Great White is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The band is named after the great white shark and guitarist Mark Kendall's former stage nickname. In August 2008, the band estimated that it had sold approximately eight million records worldwide.
The band achieved its greatest commercial success in the mid-to-late 1980s with the platinum-certified albums "Once Bitten" (1987) and "...Twice Shy" (1989). Their singles "Rock Me" and "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" received substantial radio and MTV airplay. The band had two Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and "The Angel Song". Great White continued releasing new material during the 1990s.
Great White disbanded in 2001, after which several members pursued solo projects. In 2002, Mark Kendall joined lead singer Jack Russell's solo touring band, which subsequently performed under the name Jack Russell's Great White. The group attracted widespread attention in 2003 when pyrotechnics used during a performance at a nightclub in Rhode Island caused a fire that killed 100 people, including guitarist Ty Longley. Following a hiatus, the Great White lineup reunited in 2006, with members of the classic lineup joining Russell and Kendall.
Russell left Great White in 2011 and subsequently toured with a separate band under the name Jack Russell's Great White. He retired from touring in 2024 and died later that year. Great White continued without him, with Terry Ilous of XYZ serving as lead vocalist until 2018, when Mitch Malloy replaced him. Malloy left in 2022 and was replaced by Andrew Freeman, who was succeeded by Brett Carlisle later that year.
Vocalist Jack Russell met guitarist Mark Kendall in 1977, and Kendall invited Russell to join his band. They subsequently formed a new group called Highway, later renamed Livewire, and performed their final show under the name Wires. In 1979, Russell was arrested and sentenced to eight years in prison following a robbery attempt in which a live-in maid was shot. The band subsequently dissolved, and Kendall formed a new lineup with bassist Don Costa and drummer Tony Richards. After auditioning several singers, including John Bush of Armored Saint and Butch Say, the band recruited singer Lisa Baker and adopted the name Dante Fox.
Dante Fox performed around Orange County and the Los Angeles area during 1979. After Baker joined George Lynch's band Xciter, Butch Say briefly returned to the group. Russell was released from prison after serving approximately 18 months and subsequently auditioned for the band. He was accepted by a two-to-one vote and made his first appearance with the group at the Troubadour in Hollywood.
After recording several demos, the band hired Alan Niven as manager. Niven had previously worked for the independent distributor Greenworld in Torrance, California, and had been involved with Mötley Crüe's debut self-release. He suggested changing the band's name from Dante Fox after seeing Kendall with his head outside a car window near the Troubadour and hearing someone say "there goes Great White". Kendall's nickname was associated with his white-blond hair, white Fender Telecaster guitar, white jumpsuit and white Capezio shoes.
By 1982, the lineup consisted of Kendall, Russell, drummer Gary Holland and bassist Lorne Black. The group recorded and released the five-song EP "Out of the Night" on Niven's independent label Aegean. Niven persuaded Los Angeles radio station KMET to add songs from the EP to its playlist, followed by KLOS-FM. Great White subsequently expanded its local audience and performed at venues including Perkins Palace in Pasadena, the Palace in Hollywood and the Country Club in Reseda. As an unsigned act, the band also headlined a performance at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia attended by 6,250 people.
EMI America signed Great White in late 1983 and released the band's self-titled debut album in early 1984. The band subsequently toured the United Kingdom as an opening act for Whitesnake's "Slide It In" tour and toured the United States and Canada as an opening act for Judas Priest's "Defenders of the Faith" tour. It also supported Kiss on their "Lick It Up" tour.
"Shot in the Dark", the band's next release, marked the arrival of drummer Audie Desbrow after Holland was dismissed on December 27, 1984. Capitol Records subsequently signed the band and reissued "Shot in the Dark". Keyboardist and guitarist Michael Lardie, who had played on the album as a session musician, joined the band as a full member. Great White subsequently toured with Dokken for five shows.
Great White achieved mainstream success in 1987 with its third album, "Once Bitten". The album produced the singles "Rock Me", "Save Your Love" and "Lady Red Light", which received airplay on mainstream rock radio. Model Tracy Martinson appeared on the album cover and in the video for "Save Your Love". In late 1987, bassist Lorne Black left the band and was replaced by Tony Montana, whose real name was Tony Cardenas. "Once Bitten" was certified platinum in April 1988. A year-long tour followed, during which Great White performed with acts including Guns N' Roses, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake, David Lee Roth and TNT, and appeared on several dates of the 1988 European Monsters of Rock tour.
