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.
Stick It
Great White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can the music and stop all the noise,
Or you can get out and find your own way!"
I told him "Stick it." My rock's here to stay.
No. No. I can't live without it
No. No. It just ain't the same
No. No. Ain't no doubt about it
So rock me again!
Me and my Chevy don't stop for no lights
Crankin' the metal, blastin' the plant
They want to catch me, betcha they can't!
I'm out on the road, and I'm rockin'!
Stick it!
I'm out on the road, there's no stoppin'
I'm out on the road and I'm rockin'
I'm out on the road and I'm gone.
The lyrics of Great White's "Stick It" touch on themes of rebellion and choosing one's own path in life. The song tells the story of a young person who is faced with the decision to either give up their passion for rock music or leave and find their own way. The implied message within the lyrics is to stand up for what you believe in, even if it goes against societal norms and expectations.
The first verse conveys the conversation between the singer and an elder man who may symbolize the limiting expectations and pressures of society. The phrase "Stick It" is used as a response to the man's advice about choosing a different path. The chorus emphasizes the importance of rock music in the singer's life, and how they cannot live without it. The second verse talks about driving all night with guitar-driven heavy metal music, disregarding laws and authority, and daring the authorities to catch them.
Overall, the lyrics of the song encourage the listener to embrace their rock music passion and to be unapologetic about it, despite societal opposition. The lyrics are backed by a hard-hitting guitar riff and a blistering drum beat that drive the song, making it a classic hard rock piece.
Line by Line Meaning
The old man told me 'Hey you! Make a choice.'
An elder person advised me to make a decision.
You can take the music and stop all the noise,
You could choose to listen to music and ignore all the distractions.
Or you can get out and find your own way!
Alternatively, you can leave and make your own path.
I told him 'Stick it.' My rock's here to stay.
I rejected the advice and declared my loyalty to rock music.
No. No. I can't live without it
It's impossible for me to survive without rock music.
No. No. It just ain't the same
Life would be different without rock music.
No. No. Ain't no doubt about it
Without rock music, life would be miserable for me.
So rock me again!
Play rock music again for me.
I want to roll it and burn it all night
I want to listen to rock music all night long.
Me and my Chevy don't stop for no lights
I'm driving my Chevy, and I won't stop for any traffic signals.
Crankin' the metal, blastin' the plant
I'm playing loud rock music and enjoying it.
They want to catch me, betcha they can't!
I'm being rebellious and breaking the rules.
I'm out on the road, and I'm rockin'!
I'm driving and listening to rock music at the same time.
Stick it!
I'm sticking to my devotion to rock music.
I'm out on the road, there's no stoppin'
I'm unstoppable when it comes to listening to rock music and living my life.
I'm out on the road and I'm rockin'
I'm driving and listening to rock music.
I'm out on the road and I'm gone.
I'm gone, driving away with my beloved rock music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK S. KENDALL, JACK RUSSELL, LORNE BLACK, GARY J. HOLLAND, ALAN NIVEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carlos Alberto Díaz Cabrera
The old man told me, hey, you make a choice
You can make the music and stop all your noise
Or you can get out and find your own way
I told him stick it, my rock's here to stay
No, no, I can't live without it
No, no, it just ain't the same
No, no, ain't no doubt about it
No, no, oh so rock me again
I want to roll it and burn it all night
Me and my chevy don't stop for no lights
Cranking the metal, blasting the plant
They want to catch me, bet you they can't
I'm out on the road, and I'm rocking, stick it, stick it
I'm out on the road, there's no stopping, stick it, stick it
I'm out on the road, and I'm rocking, stick it, stick it
I'm out on the road, and I'm gone
I'm out on the road, and I'm rocking, stick it, stick it
I'm out on the road......
TimeMgtInc
The stick toss at the end was spontaneous and purely out of frustration after playing the song 30 times in a row. The camera following the stick was completely serendipitous. As a result, that take became the final take. I thank you all sincerely for your appreciation and patronage. I've never taken it for granted. I will always be grateful for you. -Gary Holland
doug creech
Hy7888786
Rumple Stilskin
Thats right
Auntie LisaLisa BoPeepsa
Now this is the Great White that I remember and love ❤️ my friend Mark introduced me to their music back in the early 80’s. Come to find out they’re local boys from Whittier California. Originally known as Dante Fox. Hadn’t heard this song in years. Right away I remembered the lyrics. Sadly after the Station fire in 2003 this band was never the same. Definitely heartbreaking 💔 and sad how many fans and even their own guitarist Ty Longley died. Now I believe there is 2 versions of Great White. One with Jack Russell & one with Mark Kendall. This video brought me back to my teenage years 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵
Racine Evans
Kick ass!!! The very first song that I ever heard from them, which made me a fan. They opened up with this song, when I had seen them live in '85 at the Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara, Ca, It was a sold out show, and Y&T and Helix were also on the bill. All 3 bands blew the roof off of the place! This song was even used on the 2nd "Harold & Kumar" flick. It's awesome to know that true rock is timeless:)
PRS1
Same here.. heard it first on MTV
Thomas Connors
seen then in 83-84? opened for whitesnake slide it in tour in ipswich england concert was kick ass for sure
Mike B.
You SHITASS, LUCKY DOG!)) I BET IT WAS EPIC BADASS TO THA BONE!!!! I just recently as of last few years REALLY TURNED ON TO THIS CUT?!? RESONATES DOWN TO MY SOUL.... I was a LITTLE behind the REAL PLAY IN THAT ERA OF TIME, BUT THE FELLOWS LAY IT DOWN. SOLID.
Aurellius Maximus
I remember hearing this on Metalshop on the radio and went out and bought the cassette. Still rocks after all these years.
Carl Surrow
If Jack Russell had Bon Jovi or Winger looks he would have been one of the biggest rock stars ever. What an amazing voice! Could go from Halford screams to Plant wails to Vince Neil type punkish aggression, bluesy to a soft head voice on ballads all while still sounding like himself. And a side note, the chick in the blue swimsuit is wife material