Biography

Michael James Ness was born April 3rd, 1962 in Lynn, Massachusetts. His family moved to Fullerton, California when he was young and he grew up in a broken home. He started Social Distortion as a teen in 1978, and was promptly arrested at their first show for spitting in a cop's face. Social D's first album, "Mommy's Little Monster" brought them fame around L.A., as did their first tour with Youth Brigade as documented in the 1983 movie, Another State of Mind (1984). After that, Ness went on a downward spiral of drugs and depravity. After arrests for burglary and hospital stays for overdoses, he cleaned up, reformed Social Distortion and released "Prison Bound" in 1987. Their next self-titled album (1990) brought them their first hits, with a cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and the songs "Story of My Life" and "Ball and Chain". After the release of 1992's "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell", Social D laid low for a while but came back with new drummer, Chuck Biscuits, and the album "White Light White Heat White Trash" in 1996, bringing with them their biggest hit, "I Was Wrong." Social Distortion released a live album in 1997 and toured extensively through this time. Ness released two solo albums, "Cheating At Solitaire" and "Under the Influences" in 1999. He was dealt a huge blow in 2000 when his best friend and fellow band member Dennis Danell died from a brain aneurysm while moving into a new house in Orange County. He, as well as LA groups X, the Offspring and TSOL, played a benefit called 'When THe Angels Sing' in honor of Danell. Ness continues to play solo and with Social Distortion and is the father of a young boy, Julian.