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Social Distortion's Mike Ness Is More Than a Tattooed Tough Guy
- Posted on May 7th 2010 2:00PM by Kenneth Partridge
After 30 years and six studio albums -- seven, if you count the one he's recording now and hopes to release by the end of this year -- Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness has forged an ironclad public persona. He's a sensitive tough guy, a poetic guitar slinger, Bruce Springsteen with a criminal record.As the punk legend tells Spinner, however, he's more than just the person he portrays in his songs and plays onstage.
"My writing and my stage stuff, that's just one side of me," Ness says, calling from a payphone in Southern California. "There are so many others people don't know -- being a vegetarian, my spiritual beliefs. There are dimensions to anybody."
Watch 'Don't Take Me for Granted'
So, is that character, the inked-up tough with the heart of gold, an accurate reflection of the real Mike Ness?
"I try to keep it as near as possible," Ness says. As a result of his lyrical frankness, he says, people he meets sometimes think they know him, and some feel compelled to act a certain way in his presence. Case in point: a former neighbor who would become instantly more vulgar whenever Ness was around, cursing like a sailor to win his approval.
"It just changed," Ness says. "I was like, 'Who are you?'"
Although Ness' songs are autobiographical, and many of the struggles he sings about are rooted in reality, he likes to keep part of himself hidden. He's not about to challenge John Mayer for Twitter supremacy, in other words.
"You don't need to know that my favorite show is 'Everybody Hates Chris,'" Ness says.
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I wouldn't want to be over-exposed either, and Ness seems to prefer to project a certain image to keep himself from becoming over-exposed. I say good for him! There are enough sell-outs, like John Mayer. I saw him just a couple of weeks ago at Voodoo Fest in New Orleans, and he, along with the rest of SxDx, can still tear it up. Not many have been at it as long as Ness, with the kind of success that he has, without selling out. That's the punk dream!
So, Gary, whoever you are, you need to reexamine selling out and what musicianship is really about, or like David S. said, just go back to your country music and leave the punk rock to those of us who can handle it.
mike ness is the best,,,,,he's real, unlike u fake ******....love u mike & ur music.
August 21 2011 at 4:14 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
dan
He isn't as well known as say a Bono, or axl rose by his choice. He has been selling out venues for years. Its called punk rock you goon. He is plenty well known, just not by kooks who listen to sell out bands like yourself.
February 14 2011 at 2:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Jay Wall
Gary,
I grew up in a small town south of Green Bay, Wisconsin. Social Distortion played here in 1988. I know them, I love their music and just about every friend I have has heard of them...whether that friend is in South Africa, Germany, L.A. or Florida.
He is not a poser or a criminal. He certainly has experimented with folk, country, rock and blues...as well as his mainstay punk...but that doesn't mean he is unoriginal. We are all the sum of our experiences.
Another thing, Gary, it is always easier to criticize than to praise. If Mike's music has lifted me at times, spoken to a part of me and made me a happier person, who are you to judge?
If I knew who you were? Tell me who you are, I would love to have a conversation with you. Maybe I can draw some of that bitterness out of you and turn it into something worth reading.
john h
people who write in all caps are the biggest losers!!!!
mike ness is a good guy.
gary
1 reply to gary's comment
MAYBE PEOPLE IN LA, BUT NOT THE WORLD!!!IF YOU KNEW WHO I REALLY WAS YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND! HES A WANNA BE! I JUST LIKE TO COME ON HERE TIME TO TIME AND SEE HOW PEOPLE ARE DUPPED! HES A SMALL TIME CRIMINAL THAT WANTS TO BE SOMEBODY!!! HE NEVER WAS AND HE NEVER WILL! HES A HOMETOWN WANNA BE! THATS IT! LOL! GET A LIFE!! DONT BOTHER RESPONDING DAVE, I WONT BE BACK ! LOL!
May 08 2010 at 7:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Larry
Gary, you sir, are a dip sh*t.
May 25 2010 at 11:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
gary
1 reply to gary's comment
WHAT A FRIGGIN LOSER! BEEN IN A BAND 30 YEARS AND THE WORLD DOESNT EVEN KNOW HIM! HE SHOULD OF GAVE UP MUSIC WHEN HE PICKED UP A GUITAR! AND HE CANT PLAY WORTH A CRAP! HE AINT S..IT!!!
May 08 2010 at 7:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
David S.
Gary -- plenty of people know Social Distortion. They are an awesome band. Go back to your trailer and your country music videos.
May 08 2010 at 7:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
JORDAN
Social D NEEDS to be inducted in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame! I grew up here in LA listening to Social D's music, they inspired a lot of OC Punk and Mainstream Rock bands. They deserve to be in the RnR Hall of Fame.
May 08 2010 at 5:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
MR.V
Good on ya' Mr. Ness. Gotta' love a guy who's true to himself. Keep on rockin'!!
May 08 2010 at 2:47 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
11 Comments