Social Distortion bring their "Born To Kill" World Tour to Philadelphia on September 8th

Social Distortion recently shared “The Way Things Were,” the final advance single from their long-awaited eighth studio album, Born To Kill, released May 8 through Epitaph Records.

The track leans into the band’s familiar mix of grit and reflection, echoing the emotional pull of earlier staples like “Story of My Life” and “I Was Wrong.” Lyrically, it carries Mike Ness’ trademark blunt honesty, including the line, “I wrote a song with a stolen riff / If you ain’t got a song you ain’t got shit,” which sums up the band’s no-frills approach to rock and roll.

It follows the already released title track and “Partners In Crime,” all of which are available to stream here: https://socialdistortion.ffm.to/borntokill

The band also performed the album’s title track on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, May 7, marking its network television debut.

After a 15-year gap between albums, Born To Kill arrives as a full-force return rather than a cautious comeback. Across 11 tracks, the record channels the band’s blend of raw energy, reflection, and defiance-the same qualities that have defined Mike Ness’ songwriting for decades. It’s a record that looks back at their influences while still pushing forward, balancing hard-edged rockers with more introspective moments.

Early attention has already been strong for the title track, which has pulled in millions of streams since release. Songs like “Partners In Crime” nod to classic rock touchstones, with references to Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, and David Bowie woven into the band’s signature street-level storytelling.

Born To Kill tracklist:
Born To Kill
No Way Out
The Way Things Were
Tonight
Partners In Crime
Crazy Dreamer
Wicked Game
Walk Away (Don’t Look Back)
Never Goin’ Back Again
Don’t Keep Me Hanging On
Over You

The album was co-produced by Mike Ness and Dave Sardy and includes contributions from Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Lucinda Williams, along with cover art collaboration between Ness and Shepard Fairey. It adds another chapter to a catalog that stretches back to Mommy’s Little Monster (1983) and includes landmark releases like Social Distortion (1990) and White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996), among others.

To support the record, Social Distortion will hit the road for an extensive North American tour stretching from July through early October, with The Descendents and The Chats joining for most dates in late August through October. Several shows are already sold out as demand continues to build.

Social Distortion – North American Tour 2026 (select dates):
July 17 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS
July 19 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom
July 20 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
July 22 – New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place
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 (SOLD OUT)
September 8 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met Philadelphia
September 9 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner
September 11–12 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
September 14–15 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY (some dates sold out)
September 17 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit (SOLD OUT)
September 20 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory
September 22 – Denver, CO – The Mission Ballroom
September 23 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
September 25–26 – Las Vegas/Reno – multiple SOLD OUT shows
September 28–29 – San Francisco/Oakland – Bay Area dates (some SOLD OUT)
October 1–2 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium (SOLD OUT)
October 3 – San Diego, CA – Gallagher Square at Petco Park