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Carrying on
Interview with Jack Russell
Great White Vocalist/songwriter
By Wayne "Doobie" Dubay
June 16, 2005
Being the lead singer of one of the biggest rock bands on the planet, Jack Russell of Great White certainly needs no introduction. However, just in case you’re from another planet, we’ll give you a run down on Jack Russell and Great White.
Great White first hit the L.A. club scene back in the early 80's with their independently released EP titled “Out Of The Night,” which started quite a buzz on the sunset strip, and also got the band their first record deal. In 1984 Great White released their self-titled album “Great White,” and hit the road with Whitesnake, and later on that year Judas Priest!
It wasn’t until 1987 when the band released “Once Bitten,” when the attacks started. “Once Bitten” went platinum with hard rock songs like “Rock Me,” “Lady Red Light,” and their power ballad “Save Your Love.”
An all out feeding frenzy in the music world started when the band released “Twice Shy” in 1989. With songs like “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” and “House Of Broken Love,” the band quickly became a household name, and a force to be reckoned with.
Great White toured the world extensively with bands like Kiss, Iron Maiden, Tesla and the Scorpions. They have numerous albums under their belts, including “Let It Rock,” and their 1999 release of “Can’t Get There From Here.”
Jack Russell started Great White back in 1978. Since then, Jack has taken Great White to the top with his “blue collar style” song writing and his amazing voice and showmanship. Jack surrounds himself with very talented musicians within Great White and his solo career as well.
Unfortunately, even with all of Russell's musical accomplishments, he will be always remembered for the tragedy that occurred while Great White performed at the Station Night Club in Rhode Island on February 20th, 2003. One hundred people perished and hundreds more were injured in a fire that started when the band’s pyro ignited the celling of the club.
However, Russell continues to carry on by helping the victims and their families. Shortly after the catastrophe, he helped set up the Station Family Fund which had raised over $700,000 so far. The charity continues to grow, attracting more companies and generous individuals whose support will help the victims and families for many more years to come.
Recently, we caught up with Russell for this exclusive, insightful interview in which he discusses his future with Great White, his solo plans, the Rhode Island Station tragedy and much more.
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Jack Russell, Welcome to GlamMetal, how are you man?
Hey, what’s up bro?
You guy’s are currently on a 2005 summer tour. How’s the tour going so far, and how long do you plan to tour this summer?
The tour has been great man! The shows have been packed, and we’re playing a lot of big festivals with five or ten thousand. It’s been awesome! The cool thing is it’s just fly shows. I don’t do the bus thing anymore, I don’t wanna be gone from home that long, you know? We fly out for a weekend, do three shows and come back home, give the old lady a little pickle tickle, and I’m back on the road. (Laughs)
(Laughing my ass off) So you guy’s are still adding shows to the tour then?
Oh yeah.
Looks like Great White may be touring well into the fall then huh?
You know, the thing is, I don’t need to do this anymore. I’m still tempted to retire, and my wife keeps saying, “You need to retire, you need to retire.” I just can’t get over the fact That I still love to sing, you know? I love being on stage, I love performing, so...
I hope you don’t retire just yet man.
Well, you know , when it’s not fun anymore, that’s when I’ll quit. I’ll be on stage with a friggin walker with tennis balls hanging on the side of it, you know?
(Laughing my ass off again) You should be a comedian as well man!
Yeah I know! Dude, you have to be a comedian when your in this business man. (Laughing)
Do you have any support acts on this tour with you?
Occasionally someone like Warrant will do a show with us, or some other bands, but we’re not really on the road with anyone in particular. As I said, I don’t really wanna do that anymore. I don’t wanna be in a bus. It’s so much easier to go out and headline our shows and have local bands support us, that’s fine.
Mark Kendall and yourself are the only original members of Great White touring, correct?
That’s correct.
If you don’t mind me asking, why are the other original members not in Great White anymore?
