Great White is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1979, the group was originally known as Dante Fox and consisted of lead vocalist Lisa Baker, guitarist Mark Kendall, bassist Don Costa and drummer Tony Richards. The band's current lineup includes Kendall alongside guitarist and keyboardist Michael Lardie, drummer Audie Desbrow (both of whom originally joined in 1985 and rejoined in 2006), bassist Scott Snyder (since 2008) and lead vocalist Brett Carlisle (since 2022).
From December 2011 until 2024, former Great White vocalist Jack Russell performed with his own version of the band called Great White featuring Jack Russell (formerly Jack Russell's Great White). The group's final lineup included lead guitarist Robby Lochner (who joined in 2011), rhythm guitarist Tony Montana (former bassist for Great White who joined Russell's band in 2013), bassist Dan McNay (who joined in 2016) and drummer Ken Mary (who joined in 2023, though his tenure started as a touring guest throughout 2022). Russell retired because of illness in July 2024 and died the following month.
History
edit1977–1987: Early years
editJack Russell and Mark Kendall first met in 1977. The pair worked together in bands with several names and lineups, before Russell was arrested for shooting a live-in maid in 1978.[1] Kendall subsequently formed Dante Fox the next year with vocalist Lisa Baker, bassist Don Costa and drummer Tony Richards.[2] Baker joined George Lynch's Xciter after around six months, with Butch Say taking her place.[3] After 18 months in prison, Russell was released and almost immediately took over as Dante Fox frontman.[1] By late 1982, both Costa and Richards had left Dante Fox to join newly-formed W.A.S.P.[4]
Costa and Richards were replaced by Lorne Black and Gary Holland, respectively.[5] Before the end of the year, the group changed its name to Great White and released its debut EP On Your Knees on the independent label Enigma Records.[6] The band subsequently signed with Alan Niven's new label Aegean Records and released Out of the Night in 1983.[1] This was followed by the group's self-titled full-length debut in 1984.[7] By 1986, Holland had been replaced by Audie Desbrow, and Michael Lardie had joined on rhythm guitar and keyboards; both debuted Shot in the Dark, released the same year.[8]
1987–2001: Later work
editShortly after the release of Great White's third studio album Once Bitten in June 1987, Lorne Black was replaced by Tony Montana.[9] The new bassist performed on ...Twice Shy (1989) and Hooked (1991) before leaving in early 1992 during rehearsals for Psycho City, with Dave "The Beast" Spitz taking over for the album's recording.[10] For the subsequent tour, former Dio bassist Teddy Cook joined the band.[11] Cook remained for just one studio album, Sail Away, before he was fired for being a "poser" – in late 1995, Spitz stepped in again to record Let It Rock.[11] Former Quiet Riot bassist Sean McNabb joined for the subsequent tour.[12]
Great White issued Great Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin in 1998 and Can't Get There from Here in 1999, before undergoing a string of lineup changes. First to leave was founding member Mark Kendall, who announced his departure on January 20, 2000.[13] Matthew Johnson (Who worked on Russell's first solo album) took his place the next month.[14] Matthew Johnson had left next, replaced by Ty Longley in July.[15] In September, drummer Audie Desbrow announced his departure, claiming that he had been fired.[16] He was followed by McNabb.[17] Russell opted to continue touring, adding Longley's Samantha 7 bandmates Krys Baratto on bass and Francis Ruiz on drums.[18] In August of 2001, Mcnabb and Kendall would rejoin the band. By November 2001, however, Russell had decided to disband the group. A final show on New Year's Eve, featuring Kendall, Lardie, McNabb and drummer Derrick Pontier (Pontier had filled in for Ruiz throughout 2001) on was released as Thank You... Goodnight! in 2002.[19]
2002–2011: Reformation
editLess than a year after Great White disbanded, Jack Russell reunited with Mark Kendall in November 2002 under the moniker "Jack Russell's Great White", with a lineup including second guitarist Ty Longley, bassist David Filice, drummer Eric Powers and keyboardist Yuko Tamura.[20] The group embarked on a tour, which was cut short on February 20, 2003, when a pyrotechnics accident at the start of their performance caused The Station nightclub fire.[21] Among the 100 people killed in the fire was Longley, who was initially reported missing but reported dead four days later.[22]
A few months after the fire, Jack Russell's Great White began touring to raise money for the families of the victims, with Russell and Kendall joined by guitarist and keyboardist Jordan Martin (Later replaced by Tyler Nelson the following year), bassist Scott Pounds and drummer Derrick Pontier.[23] Touring continued until August 2005, when all future dates were cancelled due to undisclosed "medical reasons".[24] In December 2006, a reunion of Russell, Kendall, Michael Lardie, Sean McNabb and Audie Desbrow was announced to mark the band's 25th anniversary.[25] Back to the Rhythm, the first Great White studio album since 1999, was released in 2007.[26]
