Mike Ness (born Michael James Ness, born April 3, 1962) is a country music … Read Full Bio ↴Mike Ness (born Michael James Ness, born April 3, 1962) is a country music singer and guitarist, best known as the vocalist, guitarist, and chief songwriter for the American punk rock band Social Distortion.

Ness was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts and raised in Fullerton in Orange County, California. Kicked out of his parents' home in Fullerton at the age of fifteen, he dabbled in drugs and petty crime, involving himself in the punk scene and founding Social Distortion in 1978. The band signed a contract with Posh Boy Records in 1981, releasing the Mainliner/Playpen 7" record. Then the band moved to 13th Floor Records in 1982 and released the album Mommy's Little Monster (1982).

By this time, Ness's drug addiction and self-destructive behavior had deepened to the point that the band almost broke up. The turmoil was captured on a video, Another State of Mind, which chronicled a cross-country tour. Five years passed before Social Distortion released their next album, 1988's Prison Bound, on Restless Records but Ness emerged from the time off free of his addictions and ready to work.

In 1989, Social Distortion signed a deal with Epic Records and released four albums with that label: the self-titled album (1990), Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992) and White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996).

The band left Epic Records after White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996) and joined Time Bomb Recordings, releasing Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (a collection of old recordings and singles that were done in the early '80s) and Live at the Roxy (1998).

In 1999, Ness released his first solo album, Cheating at Solitaire. Although Social Distortion's music had contained country inflections as far back as Prison Bound, Cheating at Solitaire was an unalloyed expression of Ness's country side. 'Solitaire' included guest appearances by rock icon Bruce Springsteen, former Stray Cat Brian Setzer and drumming legend Josh Freese as well as members of Royal Crown Revue. Springsteen had touted Social D's 'Heaven and Hell' as his favorite record of the year in a Rolling Stone interview in 1992. Ness continued in this vein, releasing a compilation of country covers entitled Under the Influences that same year. Both albums came out on Time Bomb Recordings. Ness toured extensively in the U.S. in support of these albums, backed partially by the present-day (2006) incarnation of Social Distortion; Charlie Quintana (drums) Brent Harding (standing & electric bass) and Johnny Wickersham (guitar tech). Ness and the band played at Woodstock '99. After that, his bandmate and guitarist Dennis Danell died on February 29, 2000 due to an aneurysm, but Social Distortion did not completely disband.

In 2004, Social Distortion came back with a live DVD called "Live In Orange County," and then recorded an album titled Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, which was released on Time Bomb Recordings. These efforts marked the first recordings with a line up consisting of Ness on Guitar and vocals, Wickersham on guitar, and Quintana on drums and also consisted of songs co-written by Ness and Wickersham. This is the first time Ness collaborated with another songwriter since 1990's self-titled album, on which he and then bassist John Maurer wrote 'Let it be Me'. The band's lineup changed twice after Maurer left the band, just a month before the release on Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll. He was replaced by Operation Ivy/Rancid bassist Matt Freeman until early 2005 and current member Brent Harding joined as his replacement.

In February 2006, Ness broke his wrist while skateboarding in Las Vegas. T.S.O.L. guitarist Ron Emory is filling in on guitar duties while Mike's wrist heals. Mike is still performing, just not playing guitar.

Social Distortion is currently working on their next studio album, which is due for release in late 2006/early 2007.

Ness currently lives in Santa Ana, California with his wife Christine Marie, and two sons Johnny and Julian. He is also a hot rod enthusiast, driving a chopped 1954 Chevy leadsled, a 1936 Ford, and a 1960 Chevy Impala.

(from Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ness).

House of Gold
Mike Ness Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

People still they cheat and lie
For wealth and what it will buy
But don't they know on judgment day
That gold and silver will melt away

I'd rather be in a deep dark grave
And know that my poor soul was saved
Then to live in this world in a house of gold

And deny my God and do my soul

What good is gold and silver too
If your hearts not good and true
Consider it when I say
Fall down on your knees and pray

I'd rather be in a deep dark rain
And know that my poor soul was saved

Than to live in this world in a house of gold
And deny my God and do my soul

Overall Meaning

The song House of Gold by Mike Ness is a powerful commentary on the nature of wealth and the importance of leading a good life. The verses start off by talking about how people cheat and lie to attain wealth and the things it buys, but they fail to realize that none of it will matter on judgment day when even gold and silver will melt away. The first verse sets up the argument that it is better to have a poor but righteous life rather than a rich and sinful one.

The chorus then comes in and emphasizes this point further. It talks about how the true value of a person is not in the wealth they accumulate but in the state of their heart and soul. Ness argues that it doesn't matter how much gold and silver you have if your heart is not good and true. He suggests that people should fall down on their knees and pray, recognizing that there is something more important than material wealth.

Overall, the song is a call to self-reflection about what truly matters in life. It encourages the listener to prioritize their spiritual and moral well-being above their material possessions.

Line by Line Meaning

People still they cheat and lie
People continue to deceive and be dishonest

For wealth and what it will buy
In pursuit of money and possessions

But don't they know on judgment day
Don't they realize that on the day of reckoning

That gold and silver will melt away
Material possessions will be irrelevant

I'd rather be in a deep dark grave
I would rather be dead and buried

And know that my poor soul was saved
If it meant that my soul was redeemed and secure

Then to live in this world in a house of gold
Than to live with worldly possessions and deny my faith

And deny my God and do my soul
And risk losing my soul by turning away from my beliefs

What good is gold and silver too
The value of wealth is meaningless

If your hearts not good and true
If your character is not genuine and kind

Consider it when I say
Reflect on my words