White Tiger (band)

Last updated
White Tiger
Origin California
Genres
Years active1985–1988
Labels ECM Records
Past members

White Tiger was a short-lived glam metal band from United States, founded by former Kiss band member Mark St. John, which split up in 1988. [1] The group also included former Black Sabbath member David Donato, as well as bassist Michael Norton and drummer Brian James Fox. They recorded only one album, and demos for a second album.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Mark died some time later at the age of 51. Donato died in February 2021. Mark's brother and the bassist for the band, Michael Norton, died in 2023.

Biography

Beginning

St. John (Mark Norton), practiced as a guitar teacher before being contacted by Kiss in 1984, after being recommended by well-known guitar maker Grover Jackson, to replace Vinnie Vincent, who had just been fired from the band. From this period, Norton became known to the public under the name on Mark St. John. With Kiss, St. John participated in the recordings of the album Animalize (Kiss's best-selling album of the 80s), but in December of the same year, after having participated in three dates of the world tour, he was replaced by Bruce Kulick for health reasons as he had contracted a rare form of arthritis.

Donato, instead, joined Black Sabbath in 1984 to replace Ian Gillan, and was fired in 1985 after recording some demos with the band, after just six months, for reasons that are not fully understood. Prior to this experience Donato, who had previously worked as a model, had been a member of the British Armageddon (but based in Los Angeles) in the mid-1970s, with which he recorded a self-titled debut in 1975, before the death of its founder Keith Relf (former lead singer of The Yardbirds). After these, he joined the band Hero founded by Neil Citron who was briefly guitarist for Quiet Riot.

White Tiger

Creation of White Tiger

White Tiger was formed in early 1986 by St. John, his brother Michael Norton, Donato, and drummer Brian James Fox. The bandbore some similarity in appearance and sound to the eighties-era hair metal Kiss. A few months later, after signing with ECM Records, they released the self-titled debut White Tiger, which while receiving praise related to songwriting, was nevertheless criticized for its poor production. In any case, it was not a significant success and went unnoticed, also because it was produced by a small label. The label, which saw no promising future for the quartet, rejected the band for lack of success. Demonstrations were recorded for a possible second album, which should have been titled On The Prowl, but was never released due to a lost record deal.

The end

The project, seeing no future, was interrupted in 1989. St. John founded the band Keep composed of St. John, singer Michael McDonald (under the pseudonym Michael Donato), guitarist Kevin Russell, bassist Joey Mudarri and original Kiss drummer Peter Criss. After briefly switching bass with Jim Barnes, St. John reintroduced his brother Michael in January 1990. This incarnation of Keep, which included almost all the members of White Tiger, recorded some demos and attended some concerts in California. However, the label began to distance itself from the band due to the rise of the grunge movement that radically changed the musical trends of the time. Subsequently, the band disbanded in 1991 when Peter Criss founded his solo project titled "Criss".

Later years

Raw reunion and launch

St. John later worked with Stevie Wonder and David Hasselhoff. Brother Michael Norton joined the Laidlaw band releasing the albums Sample This (1998) and First Big Picnic (1999). Later, Fox joined Silent Rage, ironically signing with the label owned by Gene Simmons, known as Kiss bassist and founding member. With them, the drummer released the album Still Alive in 2002. In 1998, St. John hired a small label to release the album White Tiger Raw which was released in 1999. After playing for a few dates in Los Angeles, the band finally broke up. In the same 1999 the debut of White Tiger was reissued with the addition of a bonus track. St. John will then undertake his solo project called "Mark St. John Project" first recording the eponymous EP Mark St. John Project in 1999 in which he participated in the composition of some Peter Criss songs, and then in 2003 the second Magic Bullet theory.

St. John was reported to have died on April 5, 2007, of a brain hemorrhage. He was 51 years old.

Rare demo tape of White Tiger sold

A rare 1988 demo tape from White Tiger, Mark St. John's band, was sold on eBay for $608.00. Songs included are "Wild Wild Women", "Communicator", "Where Did Our Love Go", and "Face the Love".

