Great White started their career as Dante Fox, playing their first gig in 1981 at The Troubadour in Hollywood, California. After recording several demos, the band chose as manager Alan Niven, who had worked for the independent distributor Greenworld in Torrance, California and had dealt with Mötley Crüe's debut self-release. Niven suggested the name change from Dante Fox after seeing singer Jack Russell introduce Mark Kendall (guitarist) during his solo as "Mark Kendall, the Great White", due to his naturally white-blonde hair, white Fender Telecaster guitar, white jumpsuit, and white Capezio shoes. In 1982, founding members Mark Kendall, Jack Russell, drummer Gary Holland, and bassist Lorne Black recorded and released a 5-song EP, Out of the Night, on the independent label Aegean formed by Niven. Niven then convinced the Los Angeles radio station KMET to begin adding songs from the EP to its playlist in heavy rotation. KLOS-FM soon did the same. The band suddenly went from drawing 100 people to a local club to drawing thousands in L.A. concert halls such as Perkins Palace in Pasadena, The Palace in Hollywood and the Country Club in Reseda. As an unsigned act, Great White headlined at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia playing to 6,250 people. Near the end of 1983, EMI America signed the band and subsequently released Great White's eponymous debut album ('Great White') in early 1984. The band immediately toured the UK supporting Whitesnake's Slide It In tour and the entire US and Canada opening for Judas Priest's Defenders of the Faith tour. 'Shot in the Dark', their follow-up independent release, marked the arrival of drummer Audie Desbrow. By the time Capitol Records signed the band and reissued Shot in the Dark, keyboardist-guitarist Michael Lardie had come aboard. After the release of Shot in the Dark, Great White hit the road with Dokken and was on the verge of even bigger success.
The band hit the mainstream in 1987 when they released 'Once Bitten', which featured the hits "Rock Me" and "Save Your Love". Once Bitten... was certified platinum in April 1988.
The band followed up with '...Twice Shy' in 1989. The album included their biggest hit, "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", a cover of a UK hit single by Ian Hunter. They received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. The album was certified platinum in July 1989 and then double platinum in September of that same year. The model Bobbie Brown (also known for being in Warrant's "Cherry Pie" video) appeared in the video for "Once Bitten, Twice Shy". They finished off the 80s touring in support of ...Twice Shy as headliners and with some best known bands, such as Bon Jovi.
In 1990, the band featured in the heavy metal video series Hard 'N' Heavy containing music, concert footage and interviews. The video included Slash and Duff from Guns N' Roses appearing with the band at a Children of the Night Benefit concert in L.A., the performance helping to raise money for housing abused homeless children. Both bands shared the same manager, Alan Niven at the time.
The band continued into the next decade performing the song "House of Broken Love" at the American Music Awards in January 1990. In March, Great White embarked on their first tour of Japan. They returned to the United States for the Memorial Day weekend festival dubbed The World Series of Rock, which featured Whitesnake, Skid Row, Bad English, and Hericane Alice. Great White recorded two more albums for Capitol Records, 'Hooked', which was certified gold, and 'Psycho City'. In support of Hooked, Great White did a tour as headliner tour, had a guest slot with German metal band Scorpions and travelled to Europe and Japan. Psycho City was followed by a US tour with Kiss.
Capitol issued the compilation 'The Best of Great White 1986-1992' in 1993, when Great White had already departed the label to begin work on their next studio release, 'Sail Away'. Before the release of the album, Great White spent seven months on the road headlining clubs. According to Lardie, it was "the longest stint we ever did without a break." Great White kept up the pace once Sail Away was released on Zoo Records in 1994, touring the US several times over the following year and a half. Their next release, Let It Rock, was released in 1996 through yet another label, Imago Records.
In 1999, the band released 'Can't Get There from Here' and embarked on a tour with Ratt, Poison, and L.A. Guns. The album featured the single "Rollin' Stoned", which managed to chart at No. 8 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.
