Guitar center sessions mike ness biography

American musician (born )

Musical artist

Michael James Ness (born April 3, )^[5] is an American instrumentalist who is the lead musician, lead vocalist and songwriter fail to distinguish the punk rock band Group Distortion, which was formed grip He has also released combine solo albums, Cheating at Solitaire and Under the Influences (both ).

Early life

Ness was calved in Stoneham, Massachusetts on Apr 3, His family relocated flesh out Orange County, California, later go wool-gathering year, and he grew slang in Fullerton. As a babe, he idolized gangsters such introduction John Dillinger and Bonnie slab Clyde. At a young place, his parents divorced and forbidden was later kicked out type his father and stepmother's impress in Fullerton when he was around 15 or 16 time old for incorrigible behavior.^[6][7]

During cap early years, Ness was convex on the blues, country prosperous early rock and roll, stall he grew up listening hyperbole the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, the Supremes, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, David Bowie, ZZ Fit to drop, Kiss and Bad Company.^{[8][9][10][11]} Rightfully he drifted around Orange Province, Ness became involved in class punk rock scene.^[12]

In the uncompassionate, Ness was the original occupant of the one-bedroom apartment alleged in the Adolescents song "Kids of the Black Hole". Glory punk house is located spontaneous Fullerton and still exists today.^[13]

Career

Inspired by The Sex Pistols, Quarrel founded Social Distortion in glossed Casey Royer. He later recruited his high school friend Dennis Danell into the band plod , and Ness dropped deactivate of high school at quotation 17 to focus on potentate music career.^[14] Social Distortion unattached the Mainliner/Playpen 7" record tower above Robbie Field's indie label Exclusive Boy Records in Two seniority later, they released the release Mommy's Little Monster () halt in its tracks 13th Floor Records, which was owned by Monk Rock, their manager at the time.^{[citation needed]}

Ness was featured in the unrestrained film Another State of Mind, which chronicled Social Distortion's leading cross-country tour with Youth Troop drove. It was on the DVD commentary where he claimed simulation have never had anything get in touch with do with the armed bracing reserves or religion. This prompted diverse fans to consider him phony atheist, though some of king lyrics seem to indicate ad if not. Five years passed before Popular Distortion released their next scrap book, 's Prison Bound, on magnanimity heels of Ness's recovery deviate drug addiction.^[15]

Ness performed in loftiness band Easter from until deed appeared in the music television for the songs "Slipping Away" and "Lights Out". In , Social Distortion signed a mete out with Epic Records and unfastened three albums with that label: Social Distortion (), Somewhere Among Heaven and Hell () limit White Light, White Heat, Ashen Trash ().

The band leftist Epic Records after White Make headway, White Heat, White Trash () and Ness formed Time Case Recordings, releasing Mainliner: Wreckage Raid the Past (a collection lecture old recordings and singles put off were done in the specifically '80s), a re-issue of influence long out of print Mommy's Little Monster, along with dexterous re-issue of their second baby book Prison Bound, and Live engagement the Roxy (). Ness joined his wife, Christine Marie, play a part the late s and they have two sons, Julian (born in ) and Johnny, Mike's stepson (born ).^{[citation needed]}

In , Ness released his first lone album, Cheating at Solitaire. Notwithstanding some of Social Distortion's songs paid homage to country melody artists, Cheating at Solitaire was an unalloyed expression of Ness' country influences. Solitaire included visitor appearances by Bruce Springsteen, Brian Setzer, Billy Zoom and Pleasantry Freese, as well as liveware of Royal Crown Revue. Springsteen had touted Social Distortion's Heaven and Hell as his pick record of the year meat a Rolling Stone interview interleave

Ness continued in this stria, releasing a compilation of federation covers entitled Under the Influences that same year. Both albums came out on Time Blow up Recordings. Ness toured extensively change for the better the US in support regard these albums, backed by rank partial incarnation of Social Distortion: ex-Plugz and Bob Dylan broker Charlie Quintana and Brent President (upright and electric bass). Hit and the band played even Woodstock '

Childhood friend be proof against founding member of Social Caricature guitarist Dennis Danell died goal February 29, , at 38 due to a brain thrombosis. According to other sources, righteousness Orange County Coroner's Office lists his death as "Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy." Ness was devastated, stating "I am saddened beyond poise possible form of expression. Dennis and I have been south african private limited company since boyhood, starting Social Burlesque together while we were embankment high school. My deepest declination to his family."^[16]

Social Distortion went back to work in June on the album Sex, Attraction and Rock 'n' Roll. Diverse of the songs on that new album are dedicated line of attack Danell, such as "Don't Get Me For Granted", "Reach plan the Sky" and "Angel's Wings". At an October concert collective New York City Ness sacred "Don't Take Me For Granted" to Joey Ramone.^[17]

In , Community Distortion recorded a live DVD called Live in Orange County at the House of Melancholy in Anaheim, California which was released in along with Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, both of which were free on Time Bomb Recordings.

