GREAT WHITE Singer Undergoes Surgery For Perforated Bowel

August 17, 2010

Jack Russell, lead singer of the multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated rock band GREAT WHITE, is recovering from major surgery after suffering a perforated bowel (a medical emergency in which a hole in the bowel opens to allow its contents to empty into the rest of the abdominal cavity). The surgery left Russell with a colostomy bag. Doctors are confident that this procedure is temporary. Russell remains hospitalized in Southern California, and his condition is improving.

"It was touch-and-go for about 48 hours whether or not he was going to live," manager Obi Steinman said. "He's been in the hospital for several days, and he's doing a lot better."

Russell is the singer behind such hits as "Once Bitten Twice Shy", "Rock Me", "Angel" and "Save All Your Love". He faces another operation, but he was in good spirits today. "I've felt better, but I've felt a hell of a lot worse," he said in a statement. "Nothing is going to keep me down. This whole thing definitely makes me appreciate life more than I ever have."

Russell is expected to recover in six to eight weeks.

Singer Terry Ilous of XYZ has stepped in to replace Russell on lead vocals.

GREAT WHITE continues to receive positive feedback from audiences and promoters from its three shows in Southern California this past weekend.

The remaining dates on GREAT WHITE's 25th-anniversary tour will go on as scheduled, and can be viewed at GreatWhiteRocks.com.

The GREAT WHITE family extends its thanks to the entire GREAT WHITE fan community and appreciates prayers and well wishes as Russell recovers.

On September 11 at the Stockholm Rock Out festival in Stockholm, Sweden, GREAT WHITE will play a one-time-only European show with the legendary singer Paul Shortino (QUIET RIOT, ROUGH CUTT and the recently reunited KING KOBRA).

Low-quality video footage of GREAT WHITE's August 12, 2010 performance at the Brixton in Redondo Beach, California with Terry Ilous of XYZ on vocals can be viewed below.

GREAT WHITE released its latest album, "Rising", in North America in April 2009 via Shrapnel Records. The CD was issued in Europe on March 13, 2009 through Frontiers Records.

Since reuniting in January 2007 to perform a benefit concert, GREAT WHITE has moved forward with the successful release in the summer of the same year of their return album "Back To The Rhythm", a record which was hailed by critics and fans as a return to the heydays of the band. After a world tour that celebrated the first 25 years of GREAT WHITE and that brought them for 14 concerts to Europe, bass player Sean McNabb opted out and was replaced by Scott Snyder (ex-RAMOS, ACCOMPLICE).

GREAT WHITE is:

Jack Russell - vocals
Michael Lardie - guitars, keyboards
Mark Kendall - guitars
Scott Snyder - bass
Audie Desbrow - drums

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