In a memo dated 20 January 2000 Mark Kendall announced he was leaving Great White, shortly thereafter both Audie Desbrow and Sean McNabb left Great White. Kendall was replaced by guitarist Matthew Johnson. Desbrow, clearly very unhappy with the financial state of the band posted a tirade on his website lambasting Jack Russell and Michael Lardie, while claiming to have been "fired" from Great White. Meanwhile, it was rumored that Sean McNabb was fired for going to management and asking to see the accounting books. Despite only having one original member left, the band announced plans to begin work on a new album in late 2000. Early in the process, some of the new songs were played for John Kalodner at Columbia Records. It was mutually agreed that the "magic was gone" and the band decided their heart was not in the recording process. They subsequently left Columbia Records and discontinued work on the new album. On 5 November 2001 Jack Russell announced the end of Great White, stating that he was moving on, and that Great White would play one final farewell show on 31 December 2001 at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, CA. Both Kendall and McNabb rejoined the band for the farewell show, recorded for a live CD entitled 'Thank You...Goodnight!' released by Knight Records. The live album includes two new tracks, "Back to the Rhythm" and "Play On" from their discontinued studio sessions, both of which would ultimately wind up on their reunion album 'Back to the Rhythm' in 2007.
In late 2002, in part due to his failure to attract good audiences while on the road with his solo band, Jack Russell contacted Kendall, who himself was struggling to gain an audience on his own. Kendall agreed to play some dates with Russell's band, allowing Russell to use the name Great White once again. Billed as "Jack Russell's Great White," the tour was to consist primarily of classic songs from the Great White catalog with some of Russell's solo work mixed in. Eventually, more dates were added and the tour extended through the early months of 2003.
The band returned to the national spotlight on 20 February 2003. At the beginning of a Great White performance at The Station night club in Rhode Island, pyrotechnics used by the band's crew created a spray of sparks that ignited the foam soundproofing material in the ceiling around the stage. One hundred people including the band's guitarist Ty Longley, died in the fire that followed. In 2008 the band agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and victims' relatives of the fire while admitting to no wrongdoing. This amount also covers former tour manager Daniel Biechele along with the band members, record label, and management as it existed at the time of the fire. The settlement was the maximum allowed under the band's insurance plan. Victims had previously received $3.8 million raised by United Way of America.
Though the media referred to the band as "Great White" following the tragedy in Rhode Island, the band was officially performing under the moniker of "Jack Russell's Great White" at the time of the incident. In fact, prior to the fire, the band's official website posted a message stating that Great White had not re-formed. It's unclear when the band began officially going by "Great White" again.
Great White played their first full show following the Rhode Island tragedy on 22 July, starting a benefit tour for the survivors and victims of the fire. The band toured until 2005 to raise funds for the Station Family Fund, which had been set up to help the victims of the tragedy. In late 2005, citing "medical reasons", the band canceled the second half of their summer tour. The "medical reasons" turned out to be Jack Russell's addictions to alcohol and cocaine. This was the end of this version of Great White, as Jack Russell entered rehabilitation and did not perform again until 2007. Russell used the year of 2006 to get sober and get a facelift that was detailed on ExtraTV. Russell later referred to this incarnation of Great White as "Fake White", saying "It still sounded like Great White, but not – almost like we were doing a cover of ourselves."
Talk of a reunion of Great White began in a 2004 interview. Later in 2006, guitarist Mark Kendall officially announced that Great White had re-formed its classic lineup. The re-formed lineup of Russell, Kendall, Lardie, McNabb and Desbrow played their first date together in more than 5 years on 27 January 2007 at the Keyclub in Hollywood performing in the Harpseals.org Benefit Concert for the Seals 2007. In 2008, bassist Sean McNabb left Great White to concentrate on a career in theater and acting. McNabb was promptly replaced with Scott Snyder (Ramos, Accomplice). McNabb went on to join Dokken.
