Dennis Danell (June 24, 1961-- February 29, 2000) was the guitarist for the punk rock band Social Distortion. June 24 is the 175th day of the year (176th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 190 days remaining. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ... February 29 is the 60th day of a leap year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 306 days remaining. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... A guitar is a stringed musical instrument characterized by its visually dominant body and neck. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Social Distortion (often known as Social D) is an influential punk rock band that formed in the late 1970s and is still together today. ...

Danell joined Social Distortion in 1979 while attending high school with frontman Mike Ness. He remained the guitarist for the band until his death from an apparent cerebral aneurysm. Dennis Danell, founding guitarist of the seminal Southern California punk band Social Distortion, died Tuesday in his Newport Beach home after apparently suffering a brain aneurysm. He was 38. This page refers to the year 1979. ... Mike Ness (born Michael James Ness) (born April 3, 1962) is a guitarist, vocalist, and chief song writer for the punk rock band Social Distortion. ... A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel. ...

 He started Social Distortion in 1979 with high school buddy Mike Ness. Originally the group's bassist, Dannell switched to guitar after some band defections and helped define the group's signature jangle on such albums as Mommy's Little Monster (1982), Prison Bound (1985), Social Distortion (1990) and White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996). 

 "I am saddened beyond any possible form of expression," Ness said in a statement. "Dennis and I have been friends since boyhood, starting Social Distortion while we were in high school. My deepest regrets to his family." 

 After Social Distortion went on hiatus following the release of Live at the Roxy in 1998, Danell produced numerous bands at the band's recording studio, Casbah, in Fullerton, California. His production credits last year included Fanmail (BEC Records), Value Pac (Four Door Entertainment), Fraidy Cats (Gray Dot Records), Deluxe Tone Rockets (Sublime/Essential), and Rock Star Barbecue, the debut artist on Danell's new independent label, Masterpiece Records. By 2000, Danell was quickly becoming a much sought after producer in the Orange County area. 

Danell also started a new side band called the Strung Gurus with Michael Knott of the Orange County band the Aunt Bettys (formerly on Elektra). Danell produced, cowrote, and played guitar for Strung Gurus, who worked all last year on their first full-length album. The Strung Gurus debut, to be the second release on Masterpiece Records, was near completion with an expected release date of late May.

 In an interview for the Strung Gurus promotional bio, Danell had said, "I am very excited about Strung Gurus because the music is high energy and commercial, but it does not sound like Social Distortion. The new band allows me to stretch as a songwriter and producer by tackling a sound outside my comfort zone." Rough mixes of four Strung Gurus songs were already in limited circulation and had started a buzz among fans and local journalists impressed with Danell's versatility and writing abilities. 

 Danell's passions included cars, surfing, and producing bands. He was recognized by those around him as a down-to-earth friend and loving church-going family man. 

 He is survived by his wife Christie, a three year old son and a 6-month-old daughter.