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R.I.P. Mark St. John, ex-Kiss Guitarist
Posted by Dave Segal in Uncategorized
April 11, 2007 12:04 PM
Permalink | Comments (7)
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.
Comments (7)
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April 14, 2007 18:04
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!!
April 14, 2007 19:04
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!!
April 30, 2007 18:04
mark st.john will be missed dearly great guitarist godbless him & his family
August 3, 2008 18:49
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
August 15, 2008 22:09
mark one of the best guitarist ever then and now in rock n roll heaven thanks for being the only kiss member i ever met and a great friend rip love jodie from the club 1990
August 15, 2008 22:09
mark one of the best guitarist ever then and now in rock n roll heaven thanks for being the only kiss member i ever met and a great friend rip love jodie from the club 1990
August 15, 2008 22:09
mark one of the best guitarist ever then and now in rock n roll heaven thanks for being the only kiss member i ever met and a great friend rip love jodie from the club 1990