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).
Misery Loves Company
Mike Ness Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I lurked the streets late at night
I ain't never comin' home
But loneliness
Is part of the game
And misery loves company
I used to think that I was a king
Fancy cars, fancy clothes and diamond rings
Yeah but happiness is a funny thing
And misery just loves company
Bridge
Don't even try to understand
What goes on inside this man
As a boy I used to dream
'cause' sometimes life ain't what it seems
We used to dance under moonlight
But then the tears began to fall
And baby that ain't right
'cause' losin' you
Was part of the game
And misery loves company
'cause' fuckin' up
Was part of the game
And misery loves company
In Mike Ness's song "Misery Loves Company" the singer opens up about his past reckless ways, roaming the streets and never coming home. He describes how loneliness is a part of the game that he plays, and how misery loves company. The singer reflects on his past thoughts of himself as a king, with fancy cars, clothes, and diamond rings, however, he realizes that happiness is a funny thing and that misery just loves company.
The bridge of the song is a plea to not try and understand what goes on inside the man that he is now. He explains that as a boy he used to dream, but sometimes life is not always what it seems. The singer then reminisces about dancing under the moonlight with his loved one, only to eventually lose them. He recognizes that losing them was part of the game, and that misery loves company. The ending of the song reflects on how messing up was also part of the game, and that misery loves company.
Overall, "Misery Loves Company" is a melancholic reflection on the past and the choices that have been made. The song depicts how sometimes misery can be more comfortable than happiness and how past mistakes have made the singer feel this way.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to roam all night long
I used to wander aimlessly in the dark for hours
I lurked the streets late at night
I would walk the empty roads at night
I ain't never comin' home
I have no plans of returning home
But loneliness is part of the game
Being alone is just part of the lifestyle I have chosen
And misery loves company
Unfortunately, when I am feeling down, it seems others are, too
I used to think that I was a king
I thought I had everything a person could want
Fancy cars, fancy clothes and diamond rings
My possessions were impressive and expensive
Yeah but happiness is a funny thing
The feeling of being content is elusive
And misery just loves company
It seems that feeling sad is contagious
Don't even try to understand
You won't be able to comprehend
What goes on inside this man
The tumultuous thoughts and emotions inside me
As a boy I used to dream
I had so many hopes and aspirations as a child
Sometimes life ain't what it seems
Unfortunately, reality often falls short of expectations
We used to dance under moonlight
We shared many romantic moments together
But then the tears began to fall
Our happiness was short-lived and eventually turned into sorrow
And baby that ain't right
It's not fair that we had to endure so much pain
Losing you was part of the game
The end of our relationship was just another obstacle I had to face
And misery loves company
Unfortunately, my misery attracted more misery
'Cause fuckin' up was part of the game
Making mistakes is just one of the risks that come with my lifestyle
And misery loves company
Sorrow seems to be a common thread amongst those like me
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: MICHAEL NESS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind