If it seems like Mike Ness has been around forever, it’s probably because he’s lived two or three lifetimes and had as many careers since being born in Stoneham, MA, on April 3, 1962. And, if it seems like Mike’s songs have a ring of authenticity, it’s probably because he’s been there; done that. He’s been kicked out of his SoCal home (at 15), fronted a popular punk rock band (Social Distortion, at 16), been to jail multiple times, gotten addicted to and beaten heroin (by 23), worked as a house painter while getting his life back together, and survived two band breakups and 26 separate band members (4 of whom, including best friend Dennis Danell, died).

You wouldn’t suspect that the kid whose apartment was described in The Adolescents “The Kids of the Black Hole,” who was featured in the video Another State of Mind, and who found kindred spirits in the Sex Pistols, The Clash and Johnny Cash, would today be clean and sober (since 1985), married and the father of two children, owner of a successful custom car shop, and back on the road with Social Distortion (when pal Bruce Springsteen isn’t sharing the stage with him). During the years in between, Mike produced 7 studio albums with Social Distortion and 2 more as a solo punk cowboy and wrote an autobiography, “Story of My Life.” A new Social Distortion album is expected soon.

Happy Birthday Mike!