Mike Ness, leader of Social Distortion, forged a multidimensional punk-rock band. Aerosmith and Bad Company shaped Ness as much as the Sex Pistols and the Ramones. The Carter Family, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, the Rolling Stones and Motown all play into Social Distortion.

Ness formed Social Distortion in 1979. In doing so, the angry 17-year-old from Orange County, California, join...