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 MΓΆtley CrΓΌe'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 β 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.
Sail Away
Great White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A life raft seekin' company
Sailing on a sea insane
Rolling with the waves of pain
Chance determines destiny
Tide can be the enemy
When the moon is shining bright
It hangs there like a beacon light
A place to leave another day
Water leaves no trace behind
Of all the ways your life unwinds
So sail away
Sail away
Sail away
Sail away
As you come you come alone
All you are is what you know
Dependent on your memory
Remember who you used to be
Reason is a raging wind
Beating on your weathered skin
Confusion is the tidal flow
Pulls you like an undertow
Adrift out on a sea of tears
Navigating by your fears
Searching in the stars above
A way to find your isles of love
So sail away
Sail away
Sail away
Sail away
A sea of faces flow by me
Islands of identity
Isolated constantly
No ones's where he ought to be
So sail away
Sail away
Sail away
Sail away
The lyrics to "Sail Away" by Great White describe a person who is lost and searching for their place in the world. They are adrift on an open sea, seeking company, but are instead faced with the rolling waves of pain. The lyrics suggest that life is unpredictable, and chance determines one's destiny. The tide can be both a friend and an enemy, as the moon's light guides the way but also represents the loneliness of being lost at sea. The person is looking for a place to stay, but also searching for a way to leave again. They are adrift on a sea of tears, navigating by their fears, and searching for love.
The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is struggling to find their way in life, and the imagery of the sea reflects the uncertainty and unpredictability of the world. The song suggests that one must remember who they used to be, and be guided by reason rather than confusion, in order to find their way.
Line by Line Meaning
Adrift out on an open sea
Lost and alone in the vast ocean without any direction
A life raft seekin' company
Hoping to find someone to share the journey with, as the solitude can be overwhelming
Sailing on a sea insane
The unpredictability of the ocean, with its rough waters and unexpected weather
Rolling with the waves of pain
Enduring the struggles that come with this journey
Chance determines destiny
Fate can be unpredictable and beyond our control
Tide can be the enemy
The ocean's currents can be dangerous and life-threatening
When the moon is shining bright
In the darkness, the only source of light is the moon
It hangs there like a beacon light
Guiding sailors along their way
You're looking for a place to stay
Searching for a sense of comfort and security in this unpredictable journey
A place to leave another day
A safe haven for now, but always keeping the possibility of moving on in mind
Water leaves no trace behind
The upheavals of this journey can leave no permanent record
Of all the ways your life unwinds
The twists and turns of one's life can be completely unpredictable
As you come you come alone
When starting this journey, you bring only yourself
All you are is what you know
The knowledge and experiences that one brings with them is all they have to rely on
Dependent on your memory
The memories that define who we are and the choices we make
Remember who you used to be
Even as we continue on this journey, it's important to hold onto our past and who we once were
Reason is a raging wind
The logical choices we make can be clouded by the chaos of this journey
Beating on your weathered skin
The tolls of the journey can wear us down physically and emotionally
Confusion is the tidal flow
The tumultuous nature of the ocean can mimic the confusion we feel in our own lives
Pulls you like an undertow
The dangers and uncertainties of this journey can pull us under and leave us struggling to stay afloat
Adrift out on a sea of tears
The emotional struggles that come with this journey
Navigating by your fears
The fear of the unknown and the challenges that lie ahead can guide our choices
Searching in the stars above
Looking for hope and direction in the cosmos
A way to find your isles of love
A search for a deeper sense of purpose and meaning in the midst of the turmoil
A sea of faces flow by me
The vast number of people we encounter in our journey through life
Islands of identity
Finding a sense of self and community amid the countless faces we meet
Isolated constantly
Despite the many faces and places we encounter, we can still feel alone in our journey
No one's where he ought to be
The ideal place that we hope to find in life is always just out of reach
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENDALL, NIVEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben Rowe
A masterpiece of a song, by musicians and song writers of the highest order. For real. Long live Great White!
Mark Varbero
You've got great taste my friend! As an underrated song with absolutely brilliant songwriting. Not to mention Kendalls guitar work. And if you can relate to this song like I can it gives you chills!
spacecoyote909
Hellz yeah! π€π»
Keith Walker
Most underrated band from the days when bands played actual music no tecno crap. Station nightclub fire was a tragedy for everyone involved and my heart goes out to all of you. It should have been a night of singing and dancing. What a f...d up world. My favorite band ever and trust me i love music.
Markus
Driving down the road in my convertible in the 90's. Listening to this song and feeling so free! Amazing memory!
Sloppify
Incredible song by an underrated band.The entire Sail Away album is great stuff.
Art Dickens
7440 VIEWS is proof positive that the world is full of mental midgets.Β This is one of greatest albums of all time,Β pitch perfect, balanced and lyrically a master piece.Β Jacks voice is amazing and he deserves a spot in Cleveland.
Silver Smith
I love this song..it just makes everything better.
Chris Goulart
So unlike their other songs. This one is actually one of my favorite songs of all times!
the406seadonkey
These guys were better than anyone in the 80s apart from Def Leppard. Amazing band and I'm sad to see what's happened to them and how they turned out. Great White is amazing, if they only knew it.