Well, I’ll tell you what. You know, after a certain amount of years...I’ll tell you what, I’ve been playing with Mark Kendall since I was seventeen. That was twenty-seven years ago man. Some of the guys that have been in the band for many years would get a little complacent, and a little disenchanted, and would complain all the time, and I don’t want to be around with a bunch of guys complaining. “I don’t want to play anymore, I’ve got pubic hairs in my shoes!” (Laughs) You know, the foods not good, or the bus isn’t any good, or my hair’s not working today. You know, if you don’t like your job, quit. It’s that simple man. They wouldn’t quit, so I had to fire them. I don’t need negativity in my life man.
You and Michael Lardie were always the best of friends, and he was always a huge asset to Great White. Do you still talk or work with him at all?
Michael Lardie is still a good friend of mine, yes! I actually spoke with him a couple of days ago.
How are the new guys fitting in with you and Mark’s vibe?
The new band is the best incarnation of Great White. I got a twenty year old bass player. The guy was sperm when my first album came out. This guy is a total rock star, and these guys are glad to be out there man. They don’t complain, they’re just happy to be there, you know? I mean, I stuck him in front of fifty-five thousand people on his first tour. He was nineteen years old then, and he walked out there like it was nothing man! I would have been crapping my pants if I was his age. They’re great guys man.
Great White is featured on a VH1 compilation CD titled “Metal Mania. Stripped” that came out earlier this year. What song did you guys do for that record, and did you remake it?
We did a DVD at the palms hotel in Vegas. We took “Save Your Love” off from that, and gave it to VH1 for that album. It was definitely a remake, it was the acoustic version.
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How does VH1 approach you about doing a song for their record? Do they ask you which song you’d like to do, or do they just request a song they want?
I think they actually requested “Save Your Love,” yes. They want us to do another one. They want us to do an upbeat version of “Rock Me.” The thing is, you can’t do an upbeat version of that song man. They’re going, “Well, there’s gotta be a way,” and I’m like “No, you can’t make it a fast song, it just won’t work.” I wrote the song, I know. “Rock Me” can’t be any faster than it is. It won’t sound right any other way.
When can Great White fans expect a new record?
We’re thinking about going back into the studio at the end of the year. The last studio album was in 1999. Since the fire, I just haven’t been in the writing mood. I’m just now finally starting to say, “Ok, lets go back into the studio.” I don’t know, we’ll see what happens. One day I want to make a record, and then the next day I don’t. I just don’t know.
Are you the primary song writer in the band, and do you have any new material written?
Yeah, I’ve got a few things written, and I’m still working on my next solo thing as well. I just haven’t been in the writing mood. I’m the kind of guy that writes like...If I got to be in the studio in a month, I’ll do all my writing. I won’t write like all year long, I have a life, you know?
Where does your inspiration come from Jack?
I write about my life. I don’t write about fantasy stuff, you know? I write about real things. Everything I’ve written has been said before, but you just try to say it in a way that’s your own. I want people to understand what I’m saying. I want people to know that Johnny blue collar worker, which I put myself in the same category as man. I mean I never thought I was any better than anyone else, maybe a little bit luckier, that’s all. We all have the same problems, you know?
Proceeds from the 2005 summer tour go to the Station Family Fund. Roughly how much money has Great White generated so far to the fund, and do you have any other involvement at all in the Station Family Fund?
I know Great White itself as given over a hundred thousand dollars to the charity, and we’re still continuing to donate money, and not because we feel obligated to it. You gotta understand, the people that died that night have been coming to see us for twenty years man. They have supported me over the years, and made it possible for me to have a career in making music. The least I can do is help their families out.
Can anyone donate to the Station Family Fund, and are there any other musicians that you know of donating to this great cause?
