He has been the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter of American Rockabilly music collective Social Distortion for exactly 39 years.
Mike grew up in Orange County, California.
When he was 15 years old, he was kicked out by his father from home.
Mike was initially influenced by blues and rock n roll.
He later got involved in the punk rock scene while moving around in similar music groups in Orange County.
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Mike and Social Distortion [ 1978 ] Inspired by The Sex Pistols, Mike founded Social Distortion in 1978 with Casey Royer.
Producing the Mainliner/Playpen 7″ in 1981 and the album Mommy’s Little Monster in 1983.
Earlier, in 1982 Mike co-starred in the documentary Another State of Mind which chronicled Social Distortion’s first cross-country tour.
In a comment in the documentary, he claimed to have never had anything to do with the armed forces or religion.
This prompted many fans to assume he was an atheist, although some of Mike’s lyrics suggest otherwise.
5 Years before Social Distortion released Prisound Bound (1988), Mike was in the process of heel recovery from drug addiction.
Mike had been clean from heroin since 1985.
In the mid-1980s, Mike briefly worked as a house painter and speech therapy assistant at an elementary school.
1999, Mike was again cast in a movie, Frezno Halus.
Playing a fictionalized version of himself. Solo Career [ 1999 ] Mike released his first solo album ‘Cheating at Solitaire’ and ‘Under the Influences’ 5 Years before Sex, Love and Rock n Roll (2004).
Death of Dennis Danell [ 2000 ] Dennis Danell was Mike’s childhood friend, and one of the founding guitarists of Social Distortion.
Actually, there were many people behind the founding of Social Distortion besides Danell and Casey Royer.
Danell died on February 29, 2000 at the age of 38 due to a brain aneurysm.
Mike was completely devastated.
Social Distortion only started working on the album again in June, 2000.
Yes, Sex Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll.
“Don’t Take Me For Granted”, “Reach for the Sky” and “Angel’s Wings” are songs dedicated to Danell. Personal Life Mike Ness currently lives in Newport Beach, California with his wife and two children.
A collector of vintage items such as Hamburglar Toys and Hot Rods.
Owns a 1954 Chevy and a 1936 Ford.
In 2003 he founded Black Kat Kustoms.
An expression of his love for all things hot rods, cats, bikes, and counter-culture clothing.
When it comes to his appetite, Mike is a vegetarian. Mike and Guitars Early in his career, Mike was seen using Gibson SG and SG Juniors.
Currently Mike uses 1970s Gibson Les Paul Deluxes (a 1971 sunburst, a 1975 sunburst, a 1975 goldtop and a 1976 goldtop).
The 1976 Goldtop is his favorite and most used today, but the 1971 sunburst was his main guitar for many years, especially starting in the 1990s.
Ness uses Eb standard tuning and usually uses a capo on the second fret when using his Goldtops.
About Acoustic Guitar Mike once said: “I’m just a Gibson guy. I use a Gibson J-45 every time I write”.
Mike also plays a 1939 Gibson J-35, which he says very rarely leaves the house.
Ref: en.wikipedia.org