Great White released "...Twice Shy" in 1989. The album included "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", a cover of a song originally recorded by Ian Hunter, which became the band's biggest hit. The single was Great White's only single to receive a gold certification. Model Bobbie Brown appeared in the song's music video. Other songs from the album, including "The Angel Song", "House of Broken Love", "Mista Bone" and "Move It", also received radio airplay. "...Twice Shy" was certified platinum in July 1989 and double platinum in September of that year. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. The band supported the album with an international tour, performing with artists including Bon Jovi, Ratt, Tesla, Kix, Warrant, Badlands and Britny Fox, and opening for Alice Cooper on his "Trash" tour.
In 1990, Great White appeared in the heavy metal video series "Hard 'N' Heavy", which featured music, concert footage and interviews. The band performed "House of Broken Love" at the American Music Awards in January 1990 and toured Japan for the first time in March. Later that year, Great White appeared at the Memorial Day weekend World Series of Rock festival alongside Whitesnake, Skid Row, Bad English and Hericane Alice.
Great White recorded two further albums for Capitol Records, "Hooked" (1991) and "Psycho City" (1992). "Hooked" was certified gold. In support of the album, the band opened for Scorpions and toured Europe and Japan. During the tour, Kendall was hospitalized for three weeks with a hiatal hernia, and Al Pitrelli temporarily replaced him on guitar. Great White later toured the United States with Kiss.
Capitol released the compilation album "The Best of Great White: 1986-1992" in 1993. Great White had already left the label and was working on its next studio album, "Sail Away". Before its release, the band spent seven months touring clubs. "Sail Away" was released by Zoo Records in 1994, followed by another US tour. The band's next album, "Let It Rock", was released by Imago Records in 1996.
In 1999, Great White released "Can't Get There from Here" and toured with Ratt, Poison and L.A. Guns. The album included "Rollin' Stoned", which reached number eight on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
On January 20, 2000, Kendall announced that he was taking a hiatus from Great White. Desbrow and bassist Sean McNabb subsequently also left the band. Russell continued touring with Michael Lardie as the only remaining member of the lineup. Desbrow publicly criticised Russell and stated that he had been dismissed from the band. There were also reports that McNabb had been dismissed after requesting access to the band's financial records. Desbrow stated that he and McNabb had made such requests on several occasions. McNabb later attributed his departure to his own addiction problems.
The band announced plans for a new album in late 2000 and presented some of the new material to record executive John Kalodner at Columbia Records. The parties subsequently agreed that the band should take a break and pursue outside projects. Kendall recorded two solo albums, and Great White left Columbia Records without completing the planned album.
On November 5, 2001, Russell announced the end of Great White following the death of his father. The band scheduled a final series of performances, culminating in a show at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, California, on December 31, 2001. Kendall and McNabb appeared at the final show, which was recorded for the live album "Thank You...Goodnight!". The album included two previously unreleased songs, "Back to the Rhythm" and "Play On", which had been recorded during the abandoned studio sessions and were later included on the reunion album "Back to the Rhythm" in 2007.
By late 2002, Russell contacted Kendall after the release of his second solo album. Kendall agreed to perform several dates with Russell's band. The group was billed as Jack Russell's Great White and primarily performed songs from Great White's catalogue alongside material from Russell's solo career. Additional dates were subsequently added, extending the tour into 2003.
On February 20, 2003, a performance by Jack Russell's Great White at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, ended in a fire. Pyrotechnics used by the band's crew ignited foam soundproofing material that had been installed around the stage. The fire killed 100 people, including guitarist Ty Longley, and injured approximately 230 others, many of whom suffered severe burns and other injuries.
Following the fire, the band performed benefit concerts and toured to raise funds for the Station Family Fund, established to assist victims and their families. In 2008, Jack Russell Touring Inc. agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and relatives of victims without admitting wrongdoing. The settlement was subject to the limits of the band's insurance coverage. Victims had previously received approximately $3.8 million raised by United Way of America.
Although the media generally referred to the group involved in the fire as Great White, the band was officially performing as Jack Russell's Great White at the time. Before the fire, the band's website had stated that Great White had not officially reunited. Jack Russell's Great White performed its first full show following the fire on July 22, 2003, as part of a benefit tour for survivors and victims. The group continued touring until 2005. Later that year, it cancelled the second half of its summer tour, citing medical reasons. Russell subsequently entered rehabilitation and did not perform again until 2007.