Yes. You can go to www.stationfamilyfund.org They would appreciate any kind of a donation that you can give. I know Tesla did something for the fund, and Blue Oyster Cult contributed as well. I’m not really sure who else, but I’m a bit surprised that some of the bigger bands out there haven’t. I mean, some of those guys could give their tee- shirt sales alone from one night, and make several hundred thousand dollars for the fund, you know? They kinda backed away and didn’t want anything to do with it. I just can’t believe it man. You’d think the comradeship of the music business would step up. These weren’t just our fans that passed away.
They were all rock fans man.
Exactly man, they were rock fans.
I understand the sensitivity of this subject, but would you mind if I ask you a couple of questions about the Rhode Island tragedy?
Yes, if I can answer them I will, if I can’t it’s because of legal stuff. Go ahead.
It can’t be easy having that horrific night in your head man. What do you do to cope with that, and how has it effected your life personally?
I sat two months on a Psychologists couch drugged out on what ever they could give me, and I finally said to myself, this isn’t working man and I have to deal with this. We literally got tens of thousands of emails and letters from fans all over the world expressing their love for our music, and how our music has changed their lives in a positive aspect. That’s what got me back on stage. I was just gonna hang it up and quit after that man. I lost my guitar player and two very close friends that night and ninety-seven others. It’s horrific man. I went down to a tattoo shop and got a tattoo that night before the show. I gave the guy a pass to the show, and he ended up dying. I was like oh my god, if I didn’t get a tattoo, he wouldn’t have gone to the show and may still be alive today. I went back and forth with myself, what if, what if, what if? You can what if yourself to death, and I figured that fate plays a hand in everything. How come I got pulled out, you know? I figure there’s got to be a reason. I appreciate life more, and I live every day like it’s my last man.
Some people still blame Great White for that tragedy. Do you or any of the other guys get any negative comments or threats directed at you, and if so, how often?
Not really, there were some threats initially. When all the information came out people realized it wasn’t our fault. The fire department said the foam shouldn’t have been there, and the doors shouldn’t have been locked. There were a lot of bad mistakes made that night. I don’t blame anybody, it was just a combination of a bunch of bad decisions that turned into a huge travesty, you know? If people want to blame it on me or the band, that’s fine, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m not trying to clear my name or anything, I’m just trying to move on with my life.
I still get chills when I think about it man.
Yeah, me too. I’m just sorry it ever happened man.
You’ve been in the music business for a long time now Jack. What advice would you give to younger musicians looking to get into this business?
Quit! Get a real job and save yourself the head ache. (Laughs) Honestly, find something you love and stick with it. Most of these guys get in a band, and their band didn’t make it in a week, so they quit and join another band. You gotta find something you love and stick with it man. Don’t give up. To give up is to fail.
What are a couple of pro’s and con’s in the music business?
Pro’s and con’s of the music business, hmm...Well the pro’s are, it’s a great way to make a living if you can make a living at it. The con’s are you’re away from you’re family for months at a time, and you know the divorce rate is insane. It’s a difficult life man, it’s not all about that hour and a half on stage. I don’t get paid to sing, I get paid to sit around and wait all day long.
It’s not as glamorous as people think is it?
No it isn’t man. It’s grueling. The traveling, the airplanes, the busses, the truck stop food, it’s just grueling, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love it. (Laughs)
Any newer bands out there that you really dig?
You know, I am so not into the new scene. I don’t even listen to music when I’m home man. If I were a carpenter, I wouldn’t come home and listen to a record of people pounding and sawing, you know? When I come home, I’m like the history channel guy. (Laughs)
Even though you guys have had hits and written music and toured well beyond the 80's, how does it make you feel to be categorized a “Hair band” from the 80's, like so many other bands?
Hair band!? Shit! Most of the bands of my genre are hairless bands now! (Laughs) To me, categorization is the short cut to thinking. I mean, it’s either rock or it’s not man. Come on, music is music, if it’s rock it’s rock. If it’s not rock, then I don’t like it.
What’s your all-time favorite Great White song?
