Social Distortion/Lindi Ortega/the Biters

Formed nearly 35 years in Orange County, Calif., Social Distortion has steadily carried the punk rock torch despite the fact that cowpunk lead singer Mike Ness looks to Johnny Cash rather than Johnny Rotten for inspiration. Ness has been through it all; he battled drug addition and did hard time, something he’s chronicled nicely in the band’s signature tracks “Ball and Chain” and “Story of My Life.” He almost pulled the plug on Social D in 2000 after the death of guitarist Dennis Danell but caught a second wind and has been regularly touring and recording ever since. In 2011, the band returned with Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, an album that doesn’t depart much from the band’s signature sound and got rave reviews from longtime fans and critics alike. (Jeff Niesel)