Social Distortion's Mike Ness

Social Distortion's Mike Ness

Author: brooklynvegan May 11, 2026 Duration: 45:05
This week we're talking to Mike Ness who has led SoCal punk icons Social Distortion since 1978. The band just released Born to Kill which is their first album in 15 years. It's been a long time coming, delayed further by Covid and Mike's cancer diagnosis and successful treatment.   Mike discusses the making of Born to Kill, the '70s inspirations behind it, and working with producer Dave Sardy and collaborators Lucinda Williams and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. We also talk about how beating cancer energized his desire to make even more music, Social Distortion's upcoming tour with The Descendents and The Chats, early Social D documentary Another State of Mind, playing Little Steven's Underground Garage Cruise, five records he thinks everyone should own, and more.  -- Credits: Hosted & produced by Bill Pearis Mixed and mastered by Nick Gray Theme music by Michael Silverstein

For anyone who feels music is more than just background noise, BV Interviews: A Podcast About Music offers a space to dig deeper. This podcast emerges from the long-running music blog and online record store BrooklynVegan, channeling that same curated passion into audio form. Each episode is a conversation built on genuine enthusiasm, whether it's an intimate interview with a songwriter discussing their craft, an exploration of a musical movement's history, or a discussion about the currents shaping today's sounds. You'll hear about everything from the raw energy of punk and metal to the nuanced storytelling of folk and the innovative beats of hip hop, always with a focus on the artists and stories behind the music. It’s for listeners who crave context and connection, who want to understand not just what an artist makes, but why they make it. The tone is informed and engaging, like a discussion between friends who happen to know a lot about music. Tune in for thoughtful dialogues that go beyond the typical press cycle, offering a richer appreciation for the music you already love and a reliable guide to discovering something new. This is a podcast dedicated to the endless discovery and discussion that music inspires, straight from the people who live and breathe it every day.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 79

BV Interviews: A Podcast About Music
Podcast Episodes
Best Emo Albums of 2014 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:35
To go along with our list of 30 Classic Emo & Post-Hardcore Albums Turning 10 in 2024 on BrooklynVegan.com (https://www.brooklynvegan.com/30-classic-emo-post-hardcore-albums-turning-10-in-2024/), Home Is Where vocalist B…
Saosin (Beau Burchell) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:48
A lot’s going on in the world of Saosin right now. They’re gearing up to release Live From The Garden Amphitheater, a live album recorded at their 2023 20th anniversary shows with both lead vocalists (Anthony Green and C…
VIAL (KT Branscom & Katie Fischer) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:43
Minneapolis indie-punk band VIAL join us on the BrooklynVegan podcast in celebration of their excellent new album burnout, out 3/29 via Get Better Records. It’s their third album, and in my opinion their best yet, with e…
Ned Russin (Glitterer, Title Fight) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:52
Ned Russin, leader of Glitterer and co-vocalist of the currently-dormant Title Fight, joins us on the BV show in celebration of Glitterer's great new album Rationale, out this week via ANTI- Records. The conversation vee…
Aaron Carnes (In Defense of Ska) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:09
The latest episode of the BrooklynVegan Podcast is an interview with Aaron Carnes, author of the book In Defense of Ska and co-host of the In Defense of Ska podcast. Aaron joins us to celebrate the new updated, expanded…
Dan Yemin (Paint It Black, Open City, Lifetime, etc) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:02
Dan Yemin has not one but two bands with new albums out this year: Paint It Black‘s first album in 10 years (and first for Revelation), Famine, as well as the second LP by Open City (which also includes Paint It Black/Ce…
Citizen (Mat Kerekes & Nick Hamm) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:31
It’s been a big year for the ever-changing Midwest rock band Citizen, who celebrated the 10th anniversary of their classic debut album Youth with the biggest shows of their career, and who are marching right along and ab…
Justice Tripp (Angel Du$t, Trapped Under Ice) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:01
This episode of The BrooklynVegan Show is an interview with Angel Du$t and Trapped Under Ice vocalist Justice Tripp. We talk a lot about both of his bands, with a big focus on Angel Du$t's great new album Brand New Soul,…
Norman Brannon (Texas Is The Reason, ’Anti-Matter’ zine) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:19
Norman Brannon of Texas Is The Reason, New End Original, Shelter, and more (and currently touring guitarist for Thursday) recently relanched his legendary '90s hardcore fanzine Anti-Matter as a Substack, and we invited h…