Mike Ness Health Update: Social Distortion Frontman Shares Status After Worrying Diagnosis

Mike Ness gave a health update months after receiving a heartbreaking health diagnosis.

Social Distortion was scheduled to begin its 2023 North American summer tour in Canby, Ore., on June 30 and end on August 9 in Tucson, Ariz., but it canceled the shows after Ness received a worrying stage 1 tonsil cancer diagnosis.

Months after he learned about his health issue, the frontman revealed his status and told fans he is still "weak, but it's getting there."

Mike Ness' Health Update

In a new Instagram post on Friday, October 1, the 61-year-old singer revealed that he had undergone surgery as part of his cancer treatment. He played "Story of My Life" in the video while he spoke in front of the camera.

"I'm into the fourth month of recovery after the surgery," he said. "Did it all here on the farm, which is the best thing possible. I love L.A. but the driving to treatments and appointments was brutal, so once we got here it was like, 'This is where we need to be.'"

Ness said he is starting phase two of his cancer treatment, which includes radiation and mild chemo infusion for six weeks.

He assured fans that he was ready to fight in the second round of his treatment and thanked them for their heartfelt messages amid his health battle.

The Social Distortion singer found out about his issue while working on the preproduction of the band's new album. It was supposed to be a follow-up to the band's "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes," released in 2011.

The Bellrays were supposed to support that band on the tour.

"I was feeling well enough to continue with recording in the studio up until the very day before surgery," he said at that time. "The band and I were so inspired and excited to lay down these tracks, which, by the way sound f-ing AWESOME!"

Social Distortion started its career following its formation in the 1970s in Fullerton, Calif. Previously, it took a temporary hiatus because of Ness' drug addiction and legal troubles.

So far, the band has already released seven full-length studio albums, two compilations, two DVDs and one live album. Its first album, "Mommy's Little Monster," was released in 1983.