Jonny "2 Bags" Wickersham (born May 26, 1967 [1]) is an American musician who is currently a guitarist for the California punk rock band Social Distortion. He joined Social Distortion after the death of founding member and longtime friend Dennis Danell in February 2000. Previously he had been a guitarist for U.S. Bombs, The Cadillac Tramps, and Youth Brigade.
Jonny Wickersham | |
|---|---|
 Jonny Wickersham plays guitar in Social Distortion (New York, the Nokia Theatre, 2005 photo by Erika Harding.) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | May 26, 1967 |
| Origin | Costa Mesa, California, US |
| Genres | Punk rock, cowpunk, country rock |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Isotone Records Epitaph Records |
| Website | www |
Career edit
Wickersham has been touring and recording with Social Distortion since the When the Angels Sing memorial concert held in June 2000 to benefit Dennis Danell's family. Wickersham also co-wrote "Angel's Wings", "Faithless" and "Nickels and Dimes" along with Mike Ness for Social Distortion's 2004 release Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll as well as "Machine Gun Blues", "Far Side of Nowhere" and "Take Care of Yourself" with Ness on Social Distortion's Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes.
In 2008, Wickersham was on tour with Ness's solo band along with Social Distortion.
The Vandals wrote a song about him, "Johnny Twobags", released on their album Live Fast, Diarrhea.
In 2010 he reunited with his U.S. Bombs bandmates to tour with them in Europe and in the USA. That same year, Wickersham appeared on the Swingin' Utters tribute album, Untitled 21: A Juvenile Tribute to Swingin' Utters. He covered the song Pills & Smoke.[1]
In 2012, he announced the release of his first solo 7" called "Hope Dies Hard," and forthcoming solo album Salvation Town.[2]
His limited edition 7" "Hope Dies Hard" was released on December 4, 2012, through Folsom Records. The singles were sold at Social Distortion's House of Blues shows in December 2012. Only 500 copies were made.
His first solo album, Salvation Town, was released through Isotone Records on April 1, 2014. The first single, "One Foot In The Gutter", premiered on Rolling Stone.[3] Wickersham has described the sound on Salvation Town as "Americana," and noted in an interview that "There’s always been a real American roots thread throughout everything I’ve done, with Cadillac Tramps and Social Distortion especially, even to some degree in the Bombs. I’ve always written a lot of ballads and things like that. I grew up around a lot of American music. My father played in bar bands. That’s how he raised me, playing music in bars. So it seemed like a natural approach to me."[4]
Equipment edit
Jonny uses an assortment of Gibson guitars and a Fender Telecaster. He has five Les Paul Juniors (a 1955 sunburst, 1957 TV, a double cut 1959 cherry red and two Gibson VOS Les Paul Juniors with Luther Lee P-90s), a 1954 Gibson Les Paul goldtop and a '52 Fender Blackguard Telecaster. He also goes acoustic with his 1947 Gibson J-45. Recently he has also been using a signature Jonny Two Bags guitar custom-made for him by Gabriel Currie of Echopark Guitars.
Wickersham uses Satellite Atom 36 watt amps through Marshall 1960TV 4x12s with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. He has been seen using many effects over the years including a Tubescreamer, a MXR GT-OD, a MXR Smart Gate, a MXR Micro Amp and a J Rockett Archer. Currently Jonny uses a Boss TU-2 Tuner and a J Rockett Archer.[5][6]
Selected discography edit
| Year | Artist/Band | Album | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Cadillac Tramps | Tombstone Radio | Guitars, Vocals, producer |
| 1994 | The Cadillac Tramps | It's Allright | Guitars |
| 1995 | The Cadillac Tramps | Cadillac Hearse | Guitars, Vocals |
| 1996 | Youth Brigade | To Sell the Truth | Guitar |
| 1999 | U.S. Bombs | The World | Guitar, back up vocals |
| 2004 | Social Distortion | Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll | Guitars, Vocals |
| 2007 | Social Distortion | Greatest Hits | Guitars, Vocals |
| 2011 [2] | Social Distortion | Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes[7] | Guitars, Vocals |
| 2012 | Jonny Two Bags | Hope Dies Hard 7"[8] | Vocals, Guitar, Songwriting, co-Producer |
| 2014 | Jonny Two Bags | Salvation Town[9][circular reference] | Vocals, Guitar, Songwriting, co-Producer |
References edit
- ^ "Untitled 21: A Juvenile Tribute To Swingin' Utters (2010, CD)". Discogs. February 2, 2024.
- ^ Wickersham, Jonny (3 December 2012). "HOPE DIES HARD 7" OUT TOMORROW". Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ "Jonny Two Bags Puts One Foot In The Gutter". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ^ from an interview on The Americana Music Show #192, published May 19, 2014.
- ^ "Jonny Wickersham's Gearbox". Social Distortion: Punk At The Wheel. Premier Guitar. Archived from the original on 3 October 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ^ "Jonny Wickersham's Gear". Artists Gear. Jim Dunlop. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ^ Social Distortion name new album. Accessed July 30, 2010.
- ^ "Hope Dies Hard 7". Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ Salvation Town