Former Social Distortion Bassist Killed In Bike Accident

Former Social Distortion and Agent Orange bassist Brent Liles was killed when his bicycle was struck by a large truck last Thursday.

Liles was entering the crosswalk at the Orange Freeway in Placentia, California when the tractor-trailer turned right on a green light on to an on-ramp, accelerated and hit the musician. The 43-year-old Liles was pronounced dead at the scene, but it took two days to identify him. The accident is being investigated, but no charges have been laid against the trucker at this point.

Liles joined Social Distortion in 1981 and played on the Orange County punkabilly band's critically acclaimed and influential Mommy's Little Monster debut album two years later. He was featured prominently in the Another State Of Mind documentary that examined the early struggles of Social Distortion and fellow punk bands Youth Brigade and Minor Threat as they toured across the U.S. Liles became frustrated with the Mike Ness-fronted band's lack of commercial achievement and, along with drummer Derek O'Brien, quit in the middle of a show on New Year's Eve as 1983 turned into 1984.

Liles went on to play with a number of other SoCal punk bands, with Agent Orange being the most prominent.

While Ness survived heroin addiction and hard time in prison and went on to achieve a reasonable amount of success, and still plays and records with Social Distortion, Liles is the second member of the band to die. Former guitarist Dennis Dannell passed away from a brain aneurysm in 2000.