R.I.P. Mark St. John, ex-Kiss Guitarist

By Dave Segal Wed., Apr. 11 2007 at 12:04 PM

Categories: Uncategorized

Pin It

Reader Pat O'Connor called this morning to inform us that former Kiss guitarist Mark St. John died of a cerebral hemorrhage April 5. He was 51. St. John's death has received little attention in Orange County media, but it has been reported by Billboard's website, Reuters, msnbc.com, Wikipedia, and other major news outlets.

St. John's major claim to fame was playing on Kiss' 1984 album Animalize, which many fans consider to be among the best by that band during its unmasked phase. After his brief stint with Kiss (he had to leave a tour early after developing a form of arthritis called Reiter's Syndrome), St. John formed White Tiger with ex-Black Sabbath vocalist David Donato and in 1990 collaborated with Kiss drummer Peter Criss on a project, but left it wthout releasing any material. In 2003, St. John issued the instrumental album Magic Bullet Theory.

The Garden Grove resident reportedly had been living in his mother's basement for the past several years, sanding guitars and teaching that instrument to aspiring local players. In his later years, the guitarist allegedly suffered from crystal-meth abuse. According to O'Connor, St. John's neighbor and a fan of his, St. John had sold all of his Kiss paraphernalia except for the Animalize gold record and a tour itinerary.

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Music Newsletter: Keep your thumb on the local music scene with music features, additional online music listings and show picks. We'll also send special ticket offers and music promotions available only to our Music Newsletter subscribers.

Write Comment

Email to Friend

Print Article

Related Content

Data was collected from a nonprobability, convenience sample composed of all clients inone California county identified as authorized medical marijuana users who were admitted to substance abuse treatment during the study time period. The comparison group consisted of all other county .... Similarly, one client who had been hospitalized in the 30 days prior to admission was not re-hospitalized in the 30 days prior to discharge. In total, the number of clients reporting medical .
Mark was a Poseur and a P.O.S.. He died from his heavy meth addiction. All though there is no basement, he lived in his parents garage...what's the difference?He was conceited and played off his minor association with kiss to get laid. And when that failed he would force himself on the girls. Good riddance Mark.
Your right Laura, no basement! Do you remember Mark's drummer friend Ron who taught at Lears Music or Pat who owned the jewelry store in the same little mall off "Bellflower" Blvd? If so please let him know about my previous posting. dB
Very sad day for me.Just found out from Youtube about Mark. I played drums on Mark�s Demo before Kiss. In March of 1983 I met Mark Norton. I recorded my drum parts on a Simmons electronic kit into a Lynn Drum at Mark's condo in Orange County,CA.I visited Mark in NY when he joined KISS. I know the real story about all of that! Who cares, Mark was a great guy and wonderful musician. Kiss was a joke to him. He played all kinds of music and was a prodigy. Mark was studying with Alan Holdsworth when we met and taught at Lears Music. I was very close with Mark but, we went our musical ways. I owe a lot to Mark for getting me back on my feet. I will miss him. I now have to tell some other friends who knew Mark in NYC and CA that I still know. I married the girl from NY that Mark put me back together with. We had kids and they have kids. I will tell them about Mark and have them listen and see him play so, he will never be lost to us. My ex wife will be sad because she hung out with Mark in NY while I was on tour. We just talked about Mark a couple of days ago with fond memories so I was gonna try and reach him. Sorry for all the personal stuff.It helps to tell the story. What a strange world it is�I miss you bro. If Drummer Ron, Mary, Pat, Gene Evaro or anyone that could help me contact our old friends reads this, please contact me. Dan Bunge, Bungeechord@verizon.net, 508-756-7096. It�s been a long time and I could use some closure. Peace and love to all, dB
R.I.P. MARK ST. JOHN (my 1st.& last love) Life isn't always fair,one day you have a son, The next day he isn't there. MARK HAD ALOT OF FRIENDS,FOR EACH OF WHOM HE CARED. Now he's smiling down on us saying, "Don't be scared,I feel no pain,I'm still there. I LIVE ON THROUGH YOU,FROM THE MUSIC THAT I SHARED" So for all of you alive out there,be happy,be well, Because life isn't always fair, I WILL ALWAYS LIVE ON THROUGH YOU, FROM THE MUSIC THAT WE SHARED. Poet: GINA M. PESCE MARK'S LAST LOVE...I MISS YOU SKIPPY, SLEEP WITH THE ANGELS NOW.
I was also a personal friend of Mark Norton, (AKA Mark St. John) along with his younger brother Michael. His band Joberwocky use to practice in my garage on Kathy Lane in Garden Grove, (mid to late 70s) along with my band M W Brite and many others. Those were very fun and exciting days to be playing the O.C. music scene. We were all young and innocent at one time and it is unfortunate that Mark's meth use was a dark side to his life style, that resulted in his passing. Mark did have a friendly and caring personality, there were times that we were so broke that we would share guitar sings. There were times that either he or I would break a string and we would take a string off our own guitar then hope that we would get through the rest of the set with out breaking it. RIP Mark
mark st.john will be missed dearly great guitarist godbless him & his family
I have been a friend and neighbor for along time,there is no basement at his parents home. Mark was known to those who REALLY KNEW HIM as a very caring and giving person who possessed riches that money could never buy. Kiss was a highlighted point in his life, but there was more to Mark as a person, and as far as the subject of substance is concerned, LET HIM WHO HAS NOT SINNED CAST THAT FIRST STONE!!
shows how disrespectful some people can be, I have been a neighbor of marks for years and also a friend and his mothers house does not even have a basement. none of the houses in this area do and also what kiss memorabilla that may have left his possession was usually GIVIN AWAY because thats how mark was a VERY generous and GIVING person! he possessed riches that money could never buy and is remembered by those who really KNEW HIM as a very kind and giving person, very nice and the teacher in him was still there till the end. although kiss was ahighlighted point in his life, there was more to mark as a person. as far as the subject of substance let he who has not sinned cast that first stone!!