Great White

GREAT WHITE
Formed 1981, U.S.A.

Albums:
1982 Out Of The Night
1984 Great White
1986 Shot In The Dark
1987 On Your Knees
1987 Once Bitten...
1987 Recovery: Live!
1989 ...Twice Shy
1990 Live In London
1991 Hooked
1991 The Blue EP
1992 Psycho City
1993 The Best Of Great White 1986-1992
1994 Sail Away
1995 Stage
1996 Let It Rock
1997 Rock Me: The Best Of Great White
1999 Gallery
1999 Great Zeppelin: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin
1999 Stick It
1999 Can't Get There From Here
2000 Rock Champions
2000 The Best Of Great White
2000 Latest & Greatest
2001 Greatest Hits
2002 The Final Cuts
2002 Recover
2002 Thank You...Goodnight! The Farewell Concert
2004 Burning House Of Love
2004 Double Dose
2004 Extended Versions
2007 Back To The Rhythm

History:
Beginning as a paint-by-numbers glam band before evolving into one of the greatest blues based metal bands of the decade, Great White were one of the few groups to never give up or attempt to cater to current fads. They managed to reach major stardom in the late 80s, but will always be remembered for the tragic events of February 20, 2003.
Formed in Los Angeles, California by friends Jack Russell (vocals) and Mark Kendall (guitar) in the early 80s, they would recruit Lorne Black (bass) and Garry Holland (drums) and record an independent EP produced by Don Dokken. Audie Desbrow replaced Holland before recording for Shot In The Dark began, but few commercial inroads were made until the addition of guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie in 1987. Tony Montana would be the bass player by the time the band broke out with the double platinum ...Twice Shy. Both the album and the single Once Bitten Twice Shy (a cover of the Ian Hunter classic) would reach the Top 10 in America; Great White had finally reached the big-time.
Unfortunately success was short-lived and the band began to splinter. Kendall would sit out most of the Hooked tour after suffering a hemorrhage due to alcohol abuse and Montana was replaced by Dave Spitz prior to recording of Psycho City, an excellent blues-based album that failed to find an audience. Bassist Teddy Cook was then offered a spot in the band, however he only lasted one album and Spitz was back for the recording of Let It Rock before Sean McNabb was named the permanent bassist. In 1998 the band showed theirs true roots by releasing an album of covers dedicated to their idols Led Zeppelin. In the late 90s the band would be offered the forth major label deal of their career with the upstart Portrait/Sony records. This union resulted in the well received Can't Get There From Here.





Kendall left in late 1999 to form a band called Train Station, while Great White soldiered on with Ty Longley and a revolving door line-up. In 2002 Jack Russell decided to put the band to rest with a final live album called Thank You...Goodnight and began concentrating on a solo career. While supporting his solo album For You, Russell welcomed back Kendall and once again began touring as Great White. However on February 20, 2003 at the Station in Providence, Rhode Island, tragedy struck. During their opening number the pyrotechnics being used ignited the faulty soundproofing and the club went up in flames. When the smoke had cleared, one hundred people had perished, including guitarist Ty Longley. A series of lawsuits ensued, but once the tears had dried up Great White hit the road again, raising funds for the victims of the nightclub fire. In 2007 the band reformed with to record their first studio album in years called Back To The Rhythm. A band that truly loves the music and fans, Great White now wrestles with their demons as they play - one of rock's best.

Links:
The Official Great White Page