Social Distortion

Social Distortion have been around for 40 years, representing Orange County, California punk-rock alongside Tsol and Adolescents. Their debut "Mommy's Little Monster" is a genre classic, while their second album "Prison Bound" begins to show the American roots-rock influences that would go on to define their later work. Admired by artists as different as Pearl Jam and James Hetfield of Metallica, this band are the true standard-bearers of genuine, honest (punk) rock. And they show no sign of stopping.

Special thanks to Alexa and Timo of Spin Go! for granting this general interview with Mike Ness, translated by Francesco Franchini.

It's been 15 years since your last album "Hard Times And Nursery Rhymes", why did it take so long, Mike?

You know, I was just thinking about that the other day, and the answer that immediately came to mind is that we're a band that's always on tour around the world. With that record we toured for 3 or 4 years straight, luckily there are a lot of cities that want to see Social Distortion! But I was also thinking about what had happened outside of the band's life, and there I can say a lot. First of all, in my family, my eldest son Julian had problems with drug and alcohol addiction, even prescription drugs, so we had to help him, and through all of this I was often out on tour, it was tough and it clearly interrupted our plans to write a new album. Then I had to go through a treatment plan for hepatitis C, which I'd probably contracted over the years from IV drug use. Back in 2000 I'd already tried a couple of treatments that didn't work. Now a new one has come along in pill form that's much better. We moved twice, some family members passed away... I don't want to make excuses, but it was truly an intense period, I tried to keep things balanced, but you can't make everyone happy, that's just how it is. Then, obviously, there was Covid, which slowed us down for two years, although I never stopped writing — it doesn't take 15 years to make a record, not for us anyway. There are a couple of songs on "Born To Kill" that are 30 years old and had never been finished. There were a ton of tracks to choose from, so once we decided to go with the mood of getting into production, we stopped touring to get ready. But halfway through, I was diagnosed with cancer.

How are you today? Did you get through it?

As far as I know, yes. I'm very grateful to have come out the other side and to be able to get back on stage just a year after treatment.

Was finishing the record one of the things that motivated you to beat the illness?

Yes, really. I'd sit in the chemo chair once a week for 5 hours, put my headphones on and listen to what we were putting together for the album. It motivated me. Plus I had a grandchild on the way, I had to make it, I'm also a father and a husband, you know. I had these 4 or 5 goals, and I'd bargain with God, telling him: "I've still got work to finish here"!

In the mini-documentary about the making of "Born To Kill", you say that country music helped you get your voice back

Yes, I couldn't sing at first, my throat had been cut open, even my tongue had to be stitched back together, so I had to start over with easy stuff. Country is emotional, a good method.

The song "Warn Me", not included on the new LP, is about your experience with cancer. When did you write it and when will it come out?

I wrote it in a hotel room when we got back to playing shows. The day after I wrote it, I played it live. This whole experience left a huge impact on me, the inspiration for this song came from the fans, who sent me messages of love and encouragement. That really touched me.

How have you managed to keep going since 1978?

I think our music really touches people in a very human way, we're lucky that our sound is timeless. Not everyone manages that. See, record labels have tried to market this kind of music, but that can only happen once. We sing about life: the good, the bad and the downright ugly!

Why the title "Born To Kill"?

It's kind of a statement of intent, being part of a counterculture and being in the minority, you have to fight, fight hard. And the people who hated us, well, where are they now? What are they doing? Who cares! (laughs, ed.).

Musically the album is a callback to the 70s and 80s.

Yes, the vibe is definitely retro, I wanted to go back to the 70s, when technology didn't rule everything and rock'n'roll reigned supreme, not Donald Trump! It was really revitalizing, it gave me so much energy.

Is rock'n'roll still alive?

I think so. There are young bands out there who really believe in it, who understand that raw energy and manage to express it. I genuinely appreciate it when I sense that in a young band.

"White Light White Heat White Trash", released in 1996, was acclaimed by critics and fans alike - what's your favourite track on it?

I think "Dear Lover". I don't remember where the inspiration for the music came from, sometimes it just arrives. Sometimes it's a guitar riff that turns into a song. I was really lucky on that record to work with a producer (Michael Beinhorn, ed.) who, even after I'd given him 12 songs, pushed me to write more! (laughs, ed.). He kept me on edge, made me dig deep.

On the new album you're working with Dave Sardy as producer, who has previously collaborated with Noel Gallagher, Who, Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

His name came up when we were thinking about various producers. It was a great experience, both the recording and the mixing. I feel really prolific right now, I want to do a lot. I'll tell you this: you won't have to wait another 15 years for a new Social Distortion record!

How did you end up getting Benmont Tench from Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers and Lucinda Williams on the record?

Two American icons. I'm a huge Tom Petty fan, a lot of people don't know that. We didn't have a keyboard player, so I thought I'd try to see if Tench was interested, and he had a blast! As for Lucinda, I've admired her for years: we're friends, I wanted to do a duet, I wanted a voice that could bring out the pain, and she was the only possible choice.

What will the new live shows be like?

Pure rock'n'roll energy! I want people to understand we're not going soft. We're older, sure, but we're not backing down. We won't play the whole album, that would be selfish, there'll be a bit of everything, you can't not play songs from 30/40 years ago that the fans expect.

(10 May 2026)

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