Dennis Danell [ tickets ], guitarist of the influential punk rock band Social Distortion [ tickets ], died Tuesday (2/29), reportedly after collapsing in the driveway as he and his family were moving into a new Southern California home. He was 38.

The Los Angeles Times, citing Social Distortion's manager, said that Danell apparently suffered a brain aneurysm. Time Bomb Recordings, the band's label, said only that Danell died of natural causes.

Danell, who was a member of the Orange County, Calif.-based band since its inception in 1979, had been taking a break from music since Social Distortion [ tickets ]'s last release, 1998's "Live At The Roxy." After the release of the live album, Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness took time away from the band to support a solo album, and Danell reportedly got a real estate license and was focusing on his family life.

"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."

Danell is survived by his wife Christine, a 3-year-old son, and a 6-month old daughter.