Interview with Social D front man / American singer-songwriter Mike Ness
You are one of the few musicians who I can think of that has so seamlessly morphed from one style to another and not only kept all of your original fans but acquired a whole new set of them, how have you been able to do it?
I don’t know technically how I did it, I just have theories. I think that Social Distortion fans always appreciated the fact that Social Distortion was never afraid to evolve and to grow and mature and I think if we were still writing about the same things we were writing about in 1979 it’d be silly - we’d still be singing about Ronald Reagan. That’s one aspect, the other aspect is the honesty of the music and - ya know I still try to deliver the same way I deliver with Social Distortion in terms of a live performance. I put the same effort into this, and even though the songs are different the crowd has been just as enthusiastic and receptive, it’s refreshing minus the testosterone in the pit – you don’t have this guy trying to be king of the pit. Life’s about taking risks man, I took a huge risk when I went and recorded this record 8-9 years ago, leaving the comfort zone, stepping into something else and it worked out for me. It cast a different light on me with journalists; it was a critically acclaimed record, not only Mike Ness founder of Social Distortion, [but for] Mike Ness - American singer songwriter, future storyteller of his generation
What do you think about that new role?
It’s a role that I completely welcome and appreciate. It’s a very flattering role. I take it as a compliment.
You are playing huge festivals like Stagecoach and 1000 seaters still, which sort of venue do you prefer?
My favorite places to play are the 2000-2500 seat theatres and we’ll end up doing a couple of those on this tour. With no record for this the tour it just lets people know I’m still into this and I’m still going to be into this in the future. Some of the venues are places Social Distortion plays.
In certain places, especially California you are more than a musician, you have become an icon but one that seems down to earth, are you or have you gone completely crazy like one might assume someone with your level of fame has gone?
I would say its both, I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy my celebrity status, I do interviews, [I’m a] California icon and this and that and it’s a little hard to understand but at the same time I don’t recoil from it, it actually feels good. I have worked hard for almost thirty years building this image up and working hard to make it everything that it is.
Who are you touring with? Who would you like to be working with in the future?
Jessie Dayton is with me, local Austin, Texas guy I’ve known for years. I would have to say Dolly Parton or George Jones - Merle Haggard, any of them man - it would be awesome. There’s always the next record. I had a list of guest performances [for the last album] and Johnny Cash was one of them and we came so close. I was lucky Brian Setzer and Bruce Springsteen did [guest appearances].
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned from the music industry?
I don’t know if I’ve learned anything. I think I had to have a brutal determination to make this work. Sometimes it’s still a very discouraging road. Its instilled a good work ethic in me – never giving up and moving forward.