During a tour in 2008, McNabb decided to leave Great White.[27] He was replaced that May by Scott Snyder.[28] He debuted on Rising, issued early the next year.[29] During the subsequent tour, Russell was forced to take a break to undergo surgery for a perforated bowel.[30] He was temporarily replaced by XYZ's Terry Ilous.[31] After one show with former Rough Cutt and Quiet Riot frontman Paul Shortino,[32] former Warrant vocalist Jani Lane took over for a run of shows later in the year.[33] Ilous returned in early 2011, although it was planned that Russell would return once he had recovered from surgery.[34] By December, however, he had formed his own version of the band, with Ilous remaining in the main group.[35]
Since 2011: Two bands
editThe first lineup of Jack Russell's Great White included Russell alongside two former members of Great White (then lead guitarist Matthew Johnson, now doing rhythm guitar, and drummer Derrick Pontier), as well as guitarist Robby Lochner and bassist Dario Seixas.[35] By the time of their first live date, Evan Haymond would, temporarily, replace Matthew Johnson for their first live date.[36] After the band was renamed "Great White featuring Jack Russell", Seixas was replaced by former Great White bassist Tony Montana in July 2013.[37] Evan Haymond would again replace Matthew Johnson in August. Later on in the year, Pontier was replaced by Dicki Fliszar.
Following Haymond's second departure the following year, Montana switched to guitar, as Chris Tristram took over on bass; this lineup released the group's first single, "Hard Habit", in 2014.[38] By 2016, Tristram had been replaced by Dan McNay.[39] The band released He Saw It Comin' in 2017 and Once Bitten Acoustic Bytes in 2020.[40][41] In 2021, the band released Great Zeppelin II, a "sequel album" to Great Zeppelin. Additionally, Michael Oliveieri had filled in for Tony Montana for this album. Dicki Fliszar would later on be replaced by Ken Mary in early 2023, with Mary having filled in for Filszar throughout 2022.
The lineup of the original Great White remained stable from Russell's 2011 departure until 2018, releasing studio albums Elation in 2012 and Full Circle in 2017,[42] and live albums 30 Years: Live from the Sunset Strip in 2013 and Metal Meltdown in 2016.[43][44] In July 2018, the group fired Terry Ilous and replaced him with Mitch Malloy.[45] The new vocalist remained until May 2022, when he was replaced by Andrew Freeman,[46] who was later replaced by Brett Carlisle in October of the same year.[47] Throughout early 2024, Ian Smith of All or Nothing (Of which Carlisle is also the lead vocalist of), filled in for Scott Snyder, who had undergone back surgery. [48] On July 17, 2024, Jack Russell announced that he was retiring from touring, following "a recent diagnosis of Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy" from May of that year.[49] He died nearly a month after the announcement, on August 7, 2024, at the age of 63.[50][51]
Members
editCurrent Great White members
edit| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Kendall |
|
|
all Great White releases | |
| Audie Desbrow |
|
|
all Great White releases from Shot in the Dark (1986) onwards, except Thank You... Goodnight! (2002) | |
| Michael Lardie |
|
|
all Great White releases from Shot in the Dark (As additional musician) (1986) onwards | |
| Scott Snyder | 2008–present (Inactive 2024) |
|
all Great White releases from Rising (2009) onwards | |
| Brett Carlisle | 2022-present (Touring guest 2022) | lead vocals | none |
Former Great White members
edit| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Costa | 1979–1982 (died in 2024) | bass | The Roots of Great White 1978–1982 (2019) | |
| Tony Richards | 1979–1982 |
| ||
| Lisa Baker | 1979 | lead vocals | none | |
| Butch Say | 1979–1980 | |||
| Jack Russell |
|
| ||
| Lorne Black | 1982–1987 (died 2013) |
|
| |
| Gary Holland | 1982–1985 |
|
| |
| Tony Montana | 1987–1992 |
|
| |
| Dave Spitz |
|
bass |
| |
| Teddy Cook | 1992–1995 |
|
||
| Sean McNabb |
|
| ||
| Matthew Johnson | 2000 |
|
none | |
| Ty Longley | 2000–2001 (died 2003) | |||
| Krys Baratto | 2000–2001 |
| ||
| Francis Ruiz | 2000-2001 (inactive 2001) |
| ||
| Derrick Pontier | 2001 (Initially touring guest) | Thank You... Goodnight! (2002) | ||
| Terry Ilous | 2012–2018 (guest vocalist 2010-2012) | lead vocals | all Great White releases from Elation (2012) to Full Circle (2017) | |
| Paul Shortino | 2010 (one show) | none | ||
| Jani Lane | 2010 (guest vocalist on tour) (died 2011) | |||
| Mitch Malloy | 2018–2022 (Guest appearance one show 2018) | Live (2020) | ||
| Andrew Freeman | 2022 | none | ||
| Ian Smith | 2024 (Touring guest) |
|
none |
Jack Russell's Great White
edit| Image | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Russell |
|
|
