Cape was innate within Stoneham, Massachusetts and raised in Orange County, California. Kicked away from his parents' front yard at a age of xv, he dabbled around doses & petty crime, involving himself around the tinny scene & founding Social Distortion in 1978. the band signed a locate Posh Boy Records in 1981, releasing the Mainliner/Playpen 7" record. Then the band moved to 13th Floor Records in 1983 and released the album Mommy's Little Monster (1983).

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 TimeBomb Recordings but Ness emerged from the time off, free of his addictions and ready to work.

More Social Distortion albums followed after signing with Epic Records in 1989: the self-titled album (1990), and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell (1992).

The band left Epic Records after Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell and rejoined TimeBomb Recordings, releasing White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996), Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (a collection of old recordings and singles that were done in the early 80's) 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. Ness continued in this vein, releasing a compilation of country covers entitled Under the Influences that same year. Both albums came out on TimeBomb Recordings. After that, his bandmate and guitarist Dennis Danell died on February 29, 2000 due to an aneurysm, but Social Distortion did not completley disband.

In 2004, Social Distortion came back with a live DVD called "Infect Orange County," and then recorded an album titled Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll, which was released on TimeBomb Recordings. The band's line up changed twice after bassist John Maurer left the band, just a month before the release on Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll. As of late 2005, there have been no announcements which indicate if the current bassist Brent Harding would stay in the band permanently and appear on the new album that will be recorded and released in 2006.

Mike Ness currently lives in Santa Ana, California with his wife Christine Marie, and two sons Johnny and Julian.

Discography
Solo: Cheating at Solitaire (1999) Under the Influences (1999)

Social Distortion: ''Mommy's Little Monster (1983) Prison Bound (1988) Self-Titled (1990) Somewhere Between Heaven And Hell (1992) Mainliner: Wreckage From the Past (1995) White Light, White Heat, White Trash (1996) Live at the Roxy (1998) Sex, Love and Rock 'n' Roll (2004)

Other Appearances Another State of Mind (1982) Fresno Smooth Live In Orange County'' (2004)