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.
Since I've Been Loving You
Great White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It really makes life a drag, I don't think that's right.
I've really, really been the best of fools, I did what I could.
'Cause I love you, baby, How I love you, darling, How I love you, baby,
How I love you, girl, little girl.
But baby, Since I've Been Loving You. I'm about to lose my worried mind, oh, yeah.
Everybody trying to tell me that you didn't mean me no good.
I've been working from seven to eleven every night, I said It kinda makes my life a drag.
Lord, that ain't right...
Since I've Been Loving You, I'm about to lose my worried mind.
Said I've been crying, my tears they fell like rain,
Don't you hear, Don't you hear them falling,
Don't you hear, Don't you hear them falling.
Do you remember mama, when I knocked upon your door?
I said you had the nerve to tell me you didn't want me no more, yeah
I open my front door, hear my back door slam,
You must have one of them new fangled back door man.
I've been working from seven, seven, seven, to eleven every night, It kinda makes my life a drag...
Baby, Since I've Been Loving You, I'm about to lose, I'm about lose to my worried mind.
The song Since I've Been Loving You by Great White is a cover of a song by Led Zeppelin. The song is full of emotions and speaks about the universal theme of love and heartbreak. The opening lines of the song portray the singer's frustration with his job, which he feels is weighing him down. He sings that he has been the "best of fools" and that he loves his partner unconditionally. However, he is on the brink of losing his mind due to his partner's decisions. The song highlights the emotional turmoil that love can cause when it is not reciprocated or respected.
Moreover, the lyrics also include references to the singer's mother, who had rejected him in the past. He tells her that she had the "nerve to tell me you didn't want me no more." The reference to the "new fangled back door man" implies that the singer's partner is cheating on him. The song's overall tone is melancholic and intense, with the singer's pain and frustration being palpable.
In conclusion, Great White's version of Since I've Been Loving You captures the essence of the original song by Led Zeppelin. It portrays the universal theme of love and heartbreak, highlighting the emotional turmoil that love can cause when it is not reciprocated or respected.
Line by Line Meaning
Working from seven to eleven every night,
Spending my evenings working long hours and it's taking a toll on me.
It really makes life a drag, I don't think that's right.
The exhaustion of working so much is taking the joy out of life, and that's not fair.
I've really, really been the best of fools, I did what I could.
I've gone above and beyond for you, even if it meant sacrificing my own well-being.
'Cause I love you, baby, How I love you, darling, How I love you, baby,
My love for you is all-consuming and intense, and it's all I can think about.
How I love you, girl, little girl.
I'm crazy about you, and it doesn't matter how young or old you are.
But baby, Since I've Been Loving You. I'm about to lose my worried mind, oh, yeah.
Since I've been devoting myself to you, I'm close to losing my sanity because of the stress and turmoil in our relationship.
Everybody trying to tell me that you didn't mean me no good.
People are warning me that you're not good for me and that I should leave you alone.
I've been trying, Lord, let me tell you, Let me tell you I really did the best I could.
Despite the struggles, I've given it my all, and I've done everything in my power to make this relationship work.
Said It kinda makes my life a drag. Lord, that ain't right...
Working so much is taking a massive toll on my well-being, and it's not a fair or sustainable way to live.
Since I've Been Loving You, I'm about to lose my worried mind.
My mental state is hanging by a thread because of my efforts to love and care for you.
Said I've been crying, my tears they fell like rain,
I'm crying uncontrollably, and my tears are flowing like raindrops from the sky.
Don't you hear, Don't you hear them falling, Don't you hear, Don't you hear them falling.
Can't you hear the sounds of my tears hitting the ground?
Do you remember mama, when I knocked upon your door?
I'm feeling so lost and alone that I'm reminiscing about the days when I could turn to my mother for comfort.
I said you had the nerve to tell me you didn't want me no more, yeah.
Even my mother has turned her back on me, and I feel like I have nowhere to turn.
I open my front door, hear my back door slam, You must have one of them new fangled back door man.
I'm suspicious that you're cheating on me, and I think you might have a secret lover sneaking in and out of our house.
I've been working from seven, seven, seven, to eleven every night, It kinda makes my life a drag...
I'm working long hours every day, and it's draining the life out of me.
Baby, Since I've Been Loving You, I'm about to lose, I'm about to lose to my worried mind.
My mental state is on the brink, and I'm afraid I won't be able to hold it together for much longer.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY PAGE, ROBERT PLANT, JOHN PAUL JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Willie Murray
No one covered Zeppelin better than Jack Russell and Great White .. epic.
Howard Griffith
That's for damn sure
Susan O'Connell
Amen!!
wheelmanstan
robert plant said he sounded more zeppelin than he did, haha, I read that somewhere
snailjob09
Your damn fucking right
Howard Griffith
You are absolutely right no one covers Zeppelin better than great white
Lark Raines
Omg. This version of this song, gives me goose bumps and brings tears to my eyes, everytime I watch it. Perfection, absolute perfection. THIS is music. I wish I was stuck in the 80s, for life. I miss the music sooo much. This crap today SUCKS.
Headbanger Metal
oh my god, the voice of this man is incredible, one of the most underrated voices of rock, he can mop axl rose easily
Anthony Richard
Never ever heard this version way back in 88 holy shit they nailed the spirit of LZ. A lot of great musicians have tried to reproduce this moment but I must say this is a very great shot.
Lark Raines
I know I've already put a comment on here, concerning this video. I've come back to this soooo many times, and watched and listened. It really, really is, just absolutely incredible. This performance is both eye and ear csndy, and is not only timeless, but flawless. Nothing, and I mean absolutely NOTHING, needs or could be improved on here. No disrespect to any of the Zeppelin boys, at all, but there is NO way they could have done this any better. I doubt whether they could have even matched it. Jack Russel and Mark Kendall are so in touch and time with each other, as is the entire band. This just fukn blows me away, every time I watch and listen to it. This oughta have a billion views by now. Those who haven't experienced this clip yet, are truly missing out. These guys were in their heydey. What an incredible band. This lineup put out some of the best bluesy rocknroll ever made. One of my all-time favorites, without a doubt. It doesn't get any better than this. I wish there were more videos like this of them covering more Zeppelin tunes, during this time frame. Check out their acoustic version of "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You"... Equally as mind-blowing. I salute you, Great White. I am forever grateful that you are a part of my life. Today's youth - take note. This is how REAL music is made. This shit on the radio they put out today is fukn GARBAGE. These guys are untouchable, and set a standard that any band would be proud to be compared to. Even Robert Plant admitted that this was better than they did it, and I agree. Jack Russel, like Lou Gramm back in the day, is one of the greatest vocalists ever. PERIOD. As an ex lead singer, I can attest to trying to hit some of the notes he can. Not to mention being on point, and just totally into the music. And he's not even straining, it just comes naturally to him. What a gift, man. He is definitely blessed. Same with Kendal and that axe he slays so beautifully and effortlessly. Just raw talent all the way around with this whole band. The drummer, bassist and keyboardist just jive with everything they do. Check out Psycho City, Once Bitten, and Twice Shy. All of their stuff is great, but those are must haves in any serious music lovers collection. What heart and soul, in everything they do.