Great White released their album, 'Rising', on 13 March 2009 in Europe via Frontiers Records and on 21 April in the US.
In 2010, Jani Lane of Warrant filled in for Jack Russell, while Russell recuperated from surgery after suffering a perforated bowel. Terry Ilous (XYZ) replaced Jack Russell at the Coach House during the summer of 2010, and Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt, Quiet Riot, King Kobra) filled in for Russell when Great White performed at Stockholm Rock Out Festival in September. In December 2011, Russell formed a new incarnation of Great White with a brand-new lineup under the name of "Jack Russell's Great White".
On 18 March 2012 Great White announced their first new album with Ilous, 'Elation' , to be released in May that year, along with a live album ('30 Years: Live From The Sunset Strip') and a concert DVD of the band's 30th-anniversary show at the Key Club in Hollywood on 22 March.
Lorne Black, Great White's original bassist, who performed and recorded with the group up through the Once Bitten album, died on September 27, 2013. He was 50 years old.
On June 2, 2017, Great White released their most recent studio effort, 'Full Circle', on Bluez Tone Records, with Wagener as the producer. The song "Big Time" was released as the first single and video. On July 9, 2018, Great White announced that they had parted ways with Terry Illous as their singer and he was replaced by Mitch Malloy.
On May 31, 2022, Great White announced vocalist Andrew Freeman of Last In Line replaced Malloy as the band's lead singer and frontman.
House of Broken Love
Great White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be dreamin' that I'm free
Come the daybreak don't ya shake me
Send me back to misery
Cause I'm dealin' with a devil
With no help from above
I'm stealin' with the devil
Takin' chances with you baby
I saw something in your eyes
And though no one else could blame me
There were signs I should of recognized
Now I'm dealin' with a devil
With no help from above
I'm sleepin' with the devil
In this house of broken love
If you don't want to lose my lovin'
Use it constantly
If it's gonna be lies, suspicious eyes
Baby oh baby set me free
When the night falls and she's leavin'
Oh the moon shines cold and gray
Hear my heartbeat yeah yeah hear m' weepin'
Pain and sorrow's here to stay
I begged you baby help me
But you turned your back on me
You didn't even listen
You should have set me free
Now I'm leavin' with the devil
Gonna leave this search for love
Leavin' with the devil
Leave this house of broken love
In Great White's song "House of Broken Love," the singer is reflecting on a troubled relationship that has left him feeling trapped and helpless. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been dealing with a devil, perhaps a metaphor for a manipulative or abusive partner, and that he is struggling to break free from the cycle of pain and misery. Despite the signs that the relationship was unhealthy, the singer finds himself unable to resist the temptation of love and continues to take chances on this broken relationship.
The song expresses the difficulties of trying to maintain a relationship that is fraught with lies and suspicion, where neither partner can trust the other. The singer pleads with his lover to be truthful and open with him, and to use his love "constantly" if she wants to keep it. However, in the end, he realizes that he must leave this "house of broken love" and find a way to escape the pain and sorrow that it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Come the mornin' don't ya wake me
Please don't disturb me in the morning, as I will be dreaming of a life where I am free from my current situation.
I'll be dreamin' that I'm free
I will be lost in a dream where I am not constrained by my current circumstances and am free to live as I wish.
Come the daybreak don't ya shake me
I implore you not to wake me up when the sun rises, as I would rather continue in my dream than face the reality of my life.
Send me back to misery
The reality of my life is one of pain and suffering, so I would rather remain in my dream than return to the harshness of reality.
Cause I'm dealin' with a devil
I am caught in a difficult and dangerous situation, with no escape in sight.
With no help from above
I have received no divine intervention or assistance in my struggles, and must face them alone.
I'm stealin' with the devil
I am struggling and making difficult choices in order to survive, often resorting to immoral or dangerous behavior.
Through this house of broken love
My current situation is one that is characterized by pain, heartbreak, and tragedy.
Takin' chances with you baby
I am willing to put my trust and faith into you, despite the danger that it may pose.