Discussions about a Great White reunion had begun by 2004. Russell initially expressed reservations about working again with former drummer Audie Desbrow but later indicated that he was interested in reuniting with members of the earlier lineup. In 2006, Kendall announced that Great White had re-formed. The reunited lineup of Russell, Kendall, Lardie, McNabb and Desbrow performed together for the first time in more than five years on January 27, 2007, at the Key Club in Hollywood. The band continued touring throughout the year.
In 2008, McNabb left Great White to pursue work in theatre and acting and was replaced by Scott Snyder. McNabb subsequently joined Dokken.
Great White released "Rising" in Europe on March 13, 2009, through Frontiers Records and in the United States on April 21 through Shrapnel Records. The band subsequently toured in support of the album.
In 2010, Jani Lane of Warrant temporarily filled in for Russell while Russell recovered from surgery for a perforated bowel. Terry Ilous of XYZ subsequently replaced Russell for several performances, while Paul Shortino of Rough Cutt, Quiet Riot and King Kobra performed with the band at the Stockholm Rock Out Festival in September.
By 2011, Ilous was regularly performing as Great White's lead vocalist while Russell continued recovering. Kendall stated during the year that the band remained open to Russell's return, although Russell was not expected to perform with the group for the remainder of 2011. In December 2011, Russell obtained a licensing agreement concerning the Great White name and formed a new lineup under the name Jack Russell's Great White. The other members of Great White disputed Russell's use of the name.
In September 2013, the parties reached a federal court agreement under which rights to the Great White name were assigned to Kendall, Lardie and Desbrow. Russell was permitted to continue performing under the name Jack Russell's Great White with his own lineup, while the other members continued touring as Great White with Ilous.
Great White announced the album "Elation" in March 2012, with a planned release in May. The band also announced a live album, "Great White: 30 Years - Live from the Sunset Strip", and a concert DVD documenting its 30th-anniversary performance at the Key Club in Hollywood.
Russell continued touring with his own lineup as Jack Russell's Great White. In July 2013, bassist Dario Seixas left the group and was replaced by former Great White bassist Tony Montana. Lorne Black, the band's original bassist, died on September 27, 2013, at the age of 50.
In 2017, Great White released "Full Circle" on Bluez Tone Records, with Michael Wagener as producer. "Big Time" was released as the album's first single and music video. It was the final Great White studio album to feature Ilous as lead vocalist.
Jack Russell's Great White released the single "Hard Habit" in December 2014 and signed with Frontiers Music in July 2016. The group subsequently released the singles "Blame It On The Night", "She Moves Me", "Love Don't Live Here" and "Sign of the Times". Its debut album, "He Saw It Comin'", was released on January 27, 2017. The group also announced a tour and an acoustic album to mark the 30th anniversary of "Once Bitten". The acoustic album, "Once Acoustically Bitten", was released in 2020.
On July 9, 2018, Great White announced that it had parted ways with Ilous, who stated that he learned of the change through email and the internet. Mitch Malloy replaced him as lead vocalist. Kendall later said that the band's decision was partly related to the members' assessment that the working chemistry was no longer effective.
On July 9, 2020, Great White performed an outdoor concert in Dickinson, North Dakota, as part of the "First on First Dickinson Summer Nights" series. The event attracted attention because it did not impose measures such as mask requirements or social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Great White subsequently issued a public apology concerning the performance.
On May 31, 2022, Great White announced that Malloy had left the band and that Andrew Freeman of Last in Line had become its lead vocalist. Freeman subsequently toured with the group. On October 19, 2022, Brett Carlisle, who had temporarily replaced Freeman for several performances, was announced as the band's new lead vocalist because of Freeman's commitments with Last in Line.
On July 17, 2024, Russell announced his retirement from touring following diagnoses of Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy. He died on August 7, 2024, at the age of 63. Following his death, Jack Russell's Great White was renamed Once Bitten.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_White
Studio albums
Great White (1984)
Shot in the Dark (1986)
Once Bitten (1987)
...Twice Shy (1989)
Hooked (1991)
Psycho City (1992)
Sail Away (1994)
Let It Rock (1996)
Can't Get There from Here (1999)
Back to the Rhythm (2007)
Rising (2009)
Elation (2012)
Full Circle (2017)
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…shrink me down again