Legendary duo Jack Russell and Tracii Guns helmed the mighty RUSSELL / GUNS up until Jack’s untimely passing in August of 2024. They were accompanied by Johnny Martin, Shane Fitzgibbon, and Alessandro del Vecchio, and in January of 2024 released their debut LP, ‘Medusa.’
Never before produced in vinyl format, this Record Store Day issue of ‘Medusa’ is the perfect opportunity to honor Jack and give the fans something special in his memory.
About the collaboration, Tracii shared the following:
“Jack was one of the greatest rock voices of our generation. It was a total honor to play guitar on this, his final studio record.”
Record Store Day 2025 is on April 12th – visit your favorite local vinyl purveyor to score a copy!
For Jack Russell, this RUSELL / GUNS project represented a long-awaited return to recording and new music, coming seven years after the release of ‘He Saw It Comin” with Jack Russell’s Great White. Without dwelling on the past and attempting to recreate the storied origins of the multi-platinum hard rock entity, Jack was excited to be moving forward and collaborating with the mighty Tracii Guns, an artist who has been experiencing a creative resurgence of his own.
On ‘Medusa,’ Jack and Tracii discovered a common thread in a collection of songs that draw from the bluesy power and heavy energy of their most celebrated material and roots yet were infused with a fresh, energetic drive and modern metallic production.
About the album, Jack previously commented,
“It was so great making a record with Tracii! Initially, I had reservations about making this record, but in the end, it kicks ass.”
‘Medusa’ is an album that showcases inspired artistic integrity and commitment to rock’n’roll from two extraordinary rock stars of the 80s and 90s.
‘Medusa’ Track List:
1) Next In Line 2) Tell Me Why 3) Coming Down 4) Where I Belong 5) For You 6) Give Me the Night 7) Living A Lie 8) In And Out of Love 9) Medusa 10) Back Into Your Arms again 11) I Want You
In 1984, Jack Russell burst onto the scene as the frontman for Great White, a prominent presence in the Los Angeles music scene. The band’s self-titled debut, along with platinum-selling albums like 1987’s ‘Once Bitten…’ and 1989’s ‘…Twice Shy,” sold over 8 million copies worldwide. Their rock legacy continued into the 21st century, and in 2011, Russell went on to form Jack Russell’s Great White.
Tracii Guns is a legend in his own right. He founded LA Guns in 1983, which later merged with another group called Hollywood Rose, laying the foundation for one of the true giants of rock: Guns N’ Roses. After departing the band and reuniting with former Girl lead vocalist Phil Lewis to reform LA Guns, he signed with Vertigo Records and released 14 studio albums with the band. He also ventured into various side projects, including Contraband (with Michael Schenker and others), Sunbomb (with Michael Sweet of Stryper), and more recently, Blackbird Angels with Todd Kerns (of Slash & The Conspirators).
Ultimately, RUSSELL / GUNS’ ‘Medusa’ is a gift to the millions of fans who have steadfastly supported both Tracii Guns and Jack Russell throughout the years. It’s everything they were waiting for, and this RSD vinyl issue is the perfect monument to a great rock ‘n’ roll partnership.
Vocalist and co-founder of legendary ‘80s hard rock group Great White, Jack Russell, is proud to announce the release of a very special acoustic album revisiting the band’s 1987 multi-platinum masterpiece Once Bitten featuring some of their biggest and most recognizable hits including “Save Your Love” and “Rock Me!” Aided by the likes of guitarist Robby Lochner (who also produced and mixed the album), longtime Great White bassist Tony Montana (now on guitar), bassist Dan McNay and drummer Dicki Fliszer, these songs have been stripped to their emotional core, spotlighting the intensely passionate story at the heart of each song. J ust check out the new version of the unforgettable ballad “Save Your Love,” which has been shorn of all rockstar pomp to reveal a heartfelt hymn yearning, love and loss.
Or just watch the new video, directed by Vicente Cordero of Industrialism Films (Queensrÿche, Tom Keifer), which communicates the song’s message powerfully:
Jack Russell explains “Once Bitten is one of my favorite albums that we did. I always wondered what it would sound like done acoustically. The experience recording this unplugged version was really neat. It brought back a lot of memories of the original recording session, things I had forgotten about. Interestingly, the songs that I thought wouldn’t translate acoustically like ‘Livin’ On The Edge’ and ‘Never Change Heart,’ the heavier songs, came out the best. Now, I’m looking forward to doing it again for …Twice Shy!”