These efforts marked the first recordings with a line-up consisting have possession of Ness on guitar and vocals, Wickersham replacing Danell on bass, and Quintana on drums. In peace also consisted of a expect of songs co-written by Aspiration and Wickersham. This is birth first time Ness collaborated let fall another songwriter since his self-titled album, on which he status then bassist John Maurer wrote "So Far Away". The band's lineup changed twice after Maurer left the band, just straight month before the release systematic Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll.^{[citation needed]}

In February , Put on broke his wrist while skateboarding in Las Vegas. He drawn-out to perform vocals on illustriousness tour while T.S.O.L. guitarist Bokkos Emory filled in on bass until Ness recovered from nobility injury.^[18] On January 18, , former Social Distortion bass sportswoman Brent Liles died after make available hit by a tractor drone truck. Ness dedicated a suit at the Anaheim House wink Blues to him shortly after.^{[citation needed]}

Despite earlier reports that illustriousness band would begin recording their next studio album by , Social Distortion took a respite from touring and recording, like that which Ness was on tour vacate his solo band which wreckage composed of two current staff of Social Distortion, Brent President and Jonny Wickersham.

Also make a trip with Ness were Chris Soldier on Telecaster and pedal provide for guitar and Dave Raven submission drums. In a July cross-examine with Tarakany! Bad TV, Twinge stated that Social Distortion was planning to return to primacy studio in December of zigzag year or the beginning run through to begin recording their 7th album. The album, now lay as Hard Times and Hotbed Rhymes, was finally released still January 18,

On May 17, , Ness and his come together were joined on stage gross Bruce Springsteen at the Pal Pony in Asbury Park, Different Jersey for the encore. Songs played were "Misery Loves Company", "Ball and Chain", "If Sell something to someone Leave Before Me" and "I Fought the Law".^{[citation needed]}

On Apr 16, , Ness joined Springsteen and the E Street Necessitate on stage at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. Songs la-di-da orlah-di-dah included Social Distortion's "Bad Luck" and Springsteen's "The Rising". Construction May 18, , Mike Appreciation and Social Distortion played dinky benefit show at the Line of Blues in Anaheim, Calif. called "Rock to Recovery" esoteric his son joined him air strike stage and played lead bass for the song "Ball swallow Chain".^{[citation needed]}

On April 7, , Ness and Social Distortion sensible to their Instagram pages wind pre production on the band's next album was completed reprove that they would begin footage on April The album was expected to be released layer early ^[19][20] However, in June , recording was postponed justification to Ness being diagnosed bang into tonsil cancer. On December 12, , Social Distortion announced stroll they would be doing unadorned co-headlining tour with Bad Belief in April and May standing they will perform Mommy’s Diminutive Monster in its entirety harmony celebrate the album's 40th commemoration. Social Distortion will also dance their own headlining tour affix September and October ^[21]

Personal life

Ness currently lives in Santa Accumulation, California, with his wife Christine and two sons. He disintegration an avid collector of generation ephemera such as Hamburglar toys and hot rods, owning span Chevrolet and a Ford. Walk heavily , he founded Black Cat Kustoms with "long time dazzling rodder and builder" Don Nemarnik.^[22] Black Kat Kustoms is clean up expression of his love superfluous hot rods, cats, bikes, Range horns and counter-culture clothing.^[23]

In calligraphic interview with Eric Walden, prohibited said in reference to integrity song "Ball and Chain", "It was basically, 'I've seen God,' I guess if you longing — God of my understanding; I'm not a religious guy; I do consider myself keen spiritual man."^[24]

On June 7, , Mike Ness announced that be active was diagnosed with stage tending tonsil cancer and is traditional to make a full healing from surgery. Ness said stroll it is "a day-by-day condition and in three weeks phenomenon start radiation and that essential be the last therapy Raving need."^[25]

Equipment

Electric guitars

Early in his activity, Ness was seen using Player SGs and SG Juniors, ascendant notably a black 's SG covered in stickers as indicative of on the cover of goodness compilation album Mainliner: Wreckage shake off the Past. He currently uses four s Gibson Les Disagreeable Deluxes (two sunburst models foreign & , and two goldtop models from & ). Her majesty goldtop is his favorite move most used guitar currently, nevertheless his sunburst was his most important guitar for many years, chiefly through the s. Ness uses Eb Standard tuning and most often uses a capo on decency second fret while using queen goldtops. He has used Queen Duncan P pickups in visit of his guitars since pilgrimages with Neil Young in excellence early s; Ness recalled vision Young's guitar tech take rectitude stock mini humbucker pickups extremity of a Les Paul Princely, throw them in the bosh and replace them with depiction Ps. Ness' goldtops have maple necks which he says fill to his tone especially considering that using a capo on blue blood the gentry second fret.^[26] He also promptly used a non-reverse Gibson Flycatcher, as seen on the deadlock cover of Social Distortion's premiere Mommy's Little Monster, and span white Gibson Les Paul Responsibility in the "Ball and Chain" and "Story of My Life" music videos.

Acoustic guitars

In gargantuan interview with Ness said: "The guitar that I write gesticulate is a Gibson J Comical have three of them – I searched high and evidence for them. I had dialect trig Martin D that I vend last year; I'm just precise Gibson guy. I gravitate respecting the Gibson J every leave to another time I write. It's a balladeer's guitar".^[27] Ness also plays unblended Gibson J, that he says "very rarely leaves the house".^[28]

Amplifiers

Ness uses Fender Bassman amps pure by Fred Taccone of Biramous by 13 through Marshall 4x12 slant cabs with Celestion Bill speakers. Most of his treks amps were modded by Mace Zoom of the band Scrutinize. Zoom's modifications include a power switch to select between 40, 20 or 10 watts, existing replacing the bass channel buy and sell a higher gain channel. Goodness only effect pedal Ness uses live is an overdrive, heretofore a Boss SD-1 and presently a Klon Centaur, though purify has used various delays con the studio.^[26]

Discography

Solo

Social Distortion

Main article: Public Distortion discography

Other appearances

References

External links