SOCIAL DISTORTION guitarist Dennis Dannell and AUNT BETTYS vocalist Mike Knott have come together to form a new band called THE STRUNG GURUS. They have already finished six songs. Danell remarks, "With Strung Gurus, we took on the difficult task of writing songs that don't sound like anyone else and lyrics that make people really think about life. We wanted to stretch ourselves with songs that re catchy but that also transcend what's happening on the pop charts."

Strung Gurus are accomplishing their mission with a passionate, energized acoustic drive backed by solid rhythms, stand-out choruses, and beautiful, poetic lyrics. Songs like "Chelsea's Chasin' Dragons", "Diva Overdrive", and "Whoville" explore the deeper angles on life by entertaining the perspectives of different people in the midst of their own soul-searching.

To put their sound in a general ballpark, one might say Bob Dylan meets the Violent Femmes meets the Smashing Pumpkins-but no real comparison can be made. Both Social Distortion and Aunt Betty's have been long-time OC icons. Bringing these two local old-timers together is bound to arrive at interesting conclusions.

"We are looking forward to people hearing these new songs", says Knott. "They are twisted and different, yet real and over-the-top".

- Dave Jenison

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