Once Bitten Acoustic Bytes will be available everywhere starting May 1 on digital as well as CD and a limited edition BLUE vinyl LP from Deadline Music, a division of Cleopatra Records, Inc.
Track List:
1. Lady Redlight
2. Gonna Getcha
3. Rock Me
4. All Over Now
5. Mistreater
6. Never Change Heart
7. Fast Road
8. Livin’ On The Edge
9. Save Your Love
10. Babe (I’m Gonna Leave You)
February 20th, 2013 marks the 10th anniversary of the tragic fire at the Station Night Club in Rhode Island. Jack Russell of the band GREAT WHITE announced that he would be doing an acoustic performance on February 7th at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach, CA, where proceeds would be donated to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. The Boston Globe caught up with Russell after the gig, which didn’t go as well as he’d hoped. An excerpt is available below:
He walks with a cane now and, until recently, he wore a colostomy bag surgically attached to his waist, a humbling reminder of his near death in 2010, after years of drug and alcohol abuse.
Jack Russell, 52, has fallen a long way since that night 10 years ago when he preened before a packed house in The Station nightclub, before his band’s pyrotechnics turned the place into a deadly inferno. In minutes, the front man for the fading ’80s hair band, Great White, became a vilified figure in a national tragedy, not just for his role in starting the fire, but for his seeming insensitivity: He talked about the band’s upcoming summer tour even while The Station burned before his eyes.
Russell had hoped to do something positive earlier this month for the 10th anniversary, headlining a concert to raise money for a permanent memorial at The Station site in West Warwick, R.I. But fire victims and their families would have none of it; he remains a pariah in their eyes. A statement from the Station Fire Memorial Foundation said simply, “We feel the upset caused by his involvement would outweigh the amount of funds raised.”
Rock fans apparently weren’t keen on Russell’s idea either. Only about 30 people showed up to see “Jack Russell of Great White” in the Saint Rocke concert hall on the Pacific Coast Highway near Los Angeles, raising an estimated $180, even after Russell announced he would donate the proceeds to the son of his guitar player, Ty Longley, who perished in the fire.
“It was supposed to be a tribute,” he later said, sheepishly.
That’s the way it’s been for Russell, who was never criminally charged in connection with the fire, but who never made peace with survivors either. In fact, Russell seems to have a penchant for antagonizing critics, like getting a facelift in 2006 because “the look in the mirror just doesn’t represent how I feel inside,” which some saw as insensitive to people disfigured by The Station fire.
“He never even apologized” for his role in the disaster, said Gina Russo, who survived the fire with horrible burns; her fiance was killed. “Everyone would look at this differently if Jack Russell would stand up and say, ‘I’m sorry,’?” she said.
Today, Russell acknowledges the disconnect, saying, “I never meant to hurt anybody.” But he prefers to remain publicly silent rather than debate whether he has shown enough contrition.
“It’s been almost 10 years and no matter what I say it’s never going to make anybody feel any better about it, and sometimes it might make them feel worse, so I really would rather not say too much, you know,” he said as he headed for his dressing room after the benefit.
Russell initially balked at a Globe request for an interview — he rarely talks to the press. But he agreed to open up the next morning, welcoming a reporter to the 45-foot fishing boat that he calls home to discuss everything from his bitter split with his band mates to his battles to stay sober to the tragedy that sent him spiralling.
“After The Station, I was really down, was taking anything I could take,” he said. “I would just sit for hours and cry.”
Russell wouldn’t say whether he felt partially responsible for the 100 deaths in the fire, though friends say his broken body is a form of self-punishment. For his part, he still expresses surprise at his unwanted place in history.
“All I ever wanted to do was be a singer,” said Russell, still looking the part of a rock star with dangling earrings, four on each side, and his trademark, pirate-style bandana over long, sandy blond hair. “I just hope that I put more into this world than I took out of it.”
Go to this location for the complete story, including a short video clip.
Following the initial announcement for the intended charity show, Russell issued an update the next day:
“This morning my manager received an email from the Vice President of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, stating that they will refuse any donations from me to the foundation. That being said, the proceeds from the show on February 7 will be donated to a different charitable organization, to be determined shortly.
