AT&T AUDIENCE Network to Air 'Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone 'Mike Ness' Special

Tune in to AT&T AUDIENCE Network for: "Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone 'Mike Ness'" on Friday, April 22 at 8:00 p.m. PM ET/PT (DIRECTV Ch 239/U-verse Ch 1114). Watch as renowned guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer Mike Ness sits down for the new documentary series.

In the candid interview, Ness touches on a wide range of topics from how he found his "groove" to rebelling through the music of his band, Social Distortion. The interview digs deep into Ness' songwriting process.

"The pursuit of finding one's tone can be a long and delicate process; I am lucky to have found mine," says Ness. "The intimacy and the freedom that playing guitar has provided for me, the voice it's given to me, is a gift that I don't take for granted."

Watch the trailer for AT&T AUDIENCE Network's "Ernie Ball: The Pursuit of Tone 'Mike Ness'" HERE!

AT&T AUDIENCE Network's new music slate continues to deliver groundbreaking concerts, in-depth artist interviews, unique stories and exclusive performances across all genres, plus some select programming in ultra high-definition/4K* to audiences nationwide since multiple series began airing this past January. Recent concert specials include: CeeLo Green, Hank Williams Jr., Peter Frampton, Lukas Graham, Kelsea Ballerini, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco, Flo Rida, Cypress Hill, 2 Chainz, Aubrie Sellers, LANco, and others. New shows premiere via national broadcast weekly Friday at 9:00 PM ET/PT on DIRECTV Ch 239/U-verse Ch 1114, as well as streaming on directv.com and uverse.com and on smartphones and tablets, via the DIRECTV and U-verse apps.**

AT&T AUDIENCE Network's multiple series of original and exclusive performances and interviews gives music fans an intimate view of music's most influential artists today by collaborating directly with musicians to create a unique show from their perspective.
As a boy, Mike Ness' heroes were not athletes or presidents; they were gangsters and guitar players. Johnny Cash, the Rolling Stones, Woody Guthrie and Creedence Clearwater Revival marked Ness' early years. He was inspired by the roots of American music and his earliest influences were the pioneers of rock and roll; musicians that were scandalous and rebellious. By the time Mike was a teen he would be playing in Social Distortion.

Over the past 30 years, the punk godfathers Social Distortion have all but trademarked their patented mix of punk, bluesy rock n' roll and outlaw country. Their searing guitars and locomotive rhythm section sounds as alive today as it did in '82, as do Ness' hard-luck tales of love, loss and lessons learned. But long before he ever heard the Ramones, the Clash or the Sex Pistols, Ness grew up listening to early rock and roll. With uncompromising intensity, Mike brought a working class spirit to his songs.

As he matured as a songwriter and musician, his solo recordings Cheating At Solitaire (1999) and Under The Influences (1999), incorporated the raw power and social relevance that has always marked his music, while embracing many of the defining styles in American rock and roll history. This radical essence would become his calling card but Mike would never lose the love of his roots. The work integrates punk, rockabilly, primitive rock and roll, country and blues while maintaining the energy that typifies Mike Ness.

Mike continues to perform worldwide with Social Distortion. Social Distortion's latest musical offering, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes(produced for the first time, by Ness himself), debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 and was the highest debut yet for the band. Hard Times and Nursery Rhymeswas also #1 Independent Album and #2 Modern Rock/Alternative Album.

For more information on Mike Ness and Social Distortion, visit:
www.mikeness.com, www.facebook.com/mikeness, twitter.com/mikeness, www.instagram.com/mikeness and www.socialdistortion.com.