I saw something in your eyes
I believed that I could see in your eyes a glimpse of a life that was free from the pain that haunts me.
And though no one else could blame me
Even though other people might see my trust in you as foolish or dangerous, I felt that it was necessary for my survival and wellbeing.
There were signs I should of recognized
Looking back on my situation, I now see that there were warning signs indicating that things would not turn out well.
If you don't want to lose my lovin'
In order for our relationship to work, you must be honest and faithful, or else you risk losing my love entirely.
Use it constantly
If you want to keep my love, you must constantly demonstrate your commitment and dedication to me, without faltering or wavering.
If it's gonna be lies, suspicious eyes
If you are untruthful or deceitful, you will give me reason to doubt you and to question your intentions and motives.
Baby oh baby set me free
If our relationship is not built on honesty and trust, then it is better to part ways and seek freedom elsewhere.
When the night falls and she's leavin'
When night time comes and you are leaving me, I am left alone with my thoughts and feelings of pain and despair.
Oh the moon shines cold and gray
The darkness of the night and the harshness of the moon's light seem to magnify the coldness and pain that I feel inside.
Hear my heartbeat yeah yeah hear m' weepin'
My sadness is so great that it can be both seen and heard, as my heart beats in pain and I weep uncontrollably.
Pain and sorrow's here to stay
The pain and sadness that I feel are not temporary, but are here to stay and will follow me wherever I go.
I begged you baby help me
I asked you to help me, to see my pain and to understand my need for freedom and change.
But you turned your back on me
You chose not to help me, to ignore my pleas for help and to leave me to suffer alone.
You didn't even listen
You did not hear or understand the extent of my pain and despair, and instead chose to ignore it entirely.
You should have set me free
By not helping me, you chose to keep me trapped in my current situation, and prevented me from finding the freedom I so desperately crave.
Now I'm leavin' with the devil
I am taking my life into my own hands, and am willing to risk everything in order to escape my current situation.
Gonna leave this search for love
I am tired of searching for love and happiness, and have decided that freedom is more important than anything else.
Leavin' with the devil
I am willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means aligning myself with dangerous and nefarious characters, in order to find my freedom.
Leave this house of broken love
I am leaving behind the pain and heartbreak of my past, and am ready to start a new life free from the chains that have held me back for so long.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN NIVEN, JACK RUSSELL, MICHAEL LARDIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
His Overlord Upon High
I remember this on TV. The wife and I were at a very low point in our relationship. This soulful song and its lyrics spoke right to me , I was hooked. It pretty much described our situation at that time. I needed this inspiration. We are still together, 34 years. Four grown kids and two wonderful grand kids. Thank you Great White.
Jevon Henson
Beautiful story bud. Song is incredible. Unfortunately in my relationship I’m the only one that can appreciate this song and band and to be honest category of music. As my mrs isn’t quite the fan of this genre or music I’m in too. Music is a huge part of life, and I have to admit this song is a biggy for me. Stay safe guys x
Terri Surgent
I didn't start appreciate Great White's music until the late 90's...1997 to be exact! Mainly because my partners before them didn't share my LOVE for the 80's music 🎶 & the LOVE I HAVE for LONG HAIRED MEN!! But "Shadow sh
Bilbo Baggins
It's an epic song
Brian J. Carnevale
fantastic music!
The song of the day today found it on this cool chicks playlist, AND THEN THE MEMES STARTED.........
MANY THANKS!
Jeff Davis
Nice dude! Glad to see you doing well with your bride
Jeff G.
Jack's always been a highly underrated singer. Amazing voice.
Keith Floyd Jr
So true and even recent shows up to last year he still has some life left in the pipes..range understandably diminished but tone of his voice still rich and powerful. As with most "hair band" musicians, vastly underrated and unappreciated by those who never saw past the "look"
Paul
never underrated Period.
Ric H
And Mark Kendall is a highly Underrated Guitarist.