I am saddened by the response of the foundation and the motives behind it, but we will put on a great show and make it for a worthy cause.”
The official press release regarding the situation, from the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, can be found below:
On January 16, 2013 it came to our attention that a press release announcing a benefit show in Hermosa, California was being promoted by Jack Russell stating that proceeds would be given to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. This event was not approved by, nor endorsed by the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. We require all third party fundraisers to be recognized and approved by our organization prior to advertising.
Upon hearing about this event, contact was made with Mr. Russell’s management company. The Station Fire Memorial Foundation felt that this event was not something we wished to be associated with. This is due to the resentment and animosity still felt by many of the families and survivors that our very organization represents. We feel that the upset caused by his involvement would outweigh the amount of funds raised at this event. It is our intent as an elected board to put the needs and best interests of those we represent before any monetary gain.
Mr. Russell’s manager, Ms. Valerie Ince, responded that she would remove the name of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation from the event and another worthy charity would be chosen. We thanked her, and tried to have all traces of the event taken down from various music news websites before any damage could be done. Instead of graciously adhering to our heartfelt and polite request, Ms. Inc then released an additional statement to the media.
We stand behind our decision that our organization represents the feelings and the needs of the family members and survivors above the need for the publicity or opportunity of one person.
The Station Fire Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) recognized charitable organization that was formed in order to procure, construct, and maintain a fitting memorial to those affected by our state’s most significant tragedy to date.
The Station Fire Memorial Foundation is a 100% Volunteer Effort. There are no administrative costs. Every dollar raised by the Station Fire Memorial Foundation will go directly to address the costs of construction and maintenance of the memorial. Construction is estimated to begin Spring of 2013.
JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell, who is currently embroiled in a legal dispute with his former GREAT WHITE bandmates over the rights to the group’s name, has posted the following message on his Facebook page:
“A friend of mine just showed me an interview with my former guitarist Mark Kendall [of GREAT WHITE]. In this interview, he insinuates and/or alleges that I am not sober. Ordinarily I do not let such idiotic and slanderous comments bother me, as I must consider the source, but at this point I have had enough!
“My A.A. sponsor, who has been sober for twenty six years, will verify along with anyone else in my life that I AM SOBER. I will take my one-year cake and coin on August 10th.
“[Addressing Kendall directly] Do me a favor, worry about your own sobriety and quit taking cheap pot shots at me in the press while acting like a ‘concerned old friend.’
“Remember, Mark, you were one of my dear old friends who never even called me once while I was in a coma for five days in the hospital. So for you to come off now like you are seriously concerned about my welfare is insulting. You are not fooling anyone, certainly not me.
“I wish you would stop ‘wishing me nothing but the best’ after doing your best to throw me under the bus.
“I propose from now on, if we don’t have anything good to say about each other, let’s just not say anything at all.”
JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE recently took part in the “America Rocks” tour alongside FASTER PUSSYCAT, BULLETBOYS, PRETTY BOY FLOYD and LILLIAN AXE.
JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with the other touring and recording version of GREAT WHITE, which features Mark Kendall, Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous (lead vocals).
When asked if he has heard the new album, “Elation”, from the “other” version of GREAT WHITE, Russell said, “I haven’t. I have no need to. I know what it’s going to sound like, it’s not going to sound like what I’d want to hear anyway. It would just kind of make me feel bad because it’s not going to sound like GREAT WHITE. Good, bad or indifferent, it’s not going to be a GREAT WHITE album. . . You can’t take a lead vocalist out. That’s the one thing that distinguishes each band from another. Every guitar kind of sounds the same, every guitar player that is decent can play another guy’s riffs. There have been a couple of bands that have been successful after changing lead singers — like you look at VAN HALEN when they got Sammy [Hagar]. He’s a great singer and a friend, but I don’t want to hear him sing the songs of David Lee Roth. They should have changed the name of the band to VAN HAGAR. That’s the way I feel about any band. There’s been talk from some people that Ronnie James Dio went in after Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH was still great. Well, okay, great, he did but it still wasn’t BLACK SABBATH to me. . . . You can have a guy, like the guy that is now singing for JOURNEY. He sounds like Steve Perry, but it’s still not the same. Not everybody feels that way, but whatever they do, I wish them the best.”
JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE is:
Jack Russell – Vocals Robby Lochner (FIGHT) – Guitar Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) – Guitar Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) – Bass Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) – Drums
Russell filed a lawsuit against his estranged bandmates in March claiming that they fired him and stole the group’s name while he was recovering from surgery to repair a perforated bowel. Named in the complaint were Kendall, Desbrow, Lardie and talent agency Bigg Time Entertainment. Kendall, Desbrow and Lardie responded with a 30-page counterclaim, filed on April 24 in a federal court in Los Angeles, accusing their former frontman of, among other things, “miss[ing] 80 performances in 18 months” before leaving the band; “irreparably damag[ing]” their “market reputation” by putting on performances that “are not up to the standard of GREAT WHITE; and misleading the public by stating that the musicians in Jack‘s new band “were once full members of GREAT WHITE.” They also accuse Russell‘s new bandmates of “profit[ing] from their wrongful affiliation with the GREAT WHITE brand.”
Daveman of the 105.7 The Brew radio station in Columbus, Ohio recently conducted an interview with JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell. You can now listen to the chat below.
JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE is currently taking part in the “America Rocks” tour alongside FASTER PUSSYCAT, BULLETBOYS, PRETTY BOY FLOYD and LILLIAN AXE.
Regarding how the trek — which kicked off on June 15 at Avalon in Santa Clara, California — came about, Russell told DoneWaiting.com, “We’re all with the same agency. I talked to Chuck at Artists Worldwide and told him I wanted to do a package. He showed all the bands and I said, ‘Whyme don’t you talk to these guys and these guys and these guys, see if they want to get together and do a tour.’ I wanted something that was eclectic and solid and strong. The bands that are on here are all really good in their own right. It all just seemed to work out. It’s going to be a chance to see some old friends and make some new ones. I haven’t been on a tour bus on a real long tour since ’99 when GREAT WHITE did the POISON/RATT tour. The only part I’m not looking forward to is being gone from the Mrs. We’re really, really close and we’ve never really apart for more than a few days at a time. This is the strongest relationship I’ve been in with a woman. I hate to use the word ‘soulmate,’ but that’s what it feels like. I know it’s a word that’s overused at times but I really feel like that. It’s odd for me, I’m not used to that kind of connection with a woman.”
JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with the other touring and recording version of GREAT WHITE, which features Mark Kendall (lead guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous (lead vocals).
When asked if he has heard the new album, “Elation”, from the “other” version of GREAT WHITE, Russell said, “I haven’t. I have no need to. I know what it’s going to sound like, it’s not going to sound like what I’d want to hear anyway. It would just kind of make me feel bad because it’s not going to sound like GREAT WHITE. Good, bad or indifferent, it’s not going to be a GREAT WHITE album. . . You can’t take a lead vocalist out. That’s the one thing that distinguishes each band from another. Every guitar kind of sounds the same, every guitar player that is decent can play another guy’s riffs. There have been a couple of bands that have been successful after changing lead singers — like you look at VAN HALEN when they got Sammy [Hagar]. He’s a great singer and a friend, but I don’t want to hear him sing the songs of David Lee Roth. They should have changed the name of the band to VAN HAGAR. That’s the way I feel about any band. There’s been talk from some people that Ronnie James Dio went in after Ozzy and BLACK SABBATH was still great. Well, okay, great, he did but it still wasn’t BLACK SABBATH to me. . . . You can have a guy, like the guy that is now singing for JOURNEY. He sounds like Steve Perry, but it’s still not the same. Not everybody feels that way, but whatever they do, I wish them the best.”
JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE is:
Jack Russell – Vocals Robby Lochner (FIGHT) – Guitar Matthew Johnson (DOCTOR M, JACK RUSSELL) – Guitar Dario Seixas (FIREHOUSE, STEPHEN PEARCY) – Bass Derrick Pontier (GREAT WHITE, SAMANTHA 7) – Drums
Russell filed a lawsuit against his estranged bandmates in March claiming that they fired him and stole the group’s name while he was recovering from surgery to repair a perforated bowel. Named in the complaint were Kendall, Desbrow, Lardie and talent agency Bigg Time Entertainment. Kendall, Desbrow and Lardie responded with a 30-page counterclaim, filed on April 24 in a federal court in Los Angeles, accusing their former frontman of, among other things, “miss[ing] 80 performances in 18 months” before leaving the band; “irreparably damag[ing]” their “market reputation” by putting on performances that “are not up to the standard of GREAT WHITE; and misleading the public by stating that the musicians in Jack‘s new band “were once full members of GREAT WHITE.” They also accuse Russell‘s new bandmates of “profit[ing] from their wrongful affiliation with the GREAT WHITE brand.”
