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.
Wasted Rock Ranger
Great White Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I live the life of danger
On the road to find a higher high
I don't need no one's affection
All I need is my injection
An out-of-tune Les Paul'll get me by
I've been doin' gigs since I was ten
I ever had a dollar to my name
My ears are blown, my eyes are red
I got big holes inside my head
Snorting too much crystal and cocaine
I have bennies with the breakfast toast
Qualudes with the evening roast
Assorted snorts of powder in between
I don't think a day's gone by
That I wasn't drunk or high
It's the only way I keep my sanity
From Kegger's Den to Hooterville
My flaming tricks have topped the bill
A thousand empty bottles earn my name
Endless trains of one night stands
Sharing gigs with half-assed bands
And all the local groupies lay the same
Well I could have had a payin' job
Workin' for some fucked-up slob
Wife and family, true security
But I left that shit behind
For that heavy metal grind
'Cause rock'n roll is in my blood to stay
(among other things)
Hey! You're a wasted rock ranger
You'll live life of danger
Sing this song and follow it till the end
When you reach number one
You can overdose for fun
And go and visit Jimi and his friends
Hey! You're a wasted rock ranger
You'll live a life of danger
Sing this song and follow it till the end
When we reach number one
Hey! We'll all overdose for fun
And we'll hang out with Jimi and his friends
Yee haw!
The lyrics to Great White's "Wasted Rock Ranger" depict the lifestyle of a rockstar living on the edge, indulging in drugs and alcohol to chase the ultimate high. The singer identifies as a "wasted rock ranger" who doesn't need anyone's affection, only their injection. Throughout the song, they mention their history of performing gigs since they were young, and their excessive use of drugs such as crystal and cocaine. The singer brushes off the idea of a regular life with job security, a family, and a wife, as they feel that rock and roll is in their blood, and they are destined for greatness.
The song shows the dark side of the rockstar lifestyle where drugs and alcohol are used to cope with the hectic nature of touring and performing. It also shows the desire for success and the willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve it, even if it means indulging in destructive habits. Behind the apparent carefree nature of life on the road, the lyrics suggest there's a significant sacrifice to be made to follow one's dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm a wasted rock ranger
I am a rockstar who indulges in dangerous substances
I live the life of danger
I lead a reckless lifestyle
On the road to find a higher high
I am constantly seeking a stronger high
I don't need no one's affection
I do not require anyone's love
All I need is my injection
All I need is my drugs
An out-of-tune Les Paul'll get me by
I do not need much to get by, just my guitar and drugs
I've been doin' gigs since I was ten
I have been performing since a young age
I really can't remember when
I cannot recall a specific time
I ever had a dollar to my name
I have never had much money
My ears are blown, my eyes are red
My hearing and eyesight have been damaged due to loud music and drug use
I got big holes inside my head
My drug use has caused damage to my brain
Snorting too much crystal and cocaine
I have abused cocaine and crystal meth by snorting too much
I have bennies with the breakfast toast
I take Benzedrine with my breakfast
Qualudes with the evening roast
I take Quaaludes with my dinner
Assorted snorts of powder in between
Throughout the day, I snort various types of drugs
I don't think a day's gone by
I cannot recall a day when I have not been under the influence
That I wasn't drunk or high
I am always drunk or high
It's the only way I keep my sanity
Drugs help me cope with my life and keep me sane
From Kegger's Den to Hooterville
I have performed in various small towns and venues
My flaming tricks have topped the bill
My signature stage acts have made me popular
A thousand empty bottles earn my name
I am infamous for leaving a trail of empty alcohol bottles
Endless trains of one night stands
I engage in casual sexual encounters with fans
Sharing gigs with half-assed bands
I share the stage with mediocre artists
And all the local groupies lay the same
All the local female fans have sex with me
Well I could have had a payin' job
I could have had a respectable career
Workin' for some fucked-up slob
Working for a boss I dislike
Wife and family, true security
Having a spouse and children is true security
But I left that shit behind
I abandoned that lifestyle
For that heavy metal grind
In exchange for the heavy metal lifestyle
'Cause rock'n roll is in my blood to stay
I have a deep passion for rock and roll music and will never let it go
Hey! You're a wasted rock ranger
Addressing fans as fellow drug and alcohol abusers
Sing this song and follow it till the end
Listen to the song and follow its message
When you reach number one
When you become famous
You can overdose for fun
You can overdose on drugs as a form of entertainment
And go and visit Jimi and his friends
After dying from a drug overdose, go hang out with Jimi Hendrix and other deceased musicians
Hey! We'll all overdose for fun
Referring to the band members
And we'll hang out with Jimi and his friends
After dying from a drug overdose, we can join Jimi Hendrix and other deceased musicians
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRAD BAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ravenheart313
I owned the cassette single. I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it. I've been searching for years thanks for bringing back the memories.
@wtrbflo72
This was the flip side to "Once Bitten Twice Shy" on the cassette single!!! I wore the bitch out!
@sethswain6401
One of the first songs I ever learned to play on guitar back in the late 80's early 90's. It was the flip side of the single "Once Bitten Twice Shy". Back when you could by a single on a cassette tape. I sang it a few times at parties, nobody had ever heard it before.
@tylercountrychordscambas2182
What key is that in!?? I use to play it all the time!! Gmaj??
@hero2006
Heard this in a bar in Cocoa Florida tonight. Took 3 hours to search for it. Damn blast from the past. Awesome song and dammit I feel old. LOL
@pettyheartbreaker6445
These kids now days will never know the kind of world we were ROCKIN ANDA ROLLIN THRU BROTHER!😎
@simplyraw1369
lone wolf nomad...
took me about that long too trying to remember what this song was! a blast from the past for sure! I wonder how I'm here today 😂😂🤔 fun times I admit someone was looking out for me for sure!
@kevindondrea144
It was a B Side on the cassette or the 45 for Once Bitten, Twice Shy.
@davidlamb9133
I'm 25 years young. I do this song at my local bar for Karaoke. This song is awesome!
@brianjayhensler7545
I still have this cassette tape . most of my friends have never heard it and now they love it