Social Distortion vocalist Mike Ness revealed his health diagnosis that ultimately affected the band's headlining tour.
The punk veteran band will not be pushing through with its 2023 North American summer tour amid Ness' health battle, the group said in a statement. Social Distortion was scheduled to start the leg on June 30, but it has since been pushed back to allow its vocalist to recuperate.
What Is Social Distortion Mike Ness' Illness?
Social Distortion released a statement Wednesday that its tour, which would be supported by The Bellrays, would be postponed after Ness received a Stage 1 tonsil cancer diagnosis. The frontman underwent a treatment to treat the health issue, the statement revealed.
According to Ness, he learned about his health problem amid the pre-production of Social Distortion's eighth studio album.
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"I was feeling well enough to continue with recording in the studio up until the very day before surgery," the frontman said. "The band and I were so inspired and excited to lay down these tracks, which by the way sound f-ing AWESOME!"
The frontman called his recovery from the surgery a "day-by-day process" as he prepares to undergo radiation in three weeks. He took his fans' worries away somehow by revealing that they expect it to be his last treatment and that they expect a full recovery soon.
Social Distortion Tour Canceled
Amid his health battle, Ness delivered saddening news to fans as the band was forced to cancel its upcoming schedule to give him time to heal. Aside from its upcoming tour, the band will also postpone the upcoming release of its untitled new album, which will serve as the follow-up to its "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes" in 2011.
Originally, Social Distortion would begin the 2023 tour in Canby, Oregon, on June 30 with Bell Rays as its support. It would continue the tour until its last stop in Tucson, Arizona, on Aug. 9.
Ness' health battle started two months after he and the band shared on their Instagram pages that the pre-production of the new album was already completed. Currently, it is expected to be released in 2024.
The punk rock band currently consists of Ness, David Hidalgo Jr., David Kalish, Brent Harding, and Jonny Wickersham. As of press time, it has already released seven full-length studio albums, two compilation albums, and one live album.
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