no exception as we saw from their show at the KettleHouse Amphitheater in 2019 (photos).

For longtime fans and first-timers alike, this is your chance to see one of punk rock’s most enduring forces — get your tickets ASAP!

Here’s how you know you’ve made it in the music business: You’ve stayed strong for three decades on your own terms, on your own time, by your own rules, and over that time your influence has only grown. Each of your albums has been stronger than your last. You’ve been brought onstage by Bruce Springsteen, because he wanted to play one of your songs. You’ve seen high times and low ones, good days and tragic days, but every night you give 100%, and every morning you wake up still swinging.

This is the short version of the Social Distortion bio — the long version could be a 10-part mini- series. But over the past 30 years, the punk godfathers in the band have all but trademarked their sound, a brand of hard rockabilly/punk that’s cut with the melodic, road-tested lyrics of frontman Mike Ness. Their searing guitars and a locomotive rhythm section sound as alive today as they did in ’82, as do Ness’ hard-luck tales of love, loss and lessons learned. “The most common thing I hear is, ‘Man, your music got me through some hard times,’” Ness says. “And I just say, ‘Me too.’” Continue reading…