You’re always scratchin’ at the eight ball,
No one really knows the reason why.
You get to the top and then you fall,
Gonna hang down your head and cry.

Bad Luck – Social distortion

when playing in town, Bruce often reaches out to the local music community. That was the case in 2009, when he invited on stage one of the stalwarts of the Southland punk scene, Social Distortion singer and songwriter Mike Ness. They had already played together in Asbury Park, Bruce being a guest on stage that time.

Still, as Ness remarked, “It was one thing for Bruce to come out and play four songs with the Mike Ness Band in Asbury Park. But for me to do two songs with the E Street Band in front of his crowd, that’s an entirely different thing.”

Ness said it was Springsteen’s choice to do “Bad Luck.” “He likes to solo on that riff.” That was to be their only duet, but after rehearsal, as Springsteen thanked him and started to leave, Ness said, “I learned ‘The Rising’ last night!’ ” So into the set it went.

Bruce Springsteen – Bad Luck – Live from Los Angeles – With Mike Ness from Social Distortion – 2009