GREAT WHITE lead guitarist Mark Kendall, drummer Audie Desbrow and guitarist/keyboardist/backing vocalist Michael Lardie have fired back at the group’s estranged singer, Jack Russell, after Jackfiled a lawsuit against his former bandmates claiming that they kicked him out of the band and stole the group’s name while he was recovering from surgery to repair a perforated bowel.
Kendall, Desbrow and Lardie filed a 30-page counterclaim yesterday in a federal court in Los Angeles accusing their former frontman of, among other things, “miss[ing] 80 performances in 18 months” before leaving the band; “irreparably damag[ing]” their “market reputation” by putting on performances that “are not up to the standard of GREAT WHITE; and misleading the public by stating that the musicians in Jack‘s new band — which is performing under the name JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE — “were once full members of GREAT WHITE.” They also accuse Russell‘s new bandmates of “profit[ing] from their wrongful affiliation with the GREAT WHITE brand.”
Excerpts from Kendall, Desbrow and Lardie‘s counterclaim:
“Russell has stated that he was GREAT WHITE‘s creative director. In fact, [former manager] Alan Niven was the band’s creative director from 1982-1995. He got the band signed to major label deals. Between 1985 and 1995, Niven wrote some of the music, most of the lyrics and, with Lardie (and sometimes Kendall), produced all the band’s records. During this period, GREAT WHITE achieved its greatest commercial success.
“At the height of his powers, Russell had a strong voice. He was noted for an ability to sing almost exactly like Robert Plant from LED ZEPPELIN. However, Russell never contributed substantially to songs or creative direction. He never learned to play guitar or piano. Sometimes during the final recording process he would suggest changes to vocal phrasing. Russell was often given a songwriting credit if he made any contribution at all, so as to maintain harmony within the band.
“Russell‘s creative and songwriting contributions to the important albums were minor. For instance, the albums between ‘Shot In The Dark’ and ‘Sail Away’, contain 56 recordings. Russell was the sole lyricist on only 2 songs and had no role at all in 25 of them. He contributed almost no musical element. Russell relied on Niven to write the vast majority of the lyrics. The sounds and image of classic GREAT WHITE were created by the core of Kendall, Lardie and Niven.
“By 2000, Russell‘s voice had deteriorated. Unable to perform adequately for an upcoming European tour, Russell suggested that the band play to pre-recorded music and lip sync entire concerts. Kendall adamantly refused and took a leave of absence from the band. Desbrow was strongly opposed to this idea. Lardie was cajoled into arranging a lip synced performance to avoid lawsuits by European promoters.
“The first show of Russell‘s lip syncing tour was in Spain. By the third song, the audience realized the band was not playing live and began heckling the band. Most of the crowd left the venue. Russell insisted that the band press on with the tour, but the band members refused and returned to the United States immediately.
“On December 5th, 2006, at Russell‘s birthday party following a release from the Betty Ford Clinic, [veteran music manager Obi] Steinman arranged a reunion of GREAT WHITE. A reunion tour was orchestrated for 2007, featuring Russell, Kendall, Desbrow, Lardie and bassist Sean McNabb.
“Desbrow, Lardie and McNabb conditioned the reunion on Steinman and Sharon Gilday (the band’s business manager) staying in charge of earnings, revenue splits and disbursements. The band would be equal partners and all profits and equity would be split equally.
“All decisions would be made by democratic vote of Russell, Debrow, Kendall and Lardie, with Steinman having the deciding vote to end any disagreements.
“No one member could use the name GREAT WHITE. If anyone was voted out of the band, it had to be by majority, with that member keeping royalties earned prior to termination, with no future rights in the name.
“A European tour started on January 25, 2008 in Copenhagen, and the band was concerned that Russell may be looking for drugs after shows. His performances were substandard, and he appeared to not be sleeping.
“On February 8, 2008 while in Prattlein, Switzerland, Russell went to a physician and received the drug Halcion. Later that day, Desbrow and Lardie found him barely coherent and wandering the street.
“By April of 2008, Russell‘s personal life began to unravel. His fiancee broke off their engagement. On information and belief, he was told to leave her house because of drug use.
