Locals mourn death of punk guitarist

Claudia Figueroa

NEWPORT-MESA -- Punk rock fans here are mourning the death of Dennis

Danell, former guitarist of perhaps one of Orange County’s most

well-known and loved punk acts, Social Distortion.

Danell, 38, was pronounced dead of unknown causes at 10:07 a.m. Tuesday,

after doctors tried to revive him for 45 minutes, said Jason Newmark, a

spokesperson at Hoag Hospital.

Neighbors called paramedics after Danell collapsed in the driveway of his

Newport Beach home. Danell, his wife Christie and their two young

children were in the process of moving into another home.

“He was a very good friend of ours, so we were all sad and shocked to

hear the news,” said Jeff Arzouman, a friend and bartender at the Balboa

Saloon on the Balboa Peninsula, where Danell and his wife would

frequently hang out with friends. “He came in a lot over the years, but

he wasn’t a heavy drinker. Him and Christie would just come in to say hi

to their friends.”

Arzouman said the last time he saw Danell was a few months ago, when the

two went mountain biking -- a sport Danell loved. “He was very

conscientious about his health, so was always pretty fit,” he said.

Arzouman said he met Danell several years ago at Christie’s father’s

sandwich shop in Newport Beach. He remembers the Newport Beach resident

as being friendly, with a “down-to-earth” personality.

“When I first met him, I didn’t even know he was a rock star,” he said.

In the late 1970s, Danell attended Troy High School in Fullerton, where

he met Social Distortion lead singer Mike Ness.

Danell, who played guitar and sang backup in the band, enjoyed a

successful recording career with Social Distortion after the band formed

in 1979. His guitar-driven melodies contributed to the band’s signature

sound, which later became known as melodic punk.

“I always liked that guy,” said Jerry Roach, owner of the now-defunct

Cuckoos Nest in Costa Mesa, where Social Distortion performed their early

gigs with the bands TSOL, Circle Jerks and the Adolescents. “He was the

nicest guy in the band. Even after they made it big, he would come back

and say hello. He was proud of his success, but he was also a great guy.”

With Social Distortion, Danell made hit recordings, such as 1981’s

“Mainliner” and “Mommy’s Little Monster” in 1982, as well as the single

“Ball and Chain,” which many loyal “Social D” fans consider an all-time

punk anthem. The group recorded its last album, “Live at the Roxy,” in

1998.

Contrary to Danell’s rock star status, he was a family man. “No matter

what he was doing or where he was touring, his first priority was his

wife and children,” said Arzouman.

Danell was on break from Social Distortion at the time of his death.

Friends say he was helping friends record albums at the Casbah recording

studio in Fullerton, which Danell and the rest of the band bought in

1983.

Danell is survived by his wife Christie, his 3-year-old son and

6-month-old daughter. No funeral arrangements or services had been

planned as of Tuesday. The Danell family have requested that donations be

made in Dennis’ name to Orangewood Children’s Home, 401 The City Drive South, Orange 92868. For more information, call (714) 935-7584.