Great White

For a band to continue to thrive 40 years in the music business, the mantra must be, these songs are bigger than any one member. GRAMMY nominated hard rock legends Great White are adding onto that line with the saying: expect the unexpected. It's rock and roll, baby. The peaks and the valleys haven't stopped- nor has the music. Great White's ride runs deep and its passion for the music goes beyond any depth.

Four decades in and Great White enlists Brett Carlisle to take over vocal duties and lead the charge on hit after hit. That arsenal of songs include the Grammy nominated Best Hard Rock Performance hit, "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," Great White has sold over 10 million albums worldwide, has six Top 100 Billboard hits, nine Top 200 Billboard albums, two platinum albums, and clocked the top of MTV four times.

To experience their hits live in concert-"Rock Me," "Mista Bone," "Save Your Love," "House of Broken Love," and "Lady Red Light"-is to ride an emotional wave of sultry connections, arousing lyrics, and an all-out marathon of hard-hitting orchestrations. Audiences might also hear tracks like "Stick It", "The Angel Song", "Big Time" or one of the many deep cuts from Great White's 13 studio albums.

California-based Great White is Mark Kendall (guitar), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards), Audie Desbrow (drums), Scott Snyder (bass), and Brett Carlisle (vocals). Since 1982, the Great White sound has captivated audiences worldwide with crushing, blues-based guitar riffs and swagger that invokes an emotional high for anyone that listens. The band's core writing team of Lardie and Kendall forged numerous hits over the years, and when Desbrow joined in '85, the grooves hooked an amazing stride.

Now for more than a decade, Snyder has merged his unforgiving rhythm to Desbrow's relentless percussion. Carlisle, born and raised in Alabama, brings a Southern rock charm laced with Bayou blue-based grit.

From an early gig at the famed Los Angeles' Troubadour, to sharing arena stages with rock's biggest names like Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Scorpions, to globe-trotting alongside contemporaries Slaughter, Vixen, Skid Row, Vince Neil and more - Great White continues to bring its exhilarating live performance to the masses.

Slaughter

1990 SLAUGHTER hit radio, MTV and the U.S. touring circuit like a tornado- coming seemingly out of nowhere to roll through everything in its path and turn it upside down. Touring the world with bands that they loved, Kiss, Ozzy, and others meant the good times were just a song away, and their first hit single, "Up All Night" certainly fit into that mold, their second chart-topper, "Fly To The Angels" was more representative of the spirituality and awareness that goes into most of the band's music and lyrics. But never were SLAUGHTER more accurately represented that live onstage in front of their legions of devoted fans over the last ten years.

1991-during this time filmed what became a platinum home video "From the Beginning" depicting the bands rather different and humorous lifestyle. To showcase the live prowess, the band had garnered during their first tour, the band released "Stick It Live" a five song EP collection which entered the billboard charts and went gold as quickly as it was released. This was certainly a shock to the non-believers in the world.

SLAUGHTER was contacted by Orion pictures and Record Producer Jimmy Lovine to write and record what would become the theme song for "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey" and later made a video that featured clips from the film as well. This CD was also certified gold.

1992 -the band went on to record the "The Wild Life", its second record after a consistent schedule of touring behind the multiplatinum debut, "Stick It To Ya." During this time the band was awarded the prestigious American Music Award. The "WildLife" CD entered the billboard charts the first week of release in the top ten at # 8 and was shortly their after certified platinum. The band also filmed what became a second gold home video documenting the making of the "The Wild Life" CD. The band embarked on a tour that would take them through their first challenging obstacle to overcome.

During the Ozzy Osbourne Tour (June 1992), Singer Mark SLAUGHTER was diagnosed with a nodule on his right vocal cord that required surgical attention that was later performed in August 1992. The band would not perform again until Halloween of 1992 on the Dick Clark's Halloween Special from Universal Studios in Hollywood, CA. The band continued to tour with the Damn Yankees bringing them midway through the 1993 season. After receiving the most media attention for a second CD effort, the band began to make plans to record their next Chrysalis release (Fear No Evil). The next series of challenges was soon to come. The writing of "Fear No Evil" in Las Vegas seemed to start out with a normal timber as all other records thus far. However midway into writing, guitarist Tim Kelly and then tour manager were arrested in Las Vegas by drug enforcement agents for a six plus year old charge involving narcotic trafficking. From this point through completion of the record, it was not known if Tim Kelly would ever tour with the band again. Soon to add gasoline to the fire was the small dirt bike accident within a half mile of Dana Strum's house in Las Vegas, NV causing multiple broken bones including a left wrist and two fingers on the left hand (the hand he plays bass with). Once again the band was determined to continue on.

1994-The band played its first engagement on new year's debuting material from the forthcoming CD at the Hurricane in Las Vegas at a meager price of $100 dollars per person (this date was a sellout). "Fear No Evil" was completed in February 1994 with the band touring with Damn Yankees from February on. After flying to New York to debut the album for the record company at the mid-year point, the group soon realized that no one involved in the promoting of their early records was any longer employed by Chrysalis (EMI) records. The band spent four months negotiating their release from the label. Within three months after negotiating the release the band signed a deal with then newcomer CMC International records with a vision of bringing Hard Rock and Metal Music to the people again. SLAUGHTER also made a Pacific Rim record deal with JVC Victor Records of Japan, marking a new world release period for SLAUGHTER.

1995-the band embarked on a tour that would take them around the world. The group also released "Rain On", a five song import EP featuring SLAUGHTER's first cover song, Elton John's "Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting." The band then embarked on their first tour of Japan. The tour was a long overdue overwhelming success. SLAUGHTER had to perform with Vince Neil guitarist "Dave Marshall", (Tim Kelly's long time friend) in Japan due to Tim's ongoing legal problems. Many seeing the band during these trying times felt as though the group itself was beginning to perform better as a unit ironically. By this time Tim Kelly's legal problems had ended and the band was now bound and determined to continue its pursuit of good time rock and roll.

1996-the band returned from a year long tour long tour, the band begun to make plans to record "Revolution", the bands fourth full length 1997 effort and first enhanced CD. With musical climates changing the band embarked on a bit of a psychedelic approach still maintaining a good time spirit with often more challenging songs to be recorded. The record was released with an in store promotion campaign across major cities in America with the band signing copies of its entire catalog to date. SLAUGHTER then embarked on it's first of what would become many package tours, this time with "Motley Crue" singer Vince Neil who had performed with Tim, Mark and Blas at a Las Vegas charity engagement earlier that year. (Ironically the band had met a talented young sound man/guitarist from Orlando, Florida named Jeff Blando who would later become the fourth member of SLAUGHTER after the tragic passing of Tim Kelly.) The band began to feel an upswing in audience attendance and peoples' determination to let hard rock live.

1997-the band continued to tour with Alice Cooper, Dokken and Warrant on its second package tour showing even more promise and teaching the band that sticking to their guns was the right thing to do. After playing their last headlining date in Detroit, MI (November 1997) the band returned to their respective homes and planned a new live release to encompass performances of material spanning the years.

1998-"Eternal Live" was the band's 6th record, and their first full-length live release is SLAUGHTER at its best- live on stage. Recorded in- Mexico in front of more than 20,000 fans and one in their hometown, Las Vegas, "Eternal Live" captures the excitement of a SLAUGHTER performance and showcased 12 songs off their earlier albums. Sadly, this album must also serve as a tribute to original SLAUGHTER guitarist Tim Kelly (1963-1998)-RIP, who was killed in a car accident. "Eternal Live" was Tim's farewell performance, "explains bassist and producer of all SLAUGHTER albums, Dana Strum." And I think he'd be pleased that his last recordings were not just in the studio, but were with our fans there too." Uncertain if the band would continue or tour after Tim's passing, the only logical replacement was Jeff Blando who was described by late guitarist Tim Kelly as "One Hell of a player."

The band rehearsed with Jeff Blando during the last week of May 1998 with no other goal in mind than to continue and make this work. The band's first performance without Tim Kelly was in Salt Lake City in June 1998. The warmth and support of the audience was nothing short of overwhelming. The band several gigs later realized that the fans would rather feel and hear the music than see it fade away. This marked a noted positive change for all of the members, with Blando being received with open arms. Mark SLAUGHTER, "It's been the love and support of our fans that helped us carry on after Tim died. And we make this solemn promise to them that as long as they are there, so will SLAUGHTER be there."

The band continued touring on their self-named "Rock Never Stops" Tour playing to as many as 16,000 fans the likes of which SLAUGHTER had not seen in a great many years.

This would become a positive turning point for the group with nothing but promise ahead of them. All of the members reflect that SLAUGHTER has enjoyed plenty of success in their 15-year career. Five songs on their albums were #1 MTV videos. Seven of the songs were in rotation on AOR radio. Like any group who has known the thrill of selling millions of records around the world, filling large arenas and having their faces plastered on magazine covers, the members of SLAUGHTER have felt the pressures of maintaining that success. "Seven years ago, it's all we could think about," says Dana, "but then losing Tim and seeing music come and go over the past few years has taught us a lot about the music business and has allowed us to re-evaluate what we're doing."

1999-Las Vegas, Nevada - SLAUGHTER had completed their seventh CD to date entitled "Back to Reality."(CMC/BMG RECORDS) That marked the first joint writing effort involving all four band members and the most challenging recording schedule to date. (With Production of the CD beginning only in March of 1999) During this time the band also filmed for VH-1 "Where Are They Now".

During the summer of 1999 it was interesting to note that while on the "Rock Never Stops Tour" (which included: TED NUGENT and NIGHT RANGER) SLAUGHTER did more press (including "Forbes" and "Various TV and Radio Shows", but also had the "#1 Track" on the "VH-1" CD "Power Ballads" with "Fly To The Angles" and "Up All Night" became the "#1 Track" on Rhino Records "Hard Hitters" meaning that SLAUGHTER had Never released more Product in any year of the GROUP'S history.

VH-1 MTV and Major Film Companies have gone to SLAUGHTER requesting that "Songs, Sounds and Images" be included in releases FROM 1991-2008.

2000-SLAUGHTER took part in the hugely successful summer 2000 "Poison, Cinderella, Dokken and SLAUGHTER" tour proving that rock is still alive and well.

2001 SLAUGHTER was a proud part of a TWO MILLION selling CD "Monster Madness" (with - UP ALL NIGHT), the band was also out touring as a part of the "Voices of Metal" tour featuring Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Ratt, and Vixen 2003 Capital records re-released the first two SLAUGHTER CD's "Stick it to Ya" and the "Wildlife" featuring 24-bit digital re-mastering, additional photos, bonus tracks and liner notes written by Mark SLAUGHTER and Dana Strum - SLAUGHTER toured May-October with "WHITESNAKE" on the "ROCK NEVER STOPS TOUR".

2004- SLAUGHTER released a DVD-A entitled "Then and Now" that features 12 songs and 50 rare photos of the band over the years. ...SLAUGHTER toured - March - November Headlining Various Venues and playing to larger crowds then in recent years.

2005 - SLAUGHTER & VH-1 TEAM UP WITH "STRIPPED" A CD OF UNPLUGGED JAMS WHICH IS KICKED OFF WITH A SELL-OUT-PERFORMANCE IN HOLLYWOOD, CA-SLAUGHTER - TOURED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND BROKE NEW GROUND WITH CASINO PERFORMANCES AS WELL AS SRO SHOWS.

2006- SLAUGHTER released a DVD that features live performance footage and band camera footage shot over the years. The band will again be on the road touring doing High Energy Performances that feature all of the SLAUGHTER hits as well as new material. The Vh-1 Stripped DVD hit the retail stores March 15th, 2006 as yet another SLAUGHTER release.

2007- SLAUGHTER was featured on a pacific rim - compilation CD that was Platinum within its first week of release, SLAUGHTER filmed many of its live performance shows for a DVD release in 2008, and performed in front of 38,000 people singing SLAUGHTER songs at the world famed "Rocklahoma Music Fest", as well as participated in a full Summer tour with Vince Neil of Motley Crue. - Of interesting note - SLAUGHTER's music has been played more in 2007 on radio and the internet then in the 3 previous years combined. For the past decade SLAUGHTER has continued to tour, performing 40 - 50 shows per year at casinos, fairs, festivals and biker rallies all across the US to record breaking audiences. SLAUGHTERs have furthermore enjoyed successful festival shows in Sweden, Japan, Mexico & Germany.

SLAUGHTER has shown that with perseverance and sheer talent, a band can survive and win over the support of fans, regardless of what others may say about the quality of their music. What's most important is that their music is still here and the vast majority of critics who panned them in the past are not, and that's as good as gold.