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).
Let the Jukebox Keep on Playing
Mike Ness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let that record roll around
Let my baby keep on sayin'
She's the lonesome gal in town
Let her know that I'll be waiting
Till my lonely days are through
Let the jukebox keep on playin'
Let those honky tonkin' angels
Be the girl I never loved,
Let her know it's you I'm cravin'
And it's you I'm thinkin' of
Let her know that I'll be waiting
Till my lonely days are through
Let the jukebox keep on playin'
Till I'm holding you
Oh, let the jukebox keep on playing
Let that record spin around
Let my baby keep on sayin'
She's the lonesome gal in town
Let her know that I'll be waiting
Till my lonely days are through
Let the jukebox keep on playing
Till I'm holding you
The lyrics to Mike Ness's song, Let the Jukebox Keep on Playing, appear to be about a man longing for a woman who he cannot be with. He begs the jukebox to keep playing so that he can listen to the music while he waits for the day he can be with his love. The lyrics suggest he has not been able to have a relationship with her, despite wanting her to know that he'll be waiting for her until his "lonely days are through." It seems that he believes that she doesn't know he loves her and wishes someone could tell her while they're dancing to the music the jukebox is playing. The lyrics capture a sense of longing and hopefulness that he will be able to be with her one day.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, let the jukebox keep on playing
Please let the jukebox continue to sing for me.
Let that record roll around
Let the music play all around me and keep me company.
Let my baby keep on sayin'
Let my lover keep telling me that she's alone in town and needs me.
She's the lonesome gal in town
She is the only one in need of my love, so I should strive to have her by my side.
Let her know that I'll be waiting
I will wait patiently for her to come and abide with me.
Till my lonely days are through
Until I don't feel the need for her presence anymore.
Let those honky tonkin' angels
Those seductive beauties on the dance floor.
Be the girl I never loved,
I have no interest in them, as the one I truly love is my only focus.
Let her know it's you I'm cravin'
I desire her, and no one else.
And it's you I'm thinkin' of
I'm giving my heart to you entirely.
Oh, let the jukebox keep on playing
Let the music never stop as it represents the love that I have for her.
Let that record spin around
Let the music keep moving and swirling around me.
Let my baby keep on sayin'
Let my lover keep reminding me of her presence and the need for my love.
She's the lonesome gal in town
She's the only princess in the entire kingdom and deserves my attention.
Let her know that I'll be waiting
She needs to know that I will wait patiently for her to come by and join me.
Till my lonely days are through
Until she fills up my heart and my days no longer feel lonely.
Let the jukebox keep on playing
The melody and rhythms of this music keep me sane and alive.
Till I'm holding you
Until I can hold my love and protect her for the rest of my life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gary Harle
It likely isn't easy to combine country and punk, but Mike Ness more than succeeds!
MickeyMallory Knox
Gary Harle That's kinda what Irish music is....country punk music....
Roy Carrales
Man his greatness has no limit
Marcelo Ortega
Great cover! Social D still sounds good 2019
Vladimir Mandingo
Carl would be proud of it, a very heartful cover.
IFreakingEatPeople
damn. i love his country songs. its like country with a little bit of social d
Epic.Mrs.Epic
I was 14 when I started to listen Social D & mike Ness. I'm never disappointed. In fact its helped mw truck through some stuff. Viva Social D!!!
kingoma61
The original recording was Sun 224 by Carl Perkins backed with "Gone, Gone, Gone" released in 1955. Carl Perkins' next Sun single was "Blue Suede Shoes", Sun 234, backed with "Honey Don't". Carl Perkins was definitely a favorite of all The Beatles. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr all recorded his songs as a group and solo. Paul McCartney administers his song catalog through MPL. My guess is that Paul McCartney controls the rights to this song.
bearlooter
Carl perkins owns balls
ericenders
I really dig on the fact that Mike pays homage to his old school inspirations. With the shit they call music of today, you'd never see that. Carl Perkins was kick ass, I am pretty certain hes the original on this tune.