“Beginning in 2009, Russell‘s health began to decline rapidly. On information and belief, the years of alcohol and drug use were beginning to take a serious toll, and he escalated his use of opiates and painkillers.
“On information and belief, Russell had abused the steroid prednisone, which is often used by singers who have colds or are unable to sing in the upper registers. On information and belief, one of the symptoms of prednisone abuse is a weakening of bone and degeneration of muscle.
“After a series of embarrassing incidents, Steinman, Kendall, Lardie and Desbrow again decided to limit touring. GREAT WHITE would only play a few shows a month. Russell was furious, because, on information and belief, he needed the money. He begged to go back on the road.
“On May 23, 2009, in Parker, Arizona, Russell fell on stage. On information and belief, Russell‘s pelvis or hip was broken or fractured as a result of the fall.
“On July 12, 2009, at a festival in Oklahoma called ‘Rocklahoma,’ a physician was called in because Russell was doing poorly. The physician recommended that Russell enter a detox program in California and gave him several Vicodin for the following 24 hours. On information and belief, Russell took all of the Vicodin at once and delivered a very substandard performance that hurt the GREAT WHITE name further.
“A horrible fall took place on or about December 9, 2009 at the Cher-Ae Heights Casino in Northern California. Russell even predicted before the show that he may fall, and he did. On information and belief, his weakened bones resulted in a minor fall becoming a broken femur. On information and belief, Russell had taken such a high dose of pain killers that he did not realize the extent of the injury until after the show.
“He soon required a stool on stage.
“In January 2010, Russell fell asleep while driving and drove under a semi truck. The entire top of his car was shorn off.
“In March, 2010, Russell was cited for driving under the influence. He cannot tour China, Japan or Canada with a DUI conviction.
“Later, in 2010, in an infamous video filmed by a fan in San Antonio, Russell fell from a stool during the opening minutes of a concert. On the video, he was so incapacitated that he was unable to pull himself back up and required the assistance of a stage hand.
“The video of the fall in San Antonio circulated quickly on the Internet. Kendall and the other members of the band were criticized for not helping Russell, even though it was that Russell insisted on taking these dates and performing to make money.
“On or about August 10, 2010, after returning on a flight from Rapid City, South Dakota, Russell went to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had a perforated bowel. He needed immediate surgery. On information and belief, the years of steroid and drug abuse had made Russell‘s organs thin and vulnerable.
“As of August 28, 2010, Russell was unable to perform. He would go on to spend the entire year of 2011 recuperating.
“Terry Illous of the band XYZ was hired to save dates that were booked. Russell knew about him. He did nine shows, then GREAT WHITE played a few shows with Jani Lane, the former singer of WARRANT. This arrangement was suggested by the band’s manager, who also managed Lane and was a friend. It was not suggested by Russell, though Russell had full knowledge that another singer was fronting the GREAT WHITE band, and he encouraged it.
“GREAT WHITE played one show in Sweden with Paul Shortino as the vocalist.
“Most consistently, GREAT WHITE played with Terry Illous, who is now the singer for the band. Illous‘s voice works very well with the band’s music. He engages the crowd and was mobile on stage. Again, Russell knew that another singer was playing with GREAT WHITE for over a year, and that the band continued to bill itself as GREAT WHITE. Russell was not policing the GREAT WHITE brand.
“Russell stated in January 2011 that he wanted to return by April 21, 2011 for some shows in Alaska. He did not make that date.
“The next promised return date was May 12, 2011 in Columbia, Maryland. On information and belief, this date was pushed back because Russell did not maintain sobriety.
“The next possible return date was in June, 2011. Steinman and the booking agent spoke with Russell and his wife. They stated their concern that if Russell could not make June, then September would be best because of a heavy schedule in August and July, including stints of playing three nights in a row.
“In June, 2011, Russell fell and broke his leg, requiring more surgery and rehab. He later admitted to Steinman that he had been drinking and taking Xanax. On information and belief, Russell was supposed to be taking Suboxone to curb his opiate and methadone use. Steinman told Russell he could not support Russell‘s return to the band if he was not sober.
“For a brief period in the summer of 2011, Russell seemed sober and lucid. Ms. Kendall informed her husband, who called Russell immediately. Kendall could tell that Russell was not impaired. He pushed Russell to call him every day at 9:30 a.m. Kendall vowed to help Russell stay sober, literally one day at a time, if he would make that call. Those calls lasted only three days.