all Jack Russell's Great White releases | |
| Mark Kendall | 2002–2005 |
|
none | |
| Ty Longley | 2002–2003 (until his death) |
| ||
| David Filice | 2002–2003 |
| ||
| Yuko Tamura | keyboards | |||
| Eric Powers |
| |||
| Derrick Pontier |
| |||
| Scott Pounds | 2003–2005 |
| ||
| Jordan Martin | 2003–2004 |
| ||
| Tyler Nelson | 2004–2005 | |||
| Robby Lochner | 2011–2024 |
|
all Jack Russell's Great White releases | |
| Dario Seixas | 2011–2013 |
|
none | |
| Matthew Johnson |
|
| ||
| Evan Haymond |
|
| ||
| Tony Montana | 2013–2024 |
|
all Jack Russell's Great White releases, except for Great Zeppelin II: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin (2021) | |
| Dicki Fliszar | 2013–2023 (inactive 2022-2023, guest appearances 2023–2024) |
|
all Jack Russell's Great White releases from "Hard Habit" (2014) to Great Zeppelin II: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin (2021) | |
| Chris Tristram | 2014–2016 |
|
"Hard Habit" (2014) | |
| Dan McNay | 2016–2024 |
| ||
| Ken Mary | 2023–2024 (touring guest 2022–2023) |
|
None | |
| Michael Olivieri |
|
|
Great Zeppelin II: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin (2021) | |
| Nate Peck | 2023 (touring guest) |
|
None |
Timelines
editDante Fox/Great White
edit
Jack Russell's Great White
edit
Lineups
editDante Fox/Great White
edit| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 (as Dante Fox) |
|
none |
| 1979–1980 (as Dante Fox) |
| |
| 1980–1982 (as Dante Fox) |
|
|
| Late 1982 (as Dante Fox) |
| |
| Late 1982 – January 1985 |
|
|
| January 1985 – summer 1987 |
|
|
| Summer 1987 – early 1992 |
|
|
| Spring – summer 1992 |
|
|
| Summer 1992 – fall 1995 |
|
|
| Late 1995 |
|
|
| Early 1996 – January 2000 |
|
|
| February – July 2000 |
|
none |
| July – September 2000 |
| |
| Late 2000 – early 2001 |
| |
| Early 2001 - August 2001 |
| |
| August - December 2001 |
|
|
| Band inactive January 2002 – December 2006 | ||
| December 2006 – May 2008 |
|
|
| May 2008 – August 2010 |
|
|
| August – September 2010 |
|
none |
| September 2010 (one show) |
| |
| September – December 2010 |
| |
| Early – late 2011 |
| |
| December 2011 – July 2018 |
|
|
| July 2018 – May 2022 |
|
|
| May 2022 – October 2022 |
|
none |
| October 2022 – present |
|
None to date |
| January 2024 – March 2024 |
|
none |
Jack Russell's Great White
edit| Period | Members | Releases |
|---|---|---|
| November 2002 – February 2003 |
|
none |
| May 2003 – February 2004 (As Great White) |
| |
| February 2004 - August 2005 (As Great White) |
| |
| Band inactive August 2005 – December 2011 | ||
| December 2011 |
|
none |
| January 2012 |
| |
| January 2012 - July 2013 |
| |
| July – August 2013 |
| |
| August 2013 - November 2013 |
| |
| November 2013 – January 2016 |
|
|
| January 2016 – early 2021; mid 2021-early 2022 |
|
|
| January 2021 |
|
|
| January 2022 - March 2023 |
|
none |
| March 2023 - July 2024 |
|
none |
| late 2023 |
|
none |
References
edit- ^ a b c Hotten, Jon (September 10, 2016). "The strange and terrible true story of Great White". Classic Rock. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ O'Neill, Eamon (June 27, 2014). "Interview With Mark Kendall (Guitar) (Great White)". My Global Mind. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "OUCH! "If the Hatchet ever gets Buried it will be in Someone's Head" Jack Russell on ex-Great White bandmates". Metal Sludge. March 18, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "W.A.S.P. History". W.A.S.P. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Original Great White Member Dies". antiMusic. September 30, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "On Your Knees – Great White: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Great White – Great White: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Michael Lardie of Great White on the split with Jack Russell 'It was many, many years, and many things'". Metal Sludge. May 28, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Reynolds, Dave (1987). "Great White – Putting The Colour Back Into White". Metal Forces. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Cooper, Mike (May 1, 1992). "Music Now!" (PDF). The Hard Report. No. 274. Medford Lakes, New Jersey: The Hard Report. p. 53. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ a b Syrjala, Marko (March 5, 2008). "Great White – Mark Kendall and Audie Desbrow". Metal-Rules.com. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Sean McNabb recalls getting fired from Great White two and a half weeks before Station Nightclub fire". Sleaze Roxx. September 5, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Rocking with a heavy heart". CNN. February 10, 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "February 17 – 23: This Week In..." Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. February 25, 2002. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Masley, Ed (February 22, 2003). "Missing Great White guitarist wrote about peace, love of road". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Audie Desbrow Fired, 9/20/00". Metal Sludge. September 20, 2000. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "20 Questions with Audie Desbrow, 9/26/00". Metal Sludge. September 26, 2000. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "20 Questions with Krys Baratto, 6/7/05". Metal Sludge. December 7, 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Theakston, Rob. "Once Bitten, Twice Live – Great White: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Jack Russell To Bring Great White Back To Life On Upcoming Tour". Blabbermouth.net. November 2, 2002. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Pemberton, Pat (July 15, 2013). "The Great White Nightclub Fire: Ten Years Later". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Grossberg, Josh (February 24, 2003). "Great White Guitarist Declared Dead". E! Online. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Jack Russell of Great White". DaBelly. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White Cancel Tour". Blabbermouth.net. August 31, 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White To Celebrate 25th Anniversary With Album, Tour". Blabbermouth.net. December 12, 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White To Release 'Back To The Rhythm' In August". Blabbermouth.net. May 24, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White: New Album Details Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. February 9, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Scott Snyder now with Great White". Scott Snyder. December 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Prato, Greg. "Rising – Great White: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White Singer Undergoes Surgery For Perforated Bowel". Blabbermouth.net. August 17, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White Singer Forced To Miss Redondo Beach Concert, XYZ's Terry Ilous Steps In". Blabbermouth.net. August 13, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White Performs With Paul Shortino In Sweden; Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. September 13, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Jani Lane To Fill In For Great White's Jack Russell". Blabbermouth.net. August 30, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White Guitarist Discusses Band's Singer Situation". Blabbermouth.net. May 30, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ a b "Singer Jack Russell Launches New Version Of Great White". Blabbermouth.net. December 12, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Jack Russell's Great White Performs Live For First Time; Video Available". Blabbermouth.net. January 16, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White Featuring Jack Russell Taps Ex-Great White Bassist Tony Montana". Blabbermouth.net. July 17, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Jack Russell's Great White Releases 'Hard Habit' Single, Readies 'The Gauntlet' Album". Blabbermouth.net. February 3, 2015. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Greenberg, William (January 9, 2016). "Jack Russell's Great White – Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA. 1/8/16". California Rock News. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "He Saw It Comin' – Jack Russell's Great White: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Once Bitten Acoustic Bytes – Jack Russell's Great White: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White To Release 'Full Circle' Album In June". Blabbermouth.net. April 27, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White To Release '30 Years – Live From The Sunset Strip' In February". Blabbermouth.net. January 10, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White 'Metal Meltdown' Released November 4th". Rock Poser. September 11, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White Parts Ways With Singer Terry Ilous, Replaces Him With Mitch Malloy". Blabbermouth.net. July 9, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Great White Parts Way With Singer Mitch Malloy, Recruits Last In Line's Andrew Freeman". Blabbermouth.net. May 31, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
- ^ "GREAT WHITE Officially Welcomes BRETT CARLISLE As Band's New Singer". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. January 4, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ "GREAT WHITE Officially Welcomes BRETT CARLISLE As Band's New Singer". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. October 21, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ "Ex-GREAT WHITE Singer JACK RUSSELL Diagnosed With Lewy Body Dementia, Announces Retirement From Touring". Blabbermouth.net. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ "Former GREAT WHITE Singer JACK RUSSELL Dead At 63". Blabbermouth.net. August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
- ^ Petri, Alexandra E. (August 16, 2024). "Jack Russell, 63, Dies; Singer for Great White and Survivor of Nightclub Fire". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 17, 2024.