(This conversation occurred 1 month before Mark announced his cancer diagnosis. We here at Press Play send all of our love and support so that he can make a full recovery in remission)
Long before “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” became a permanent fixture on rock radio, Mark Kendall was already chasing something deeper than chart success — a sound that sings through the strings. In this no-holds-barred conversation with Don, Dean, and Tina of Press Play Radio, the Great White co-founder takes us on a full-circle journey: from teenage Santana-inspired licks to bluesy bars in the ‘80s, all the way to his reflections on legacy, gear, and the stories that shaped a generation.
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Right from the jump, Kendall makes it clear: he's not just a guitarist — he's a melodic narrator. His signature approach? Play like a singer. “Instead of just being flashy and doing stuff you forget in two minutes,” Kendall says, “I want people to remember what I played. I want to give them a melody they can hum.”
The chemistry with Jack Russell — Great White's original vocalist — is legendary. Mark shares the wild story of how they met, how Jack’s jail stint briefly paused their momentum, and how the band finally locked into its signature blues-infused hard rock sound. But it wasn’t always easy. Dropped from one label, signed to another, robbed of MTV airtime for having a “seven-minute single” (“Rock Me”), and yet they still managed to win the world over, one live show at a time.
There’s a reverence in Kendall’s voice when talking about influences — from Carlos Santana and Johnny Winter to David Gilmour and Hendrix. But perhaps the most surprising part? His humble honesty about gear. Despite his decades in the spotlight, Kendall’s still tweaking his tone, still learning, and still just as excited about a good amp as he was back when he was a kid spinning Cream and Elvis records in his living room.
Tina shares a personal memory of the first time she saw Great White live — a show so powerful it set her on the path to the music business. Dean dives into guitar nerd territory with Mark, comparing tone stacks, amp stacks, and tone chasing in the digital age. Don plays a deep cut off the Blue EP — a song so moving it stops the conversation cold — reminding everyone why Great White's catalog runs deeper than the hits.
By the end of the chat, Kendall leaves us with something rare: a reminder that the best players don’t just chase trends — they chase truth. “Play from the heart,” he says. “And play for the fans. They’re the reason any of this ever mattered.”
Mic dropped. Legacy intact. Rock still lives.
For more on Mark Kendall, follow him on Instagram at @mr._greatwhite
Discover more about Great White: www.officialgreatwhite.com
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