“On or about July 3, 2011, Russell wrote an email to Steinman stating ‘If the band does not want me back, don’t worry I will not go out with JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE.’ He also promised that he was sober.
“On August 11, 2011, Russell had a final abdominal surgery. It was decided he needed 8 weeks of therapy to gain his strength to perform. During meetings in September and October, February, 2012 was picked as the return date for Russell.
“Meanwhile, the band played over 80 shows with Terry Illous. Promoters were instructed to use new photos of the band so that audiences would not believe Russell was performing. The shows were well attended and received positive reviews.
“During this time, the band was not ignoring Russell. Th ey were keeping up on his progress through their manager Steinman, booking agent Sullivan [D. Bigg] and sometimes through Russell‘s periodic calls to Kendall‘s wife. Steinman had several text messages from Russell‘s wife.
“The band had grown tired of the promises for return. They wanted to see results, which meant that Russell would be in the studio strengthening his voice with Lardie, not using a walker and producing clean urine samples. Anything less meant he was unable to return to touring.
“In the fall of 2011, Russell represented that he was off all pain medication except non-narcotic medications and anti-inflammatories. He had Thanksgiving dinner at the home of his booking agent (whom Russell has now sued). He called the other band members and was slurring his words. 93. On December 7, Steinman, the booking agent and Russell decided that further physical rehabilitation would be necessary for Russell would return in February, 2012. He would work in the studio with Lardie in January, 2012.
“Sometime in early December, 2011, Russell told Ms. Kendall that he would ‘take his band name and leave.’ When Kendall found out that Russell intended to use the GREAT WHITE mark without the band, he called an attorney who informed him that he was well within his rights to apply with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a trademark registration on GREAT WHITE.
“On December 7, 2011, Kendall filed for the trademark registration on GREAT WHITE on behalf of himself, Lardie and Desbrow.
“On information and belief, Russell, through his attorney, independently attempted to file for a trademark registration on GREAT WHITE a few days later. On information and belief, Russell was surprised to learn that Kendall had already filed an application.
“On December 8, Russell went to a new physician who said February, 2012 was possible for a return date, but Russell needed to get back into physical therapy. Russell also told Steinman that he was back on methadone. Steinman was concerned and told Russell about other drugs. On information and belief, Russell‘s wife was also concerned that he was on methadone.
“On or about December 10, 2011, Russell wrote a letter to the band, stating that he would come back drug free and accusing band members of various wrongdoings.
“On or about December 11, 2011, Russell sent a long, bizarre email to the band. He claimed to have had an affair with Kendall‘s wife and to have smoked crack cocaine with her. Kendall and Ms. Kendall were deeply disturbed by the email. He attacked each member as being talentless. He later retracted the entire message.
“On or about December 21, 2011, Russell gave an interview and announced he was ‘leaving and taking my name.’
“Russell then began performing as ‘JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE.’ His band includes Counterdefendants Johnson, Seixas, Lochner and Pontier, playing before a back drop where ‘Jack Russell‘s’ is hardly legible over ‘Great White.’ Russell began playing with the new band in January, 2012.
“Russell‘s new band contains members that he had circulated through his solo band or were in GREAT WHITE only briefly. On information and belief, the public is misled by statements that these members were once full members of GREAT WHITE.
“On information and belief, local promoters are confused by Russell‘s new band name. Some bars are promoting the band as ‘GREAT WHITE.’ Third party ticket sites are advertising both bands simply as ‘GREAT WHITE.’
“Russell‘s current performances are not up to the standard of GREAT WHITE. His singing is consistently flat, and his performances are damaging the GREAT WHITE mark.
“After Russell left, GREAT WHITE began recording with Terry Illous. They decided to record an entire album, entitled ‘Elation’. On information and belief, Russell has submitted new material to various labels, and has received little interest.
“Russell has also stated that he will seek a preliminary injunction to stop the release of ‘Elation’, currently set for May 18, 2012, on Italian label Frontiers Records. His attorney has written a letter to Frontiers Records, claiming that Russell will ‘most certainly’ win this case.”
GREAT WHITE featuring singer Terry Ilous:
April 2012 performance footage:
JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE:
April 2012 performance footage:
Source : Blabbermouth.net
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