Probably “Silent Night.” You know it’s funny because our best record that we did with John Kalodner was in an era 1999, where we had a top four single on radio, and we only sold a hundred thousand copies. You know, ten years ago that would have been a five million seller, but times have changed man. The face of music has changed, but at least Great White is still part of that face. It may be just an eyebrow, but we’re still on the face.
I see this genre coming back.
You know, everyone tells me that, “The eighties are coming back!” I don’t want the eighties to come back. I cannot live through it twice! (Laughs) Bellbottoms came back for a while right? I went out and bought fifty pairs of bellbottoms, two weeks later they were out of style, so I had to give them all away. (Laughs) If you look at music as an era, the sound of bands is pretty much a snapshot of what the world is like. The eighties was about having fun, lets have sex, lets just have a good time, you know? The worst thing you could get is herpes, no big deal, it’s not gonna kill ya, right? The nineties was a little bit more scary, the music was a bit more dark. The year 2000, bands are either covering some old song that’s like five years old, or there are ninety thousand chick bands. I’m so sick of chick bands, they all sound the same. Star search!? Give me a break, go out and play the clubs, go play the back yard parties and earn your stripes man. It seems nowadays it’s so corporate, it’s not what it used to be, you know?
Yeah, the music today drives me crazy.
Yeah, I don’t listen to it dude.
I have never heard a band that covers Zeppelin as good as Great White. Jack, you do Robert Plant almost as good as Robert Plant. Your tribute record titled “Great Zeppelin” is kick ass man! Obviously, Led Zeppelin was a huge influence for you. Is it true that Great White was actually a Zeppelin cover band way back before you became Great White?
Thank you. No, that was a band called The Whites. We get confused with that a lot actually. They were a Zeppelin cover band, we were never doing that.
Well, you are certainly in tune to Zeppelin dude. You’re right on key.
Well thanks man. You know the funny thing is, my wife was out with Robert Plant one night years ago at a dinner, and he was bagging on David Coverdale about how he was ripping him off and stuff, and he goes “That guy Jack Russell sounds more like me than I do.” That was the best compliment I have ever gotten in my life. I only wish I had been there, you know?
What do you have for hobbies Jack when you aren’t working or touring?
Well, I’m sitting in a casino right now. I guess that’s a hobby. (Laughs) Losing money is my hobby. (Laughs) Actually, I like to fish, I like to work around my house. When I’m home, I like to stay home, because I’m never home. I actually sleep better in a hotel room than in my own bed. I’ve spent twenty something years in hotels, and when I get in my own bed, I can’t sleep man. It’s so weird. At home I gotta pick up my own clothes, I hate that man. (Laughs)
You did a solo record and a tour a while back, are you still doing that on the side, or working with any other musicians?
I’m still doing it. I just kinda put it on hold for right now and concentrating on Great White and the summer tour. I’ll keep doing that though, it’s fun, it’s a different side of me musically, you know? I’ve played with some great musicians and it was a great album. I intend on making another one, but at this point I just want to go out and do the summer tour with Great White and be the rock star for three months and then come home and be John Q public.
Anything you’d like to say to all of the Jack Russell\Great White fans out there?
Absolutely! Yeah, I just want to thank all our fans for the love and support, especially over the last couple of years. It was a really hard time for everybody. You’ve been so supportive and so generous, I just want to thank you all for being there for us. God bless you all.
Thanks so much Jack for talking with us at Glam-Metal. Good luck with the tour man.
It was my pleasure man. Thanks a lot brother.
Anyone interested in finding tour dates or any other info about Great White can go to their website at www.mistabone.com
All performances by GREAT WHITE will continue to benefit the Station Family Fund. Proceeds from their shows go to the fund to create further awareness and financial assistance to those touched by the Rhode Island tragedy. Proceeds go directly to The Station Family Fund. The funds raised will be controlled and administered by The Station Family Fund. www.stationfamilyfund.org
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