mike ness

Top 15 punk albums of 1998? You’d be forgiven for thinking that there weren’t any in the year the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal dominated the news. A quick perusal of Billboard’s Hot 100 singles of the year sees domination by several R&B (Destiny’s Child, Janet Jackson, Usher, Mariah Carey) or hip-hop (Puff Daddy, Master P, […]

Welcome to Alternative Press’ 10 best punk vocalists of the ‘00s. When we counted down that decade’s finest punk guitarists, we noted that the beginning of the new century was a turning point. The ‘90s began with Nirvana breaking down the door for punk-influenced alternative acts to become the mainstream music of the decade, peaked […]

1996: President Bill Clinton was squaring off against Kansas Sen. Bob Dole in a successful bid for a second term in the White House. On April 3, former math professor Ted Kaczynski was arrested in his remote Montana cabin, suspected (correctly, it turns out) to be American domestic terrorist the Unabomber. Conservative public policy bulwark […]

Alongside Hank Williams, Bob Dylan is arguably the greatest American songwriter of the 20th century. Last year’s blues-drenched Rough And Rowdy Ways proved that he’s hardly lost any of his gifts in this century, even as he approached his 80th birthday this past May 24. But the minute he walked into New York’s Columbia Studio […]

Some promo copywriter at the Clash’s American label, Epic Records, came up with the questionable slogan “19 songs by the only band that matters” for the sticker that appeared on the face of 1980’s U.S. release of London Calling. While singer/guitarist Joe Strummer, lead guitarist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon and drummer Topper Headon didn’t […]

“Joan Jett doesn’t play rock ’n’ roll,” I wrote two years back, reviewing her SXSW showcase for The Austin Chronicle. “She is rock ’n’ roll.” It’s true. The individual born Joan Marie Larkin in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, embodies the music and spirit better than anyone this side of Keith Richards. As Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong […]

The mood of 1992: “We won!” Nirvana’s Nevermind sold by the truckload hourly. All anyone could talk about was alternative rock and grunge. Record biz execs walked around that spring’s SXSW convention in Austin in floppy, artfully unwashed hair, just-purchased flannel shirts and ripped jeans. You’d pass a line of them in the parking lot […]

With one classic punk album under his belt, Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness seemed like a safe bet to die before he turned 25. Instead, he cleaned up and kept the band going through its 40th birthday. At 57, he’s still in fighting shape—literally—and his band have no end in sight. Social Distortion will celebrate […]

Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness has been accused of repeatedly punching a pro-Trump fan in the face during a Sacramento gig on July 19. Read more: Pearl Jam poster illustrates Donald Trump’s skeleton surrounded in flames At the California show, Ness began discussing ICE and called Donald Trump a “bigot” and a “racist” onstage, which […]

Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone, a new AT&T original documentary series, features iconic rock and roll songwriter and guitarist Mike Ness of Social Distortion. In this exclusive clip, Ness talks about giving up wireless and going back to plugging in directly to maximize his signal change. Read more: Snag a spot on Warped Tour main […]

Thanks to Rise Records for passing on a video featuring Sharks with special guest Mike Ness of Social Distortion performing the tune “Lude Boy,” live at the National in Richmond, Virginia.