Away Team

First on Saturday December 10th we read this update by Jack Russell (original Great White vocalist):

“To all my friends:
Just wanted to announce that I will be coming back with my band, GREAT WHITE, and a BRAND NEW lineup.
“My new bandmates are some of the most incredible musicians I have ever had the privilege to play with: Matthew Johnson, former guitarist for GREAT WHITE; Derrick Pontier, former drummer for GREAT WHITE; Dario Seixas, former bassist for FIREHOUSE and the Stephen Pearcy band; and Robby Lochner, former guitarist for Rob Halford‘s band and Cherie Currie.
“I am very excited about this new beginning.
“I am feeling better than ever, despite any rumors you may hear to the contrary.
“Unfortunately, and as confusing as it will be, my former bandmates and their manager have decided to continue to tour next year under the name I created, GREAT WHITE. I will be touring under the name GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL to try avoid any confusion.
“So now the true fans will know the difference.
“I will be announcing tour dates as soon as they become available.
“Our first performance will be at the pre-NAMM Jam on January 14, 2012. Only shows advertised as GREAT WHITE FEATURING JACK RUSSELL will include myself on vocals.
“I have missed all of you terribly and look forward to seeing you all on the road. You have no idea how much your love and devotion has meant to me during what has been one of the hardest periods of my life.
“Happy holidays! Much peace and love to you and your families. Have a blessed New Year.
“Yours, as always, Jack Russell, founder and lead vocalist, GREAT WHITE
“P.S.: JACK IS BACK!!!!!!!!”

Ok, so Jack Russell has undergone several surgeries over the last couple of years, and according to the actual GREAT WHITE band, it is all because of rampant drug use. The ‘original‘ GREAT WHITE released this statement yesterday in response to Jack‘s announcement on Saturday:

“First and foremost, our main concern is our fans.
“We have spent 30 years trying to be the best we can be and bring our fans the top quality of music they have become accustomed to and deserve.
“It saddens us today to have to respond to Jack Russell‘s announcement.
“Jack Russell announced on Facebook on Saturday, December 10, 2011 that he was returning to GREAT WHITE with a new lineup. This was a complete shock to the entire GREAT WHITE family.
“This couldn’t be further from the truth.
“As we all know, Jack Russell has been fighting drug and alcohol abuse for many years. He has had numerous stints in and out of treatment facilities and hospitals.
“In 2010 Jack‘s physical condition deteriorated to the point that he routinely fell on and off stage, forgot lyrics and we had to cancel shows due to his inability to perform.
“In the past two years, Jack has had five major surgeries and has almost died three times. His drug abuse was so bad that his body began to shut down and ultimately resulted in colostomy surgery from a perforated bowel (he nearly died during this procedure). The colostomy surgery saved his life, but vanquished him with a colostomy bag for a year.
“We stood by Jack; we supported his sobriety and eagerly awaited his return.
“Jack was first slated to return to GREAT WHITE this past summer. Unfortunately, his frail body and his drug abuse prohibited this event. In the following months, Jack had three more surgeries that delayed his return. Finally, he chose February 2012 as his target return date.
“We had five clear conditions for Jack‘s return:
1. Jack had to be drug free. Off all opiates, methadone, Valium or Xanax.
2. Jack had to be off prednisone (a steroid that ate away at Jack‘s internal organs that caused the perforated bowl).
3. Jack had to be sober and off crack cocaine and all alcohol.
4. Jack had to agree to weekly drug tests.
5. Jack must attend weekly meetings for AA and NA.
“Last week Jack notified management he would not make it back by February 2012. Jack referred to his doctor’s opinion that he would not be ready. He had just started physical rehabilitation again and his legs and back needed more rehab to handle the rigors of touring. Jack thought he would be ready by May to start the summer touring season. However, he wasn’t sure if he could be off the methadone by then or ever. Management reiterated that he had to be completely drug-free for his return. He owed it to the fans. He owed it to us. He owed it to himself.
“Out of nowhere, we all received an email on Saturday, December 10, 2011 stating that he was coming back now and that he was starting his own (a different lineup) GREAT WHITE. As you can imagine, this was shocking, to say the least. We were saddened and hurt from this shocking announcement.
“We only want to do right by our fans.
“We aim to give the best possible show and have every fan leave the show feeling they got their money’s worth.
“This band is sober and music is our passion. With Jack Russell not being drug-free and unable to physically perform on stage, it will only let down our fans.
“Time and again, Jack Russell has let down his band and fans. His addictions have ruined his life the past eight years.
“We will not sit by and enable our brother to abuse alcohol and drugs to kill himself. We have lost too many loved ones to this madness. After the passing of our dear friend, the talented Jani Lane, it has become more evident that this has to stop. It must end.
“Since Jack‘s departure in August 2010, GREAT WHITE has performed almost 100 concerts. We’ve had no shortened sets, cancelations or song choice limitations due to vocal issues.
“In this struggling economy, fans need and deserve more — not less. We owe it to our fans and the promoters to not to allow Jack Russell and some garage band to hurt GREAT WHITE‘s classic rock legacy and bright future.
“Jack Russell does not have the right to start his own GREAT WHITE or use the name without our names in the lineup.
“We will litigate any promoter that books ‘Jack Russell’s GREAT WHITE‘ or uses any logo featuring the name GREAT WHITE.
“We give you our word, we will continue through 2012 and beyond to provide you with the top-quality musical performances you have been accustomed and deserve.
“We hope and pray that Jack gets healthy, happy and sober. His health and well being is the only thing that matters.”
GREAT WHITE featuring Terry Ilous

The ‘original’ GREAT WHITE currently consists of: Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous (lead vocals).

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EDITOR’S NOTE:
Ok, so we have two L.A. Guns which nobody wants. We want one L.A. Guns with Phil Lewis singing. Who cares who the guitarist is? Tracii Guns was never Yngwie, Eddy, or Jimi so who cares if he is in the band or not? We don’t need two different bands playing the same music under the same name. Get that Jack Russell? We don’t need two GREAT WHITE bands! We need one (well, do we really even need one???) band playing the hits we’ve loved for the last 20 years. And if you can’t get your shit straight and get healthy enough to join the actual band that is touring under the GREAT WHITE name, then you don’t need to be touring under another GREAT WHITE band name.

There’s some stupid shit that goes on in the music industry, but this has got to be the dumbest.

Jack Russell, lead singer of the multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated rock band GREAT WHITE, is recovering from major surgery after suffering a perforated bowel. The surgery left Russell with a colostomy bag. Doctors are confident that this procedure is temporary. Russell remains hospitalized in Southern California, and his condition is improving.

“It was touch-and-go for about 48 hours whether or not he was going to live,” manager Obi Steinman said. “He’s been in the hospital for several days, and he’s doing a lot better.”

Russell is the singer behind such hits as “Once Bitten Twice Shy“, “Rock Me“, “Angel” and “Save All Your Love“. He faces another operation, but he was in good spirits today. “I’ve felt better, but I’ve felt a hell of a lot worse,” he said in a statement. “Nothing is going to keep me down. This whole thing definitely makes me appreciate life more than I ever have.”

Russell is expected to recover in six to eight weeks.

Singer Terry Ilous of XYZ has stepped in to replace Russell on lead vocals while Great White is on the road.

For more GREAT WHITE click here.