Live video posts

Brian James Fox, former drummer of White Tiger, has announced that he is working on old material of the group recorded live (he has not specified if in audio or video) to publish it on Facebook and YouTube.

Discography

Studio albums

Compilations

Live

Track list

White Tiger

  1. "Rock Warriors" - 5:28
  2. "Love/Hate" - 5:51
  3. "Bad Time Coming" - 6:01
  4. "Runaway" - 5:00
  5. "Still Standing Strong" - 5:26
  6. "Live To Rock" - 4:09
  7. "Northern Wind" - 5:13
  8. "Stand And Deliver" - 4:38
  9. "White Hot Desire" - 4:36

Raw

  1. Do You Want Me
  2. You're the One
  3. Small Dose of Lovin'
  4. What Ya Doin'
  5. Day of the Dog
  6. Lord of the Fire
  7. Love Me or Leave Me
  8. She's the Kind of Girl
  9. Razor Rock
  10. Brother the Devil
  11. I'm a Lover
  12. Pull It Tight
  13. Love Me or Leave Me [keyboard version]
  14. Baby (Somethin' About You)
  15. Out Rockin'
  16. Makin' Love
  17. Fallin' in Love
  18. You're Breakin' My Heart
  19. Interlude/Little Pussy [instrumental]
  20. Big Cat Strut [instrumental]

Members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixpence None the Richer</span> American alternative rock band

Sixpence None the Richer is an American alternative rock band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, and eventually settled in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss Me" and "Breathe Your Name" and their covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Criss</span> American drummer and singer (born 1945)

George Peter John Criscuola, better known by his stage name Peter Criss, is a retired American musician, best known as a co-founder, original drummer, and an occasional vocalist of the hard rock band Kiss. Criss established the Catman character for his Kiss persona. In 2014, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Kiss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ace Frehley</span> American musician (born 1951)

Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician who was the original lead guitarist, occasional lead vocalist and founding member of the rock band Kiss. He invented the persona of The Spaceman and played with the group from its inception in 1973 until his departure in 1982. After leaving Kiss, Frehley formed his own band named Frehley's Comet and released two albums with the group. He subsequently embarked on a solo career, which was put on hold when he rejoined Kiss in 1996 for a highly successful reunion tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark St. John</span> American guitarist (1956–2007)

Mark Leslie Norton, better known as Mark St. John, was an American guitarist best known for his brief stint with the hard rock band Kiss from April to November 1984. His work can be heard on the band's 1984 album Animalize and their 2023 live album Off the Soundboard: Poughkeepsie, NY. After leaving Kiss, he co-founded the band White Tiger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel (American band)</span> American rock band

Angel is an American rock band from Washington, D.C., formed in the mid-1970s by Punky Meadows, Mickey Jones, and Gregg Giuffria. They were primarily known for their flamboyant glam stage presence and white satin outfits.

Britny Fox is an American glam metal band from the Philadelphia area, initially active from 1985 to 1992 then subsequently reforming from 2000 to 2003, again in 2006 to 2008 and final time reforming in 2015 to 2016. They are best known for their music video for "Girlschool" and their minor hit "Long Way to Love". Bassist Billy Childs has been the only band member to be a part of each of the band's many lineups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Carr</span> American drummer (1950–1991)

Paul Charles Caravello, better known as Eric Carr, was an American musician. He was the drummer for the rock band Kiss from 1980 until his death in 1991. Caravello was selected as the new Kiss drummer after Peter Criss departed. He created the stage name "Eric Carr" and designed his on-stage Fox persona. He remained a member of Kiss until his death from heart cancer in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wicked Lester</span> American rock band

Wicked Lester was a rock band based in New York City. Two notable members were bassist Chaim Witz and rhythm guitarist Stanley Eisen. Originally formed in 1970 as Rainbow, the band changed its name to Wicked Lester in 1971 to avoid confusion with another local band named "Rainbow". Although it secured a record deal with Epic Records and recorded an album, the deal fell through and the band fell apart during 1972. Witz and Eisen, feeling that the band's failure was a result of its lack of vision and direction, decided to found a new band from its remnants. They changed their stage names to Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, respectively, auditioned a new drummer and lead guitarist, and formed the band Kiss by the end of January 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rik Fox</span> American bassist

Richard Suligowski, better known as Rik Fox, is an American heavy metal bassist. He was active mainly during the 1970s and 1980s, in the New York City and Hollywood area rock and metal scenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tygers of Pan Tang</span> British heavy metal band

Tygers of Pan Tang are an English heavy metal band who are part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. They formed in 1978 in Whitley Bay, England, and were active until 1987. The band reformed in 1999 and continue to record and perform. The name is derived from Pan Tang, a fictional archipelago in Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné fantasy series whose wizards keep tigers as pets.

<i>Kiss</i> (Kiss album) 1974 studio album by Kiss

Kiss is the debut studio album by American rock band Kiss, released on February 18, 1974, by Casablanca Records. Much of the material on the album was written by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, as members of their pre-Kiss band Wicked Lester. Simmons estimated that the entire process of recording and mixing took three weeks, while co-producer Richie Wise has stated it took just 13 days.

<i>Peter Criss</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Peter Criss

Peter Criss is the first solo album by Peter Criss, the drummer of American hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978, but yet under the Kiss label, coming out alongside Ace Frehley, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The album was produced by Vini Poncia, who went on to produce Dynasty (1979) and Unmasked (1980) for Kiss.

<i>Dynasty</i> (Kiss album) 1979 studio album by Kiss

Dynasty is the seventh studio album by American rock band Kiss, produced by Vini Poncia and released on May 23, 1979, by Casablanca Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth (song)</span> 1976 single by Kiss

"Beth" is a song by American rock band Kiss, originally released on their fourth studio album Destroyer (1976). Composed by drummer Peter Criss, his friend Stan Penridge and producer Bob Ezrin, the song was published as a single by Casablanca Records in August 1976, after releasing it as the B-side of "Detroit Rock City". "Beth" is Kiss's biggest commercial hit in the United States, reaching #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, receiving a Gold Record certification from the RIAA, and winning the 1977 People's Choice Award for "Favorite Song".

David Thomas Donato was an American singer known for his involvement in Black Sabbath. He recorded several demos with the band and rehearsed throughout 1984 and 1985.

Swirl 360 is an alternative pop band founded by twins Denny and Kenny Scott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throw Your Arms Around Me</span> 1984 single by Hunters & Collectors

"Throw Your Arms Around Me" is a song by Australian rock band Hunters & Collectors first released as a single in November 1984 by White Label for Mushroom Records. A re-recorded version of the song later appeared on the band's 1986 album Human Frailty. Written by bass guitarist John Archer, keyboardist Geoffrey Crosby, drummer Douglas Falconer, trumpet player Jack Howard, recorder/mixing engineer Robert Miles, vocalist/lead guitarist Mark Seymour and trombone player Michael Waters. The song captures the intensity of sensual love at the same time portraying its fleeting nature with lyrics including "And we may never meet again, So shed your skin and let's get started".

Brian James Fox is a drummer known for his work with White Tiger and as a member of Silent Rage.

Detective was an American/English rock band, that toured and recorded in the late 1970s. Detective consisted of vocalist Michael Des Barres, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Bobby Pickett, ex-Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye, and drummer Jon Hyde. The band released two albums, Detective and It Takes One to Know One in 1977, as well as Live From The Atlantic Studios, a promotional album recorded in 1978 for radio broadcast, in 1978.

Prentice John Delaney Jr., better known as Sean Delaney, was an American musician, producer, road manager and songwriter, best known for his work with the rock band KISS from the early 1970s until the early 1980s. He is largely credited with developing their choreography onstage, and co-wrote many songs with Paul Stanley, including "Mr. Speed", "Makin' Love", and "Take Me" from the 1976 album Rock and Roll Over, and "All American Man" from the studio side of the 1977 album Alive II.

References

  1. Weiss, Jacqueline; Bendlin, Karli (17 April 2023). "The Members of KISS: Where Are They Now?". People.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23 via EBSCOHost.