Mike Ness
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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. As of Dennis Danell's death in 2000, he is the only remaining original member of the band.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early life and career with Social Distortion
Ness was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts and raised in Orange County, California. Kicked out of his parents' home in Fullerton at the age of fifteen, he dabbled in drugs and petty crime, involving himself in the punk scene. As a member of The Band Easter with Danny Dean and Brent Liles, Mike Ness was the original owner of the one-bedroom apartment described in The Adolescents song, "Kids of the Black Hole". The punk house was located in Fullerton, CA in the 1980s.
Ness founded Social Distortion in 1978, releasing the Mainliner/Playpen 7" record on Robbie Field's indie label, Posh Boy Records in 1981. Two years later, they released the album Mommy's Little Monster (1983) 13th Floor Records which was owned by their manager at the time, Monk Rock.
Ness was featured in the independent film Another State of Mind, which chronicled Social Distortion's first cross-country tour with Youth Brigade. Five years passed before Social Distortion released their next album, 1988's Prison Bound on the heels of Ness's recovery from drug addiction..
Ness appeared in the band "Easter" from 1986-1988 and was in the music video for the songs "Slipping Away" and "Lights Out". Ness left the band in 1988 to focus on Social Distortion.[citation needed]
In 1989, Social Distortion signed a deal with Epic Records and released three albums with that label: Social Distortion (1990), Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992) and White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996).
The band left Epic Records after White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996) and Ness formed Time Bomb Recordings, releasing Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (a collection of old recordings and singles that were done in the early '80s) and Live at the Roxy (1998).
[edit] Solo career
In 1999, Ness released his first solo album, Cheating at Solitaire. Although some of Social Distortion's songs paid homage to country music artists, Cheating at Solitaire was an unalloyed expression of Ness's country influences. Solitaire included guest appearances by rock icon Bruce Springsteen, former Stray Cat Brian Setzer and drumming legend Josh Freese as well as members of Royal Crown Revue. Springsteen had touted Social D's Heaven and Hell as his favorite record of the year in a Rolling Stone interview in 1992. Ness continued in this vein, releasing a compilation of country covers entitled Under the Influences that same year. Both albums came out on Time Bomb Recordings. Ness toured extensively in the U.S. in support of these albums, backed partially by the present-day (2006) incarnation of Social Distortion; ex Plugz and Bob Dylan drummer Charlie Quintana, Brent Harding (upright & electric bass) and Jonny Wickersham (guitar tech). Ness and the band played at Woodstock '99.
[edit] Danell's death
Childhood friend, and founding member of Social Distortion, guitarist Dennis Danell died on February 29, 2000 at 38 years of age due to an aneurysm. Ness was devastated, stating "I am saddened beyond any possible form of expression. Dennis and I have been friends since boyhood, starting Social Distortion while we were in high school. My deepest regrets to his family." The band went back to work in June of 2000 on the album, Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll. Many of the songs on this new album are dedicated to Danell such as "Don't Take Me For Granted" and "Angel's Wings".
[edit] Present day
In 2003, Social Distortion recorded a live DVD called Live in Orange County at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California which was released in 2004 along with Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, both of which were released on Time Bomb Recordings. These efforts marked the first recordings with a line up consisting of Ness on Guitar and vocals, Wickersham replacing Danell on guitar, and Quintana on drums and also consisted of songs co-written by Ness and Wickersham. This is the first time Ness collaborated with another songwriter since 1990s self-titled album, on which he and then bassist John Maurer wrote "Let it be Me". The band's lineup changed twice after Maurer left the band, just a month before the release of Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll. He was replaced by Operation Ivy/Rancid bassist Matt Freeman until early 2005 when current member, Brent Harding, joined as his replacement
In February 2006, Ness broke his wrist while skateboarding in Las Vegas. Mike continued to perform vocals on the tour while TSOL guitarist Ron Emory filled in on guitar until Mike's wrist healed.
Ness currently lives in Santa Ana, California with his wife and two sons. He is an avid collector of retro ephemera and hot rods, driving a chopped 1954 Chevy leadsled, a 1936 Ford, and a 1960 Chevy Impala.. In 2003 he founded Black Kat Kustoms with "long time hot rodder and builder," Don Nemarnik. Black Kat Kustoms is an expression of his love for hot rods, bikes, and counter-culture clothing..
Social Distortion are currently working on their as-yet-untitled seventh album, which is rumored to be released late 2007 or early 2008..
[edit] Equipment
Guitars:
Although seen using Gibson SGs in his early career, Mike Ness almost exclusively uses 60's and 70's Gibson Les Pauls, his primary guitar being a 71' Goldtop Les Paul with SP90-2n pickups in both the neck and bridge position, with an Orange County decal across the back of the body. He also uses Gibson Jumbo acoustic guitars.
Amps:
Mike Ness uses Fender Bassman amps modified by Billy Zoom of X and Marshall 4x12 slant cabs.
[edit] Projects
[edit] Solo
- Cheating at Solitaire (1999)
- Under the Influences (1999)
[edit] Social Distortion
Main article: Social Distortion discography
- Mommy's Little Monster (1983)
- Prison Bound (1988)
- Self-Titled (1990)
- Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell (1992)
- Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (1995)
- White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996)
- Live at the Roxy (1998)
- Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004)
- Greatest Hits (2007)
- TBA (2008)
[edit] Other Appearances
- The Band Easter (1980)
- Another State of Mind (1982)
- Fresno Smooth
- Easter (1986-1988)
- Live at the Hootenanny, Vol. 1 (2000)
- Live In Orange County (2004)
