Breaking News: Former Kiss Guitarist Mark St. John Passed Away - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ABlairican Pie · 04-05-2007, 09:53 PM

KNAC.COM air personality Junkman just checked in with the following sad news:

"Just got a call this afternoon stating that my friend, former Kiss guitarist Mark St. John, died this morning from a cerebral hemorrage. He was 51.

I have known him for a long time. I roadied for his band White Tiger, and just spoke with him at the recent NAMM show.

As soon as I fid out more info I will let you know. My heart goes out to his family. A very sad day.

Junkie"
From KISSFAQ.com:
Mark St. John was born Mark Norton, in Hollywood, California, on February 7, 1956 and serves with noteriety as KISS' shortest lived guitarist. During a hectic and disruptive period of two years KISS would change from Ace Frehley to Vinnie Vincent to Mark St. John and then finally to Bruce Kulick, on guitar, with St. John lasting less than eight months. His parents moved to Garden Grove, CA in the early 1960's where Mark was initially more interested in sports than music. In an interview with KISS Strike, Mark recalled, "I played all sports, in fact I played sports before I got into music. Especially basketball, I mean I tried all sports but basketball is what I excelled in. And when I got into High School we started playing CIF with other teams from L.A. and they were all black and I felt that I wasn't a very good basketball player. I mean they just slip and slide all over you, they jump higher and they run faster and you felt belittled after the first five minutes and I gave it up after that" (KISS Strike 46). Growing up in Southern California Mark didn't start playing guitar until he was a sophomore in highschool in 1972 when he also started to grow his hair longer, undoubtedly part of that age-group's rebellion from their parents and society. Initially guitar playing started as a hobby but within a year Mark had become quite serious about it. The techniques and the styles. As to why he started plaing guitar, Mark recalled, "I guess because the guitar was the new thing happening - it was the sound. I'm from a generation that went through a whole different thing in music, like a culture-type thing. It was the voice of the people. It was a source of rebellion and the guitar was one of the biggest things. I remember watching television and seeing the Beatles and the Rolling Stones on the Ed Sullivan show. They didn't have tubas, they had guitars and everyone was going crazy and that put a spark in my mind... The guitar is rock 'n roll. That's what it's all about. From the 50's on, the emphasis was on the guitar sound. Everyone was trying to make the guitar sound like other instruments, but it's not so easy to make other instruments sound like the guitar. The guitar is what's happening" (KISS Force via Otaku). Mark has a brother, Michael (born 1964), who plays bass. The two would be in bands together following Mark's tenure in KISS. They also have one sister (born 1960).

Brian Damage · 04-05-2007, 09:58 PM

ABlairican Pie · 04-06-2007, 09:00 AM

Mark St. John was the guitarist who, in the spring of 1984, replaced Vinnie Vincent, who had replaced Ace Frehley in late 1982. His tenure with the band was very brief; he was featured on only one album, Animalize, from 1984, which featured the hit "Heaven's On Fire". This was done during the band's makeup-less days, and at a time when the band's popularity not only declined because of the decision to remove their makeup, but because the band had headed into a more generic pop-oriented commercial direction, becoming nearly identical with the countless L.A. "hair" metal bands glutting the scene at that time.

St. John was forced to quit the band while on tour when he suffered from Reiter's Syndrome which affected his hands and caused his playing ability to suffer. He was replaced by Bruce Kulick, who would stay with the band for years. St. John would recover and form a band called White Tiger, featuring David Donato, a former vocalist for Black Sabbath who briefly participated during their "revolving door singer" years.

coffield3 · 04-06-2007, 06:10 PM

what a shame,im a big kiss fan.

Dr. Thong · 04-06-2007, 06:47 PM

I got to meet Mark at a KISS convention in 1999. He was very likable and shared some interesting anecdotes about his brief tenure in KISS and his even briefer tenure in a short-lived band with former KISS drummer Peter Criss after his departure from the band.

Very sad news. Hopefully, he and Eric Carr are having one hell of a jam session up in Rock 'N' Roll Heaven.

snl 70s show fan · 04-06-2007, 09:15 PM

thats a shame ive always liked kiss

Janice · 04-06-2007, 09:39 PM

That's a shame. Rest In Peace Mark St. John.

PrettyinPink55 · 04-07-2007, 02:19 AM

51 years-old!!!

R.I.P.!!!!

ABlairican Pie · 04-07-2007, 09:12 AM

KISS in 1984 with Mark St. John in the center:

The Great One · 04-09-2007, 05:32 PM

He will be missed.

AB · 04-09-2007, 05:37 PM

Thats very sad.

ABlairican Pie · 04-11-2007, 01:02 AM

Here is the only album Mark St. John appeared on, Animalize, before Reiter's Syndrome, a disease similar to arthritis in his fingers, forced him out of KISS while on tour in 1984. The album was their biggest seller of their "non-makeup" era of the mid-80's, featuring the hit "Heaven's On Fire":

Heaven's On Fire

I look at you and my blood boils hot, I feel my temperature rise
I want it all, give me what you got, there's hunger in your eyes
I'm getting closer, baby hear me breathe
You know the way to give me what I need
Just let me love you and you'll never leave

Chorus:
Feel my heat takin' you higher, burn with me, Heaven's on fire
Paint the sky with desire, angel fly, Heaven's on fire

I got a fever ragin' in my heart, you make me shiver and shake
Baby don't stop, take it to the top, eat it like a piece of cake
You're comin' closer, I can hear you breathe
You drive me crazy when you start to tease
You could bring the devil to his knees

chorus

Oho Heaven's on fire, oho Heaven's on fire, oho

I'm getting closer, baby hear me breathe
You know the way to give me what I need
Just let me love you and you'll never leave

chorus repeats out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvjVy2ETJz4

Vid makes ya miss the 80's, doesn't it?

Dr. Thong · 04-12-2007, 07:19 PM

In the grand tradition of KISS using ghost musicians on their albums, it's not very well known that Bruce Kulick played guitars on the Animalize songs "Lonely Is The Hunter" and "Murder In High Heels." Heard this from Mark himself at the KISS convention I attended in 1999.

04-05-2007, 09:53 PM	#1
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	Breaking News: Former Kiss Guitarist Mark St. John Passed Away KNAC.COM air personality Junkman just checked in with the following sad news: "Just got a call this afternoon stating that my friend, former Kiss guitarist Mark St. John, died this morning from a cerebral hemorrage. He was 51. I have known him for a long time. I roadied for his band White Tiger, and just spoke with him at the recent NAMM show. As soon as I fid out more info I will let you know. My heart goes out to his family. A very sad day. Junkie" From KISSFAQ.com: Mark St. John was born Mark Norton, in Hollywood, California, on February 7, 1956 and serves with noteriety as KISS' shortest lived guitarist. During a hectic and disruptive period of two years KISS would change from Ace Frehley to Vinnie Vincent to Mark St. John and then finally to Bruce Kulick, on guitar, with St. John lasting less than eight months. His parents moved to Garden Grove, CA in the early 1960's where Mark was initially more interested in sports than music. In an interview with KISS Strike, Mark recalled, "I played all sports, in fact I played sports before I got into music. Especially basketball, I mean I tried all sports but basketball is what I excelled in. And when I got into High School we started playing CIF with other teams from L.A. and they were all black and I felt that I wasn't a very good basketball player. I mean they just slip and slide all over you, they jump higher and they run faster and you felt belittled after the first five minutes and I gave it up after that" (KISS Strike 46). Growing up in Southern California Mark didn't start playing guitar until he was a sophomore in highschool in 1972 when he also started to grow his hair longer, undoubtedly part of that age-group's rebellion from their parents and society. Initially guitar playing started as a hobby but within a year Mark had become quite serious about it. The techniques and the styles. As to why he started plaing guitar, Mark recalled, "I guess because the guitar was the new thing happening - it was the sound. I'm from a generation that went through a whole different thing in music, like a culture-type thing. It was the voice of the people. It was a source of rebellion and the guitar was one of the biggest things. I remember watching television and seeing the Beatles and the Rolling Stones on the Ed Sullivan show. They didn't have tubas, they had guitars and everyone was going crazy and that put a spark in my mind... The guitar is rock 'n roll. That's what it's all about. From the 50's on, the emphasis was on the guitar sound. Everyone was trying to make the guitar sound like other instruments, but it's not so easy to make other instruments sound like the guitar. The guitar is what's happening" (KISS Force via Otaku). Mark has a brother, Michael (born 1964), who plays bass. The two would be in bands together following Mark's tenure in KISS. They also have one sister (born 1960). Attached Images
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04-05-2007, 09:58 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107
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04-06-2007, 09:00 AM	#3
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	RIP Mark St. John Mark St. John was the guitarist who, in the spring of 1984, replaced Vinnie Vincent, who had replaced Ace Frehley in late 1982. His tenure with the band was very brief; he was featured on only one album, Animalize, from 1984, which featured the hit "Heaven's On Fire". This was done during the band's makeup-less days, and at a time when the band's popularity not only declined because of the decision to remove their makeup, but because the band had headed into a more generic pop-oriented commercial direction, becoming nearly identical with the countless L.A. "hair" metal bands glutting the scene at that time. St. John was forced to quit the band while on tour when he suffered from Reiter's Syndrome which affected his hands and caused his playing ability to suffer. He was replaced by Bruce Kulick, who would stay with the band for years. St. John would recover and form a band called White Tiger, featuring David Donato, a former vocalist for Black Sabbath who briefly participated during their "revolving door singer" years.

04-06-2007, 06:47 PM	#5
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	I got to meet Mark at a KISS convention in 1999. He was very likable and shared some interesting anecdotes about his brief tenure in KISS and his even briefer tenure in a short-lived band with former KISS drummer Peter Criss after his departure from the band. Very sad news. Hopefully, he and Eric Carr are having one hell of a jam session up in Rock 'N' Roll Heaven. Attached Images
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04-06-2007, 09:39 PM	#7
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Lots of deaths lately... That's a shame. Rest In Peace Mark St. John.

04-06-2007, 06:10 PM	#4
coffield3 <3 Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 23, 2006 Location: England Posts: 7,379	what a shame,im a big kiss fan.

04-06-2007, 09:15 PM	#6
snl 70s show fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2005 Location: in the forman basment Posts: 2,454	thats a shame ive always liked kiss

04-07-2007, 02:19 AM	#8
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	51 years-old!!! R.I.P.!!!!
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04-07-2007, 09:12 AM	#9
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	KISS in 1984 with Mark St. John in the center: Attached Images

04-09-2007, 05:32 PM	#10
The Great One Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 29, 2006 Posts: 6,378	He will be missed.
	__________________ .

04-09-2007, 05:37 PM	#11
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Thats very sad.

04-11-2007, 01:02 AM	#12
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	KISS--Animalize Here is the only album Mark St. John appeared on, Animalize, before Reiter's Syndrome, a disease similar to arthritis in his fingers, forced him out of KISS while on tour in 1984. The album was their biggest seller of their "non-makeup" era of the mid-80's, featuring the hit "Heaven's On Fire": Heaven's On Fire I look at you and my blood boils hot, I feel my temperature rise I want it all, give me what you got, there's hunger in your eyes I'm getting closer, baby hear me breathe You know the way to give me what I need Just let me love you and you'll never leave Chorus: Feel my heat takin' you higher, burn with me, Heaven's on fire Paint the sky with desire, angel fly, Heaven's on fire I got a fever ragin' in my heart, you make me shiver and shake Baby don't stop, take it to the top, eat it like a piece of cake You're comin' closer, I can hear you breathe You drive me crazy when you start to tease You could bring the devil to his knees chorus Oho Heaven's on fire, oho Heaven's on fire, oho I'm getting closer, baby hear me breathe You know the way to give me what I need Just let me love you and you'll never leave chorus repeats out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvjVy2ETJz4 Vid makes ya miss the 80's, doesn't it? Attached Images

04-12-2007, 07:19 PM	#13
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	In the grand tradition of KISS using ghost musicians on their albums, it's not very well known that Bruce Kulick played guitars on the Animalize songs "Lonely Is The Hunter" and "Murder In High Heels." Heard this from Mark himself at the KISS convention I attended in 1999.