Michael James Ness, a renowned musician, was born on April 3rd, 1962, in Lynn, Massachusetts. His family relocated to Fullerton, California, when he was still young, and he spent his formative years in a tumultuous home environment.
As a teenager, Ness co-founded Social Distortion in 1978, and their inaugural performance was marked by his arrest for spitting in a police officer's face. The band's debut album, "Mommy's Little Monster," garnered significant attention in the Los Angeles music scene, particularly after their first tour with Youth Brigade, which was documented in the 1983 film "Another State of Mind" (released in 1984).
However, Ness's life began to spiral out of control, marked by a downward spiral of drug abuse and destructive behavior. He was arrested multiple times, including for burglary, and spent time in the hospital due to overdose-related illnesses. Eventually, Ness cleaned up his act, reformed Social Distortion, and released their sophomore album, "Prison Bound," in 1987.
The band's self-titled third album, released in 1990, brought them their first major hits, including a cover of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and original tracks like "Story of My Life" and "Ball and Chain." Their subsequent album, "Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell," released in 1992, was followed by a period of relative quiet, during which the band regrouped with new drummer Chuck Biscuits and released "White Light White Heat White Trash" in 1996. This album featured their biggest hit to date, "I Was Wrong."
Social Distortion released a live album in 1997 and embarked on an extensive touring schedule. Ness also pursued a solo career, releasing two albums, "Cheating At Solitaire" and "Under the Influences," in 1999.
Tragedy struck in 2000 when Ness's best friend and fellow bandmate, Dennis Danell, passed away from a brain aneurysm while moving into a new home in Orange County. In response, Ness, along with LA bands X, the Offspring, and TSOL, organized a benefit concert called "When The Angels Sing" in Danell's honor.
Ness continues to perform both as a solo artist and with Social Distortion, and he is also the proud father of a young son named Julian.
