Filed under: News
PLACENTIA – Officials on Saturday identified Brent Liles of Fullerton, former bass guitarist in one of the region’s most influential punk rock bands, Social Distortion, as the bicyclist killed by a big rig on Thursday. Liles played bass on the group’s groundbreaking “Mommy’s Little Monster” recording in 1983 and went on to play with other well-known Orange County punk acts such as the group Agent Orange. He was 43.
“Brent was a fun-loving guy who approached his bass playing with a lot of enthusiasm and that made him a lot of fun to be around,” said Frank Agnew, a fellow musician and friend. Liles, wearing casual clothing, was riding a small dirt bicycle westbound on Orangethorpe Avenue just after 11:30 a.m. Thursday, California Highway Patrol officials said. As he entered the crosswalk at the Orange (57) Freeway, a big rig carrying a trailer turned right onto the on-ramp and accelerated, hitting Liles. He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.
This was social D’s definitive bass player to me. He always had a cool look going on for the times and seemed like a real punk. We loved the part when he jumps and kicks the guy on stage in Vancouver in the Another State of Mind movie. We used to rewind and pause that until we wore out the tape…
I would have to agree, Brent was the definitive sd bassist. Lucky for you, you can get Another State Of Mind on dvd now. The show where he kicks a guy is the Winnipeg show.
Winnepeg, that’s right…its been awhile…
Stunt, I thought I’d say thanks for all of your great posts, they have been like gold fora guy like me….
drbrad, its mine and all the contributors pleasure.
Pretty soon all of us old “punks” will be dead, it seems. Fucking sad day. Loved seeing Social D. in the late ’70’s, early 80’s. All I can say is “fuck it!”
R.I.P. to an original.
Nothing like the pre Punkabilly , wreckage , in youe face Social D . Brent was the only true bass player for this band , and stood out with great energy . The classic Winnipeg footage shows a kid getting a bass slap by Brent when attempting a stage dive , while brent dosent miss a note . What a pisser to hear about this loss. The great ones are leaving us faster and faster it seems . To the many of us who grew up with this band , it brings pain to hear of this news .
long time friend of sd from 79-89 brent always showed up to every show with a smile on his face even if he was sick or tired from working the night before but he was always happy to be their with his true friends brent would always ask me if i had money to get in or if he needed to put me on the list thats the kind of guy brent was,always thinking of someone else he will truly be missed but always in our hearts
Look fellas, this is a terrible tragedy. Brent was too young to go. I feel awful for his friends and family. But Brent was the “only true”, “definitive” bass player for Social D??!! You guys gotta be shittin’ me! John Mauer played bass for Social D for 20 years!
When Brent was with Social D, he bailed out mid-tour with Monk the Roadie on that ‘82 summer tour documented in Another State of Mind, that you guys are so fondly talking about. He and the drummer quit the band in THE MIDDLE OF A SHOW on New Year’s Eve ‘83!!
Brent should be remembered for his work with Easter, Danny Dean’s band. Steady Rockers is an awesome song! Check the video out on YouTube! He was great in Agent Orange as well. He has loads of musical accomplishments to be fondly remembered for. But he barely had anything to do with Social D’s success! Once he left and Ness kicked heroin, that’s when they became the phemomenon that they are, when they separated their sound from the rest of the punk bands in So. Cal!