Rather than looking backward and merely attempting to relive the multi-platinum hard rock entity’s storied origins, Jack Russell set his sights firmly on the future. In December 2011, Jack Russell’s Great White first bared its teeth. Since its inception, the frontman welcomed back longtime bassist and friend Tony Montana—this time as a guitar player and keyboardist—along with lead guitarist Robby Lochner and drummer Dicki Fliszar.
Now, the band returns with a sharp, soaring, and slick new album, boasting the bluesy hard-rock stomp that made Russell and Montana icons in the first place.
Capital Chaos TV had the pleasure of speaking with Jack Russell, and his wisdom is shared below.
How you doing?
I’m doing great how about yourself?
Doing great I’m calling from up here from Sacramento, California the weather is great up here. I imagine it’s beautiful down there as well.
Yeah it’s beautiful man it’s a little chilly but it’s clear and sunny but the wind is kind of going but I’m still sitting on the back of the boat, that’s just usually where I spend most of my time my wife and I live on a boat in King Harbor, it’s awesome
How long have you lived on a boat for?
On this boat for 5 years and I lived on another one for 20 when I was single. This is the way I love to live my life. On the water like to start my house up and go shark fishing.
You spent a lot of time on the water as a youth with your parents, your parents come from that world as well?
My Dad used to take me fishing when I was a little Kid all the time even when I was a teenager I used to work on charter boats in San Diego and that’s when I got my fishing license and captains license and I used to take people out fishing. Take 50 people on a 100 ft. boat in Mexican waters. It was great I used to do that in the summertime. I was the youngest kid to ever get a captains license. Someone’s probably beat me since then you know it was a long time ago
So I think the first time I saw you was at the The Country Club in Reseda . Do you have many memories of Reseda and The Country Club?
Absolutely It’s funny I was just talking to someone about The Country Club the other day kind of going over all the gigs that used to be here that aren’t here any more like The Fleetwood Club in Redondo Beach.
Yeah like I was saying my first Great White experience in The Country Club in Reseda. Do you have any fond memories or any memories that come to mind?
Absolutely, I was just talking to a friend of mine about all the places that used to be. I mean the great rock venues and The Country Club it was amazing it was great big tall stage and huge room I remember we did several shows there. I remember one especially that we had a band we put together for a charity thing it was me, and Vinnie Appice and Howard Leese from Heart, Phil Soussan and Michael Lardy if I remember correctly, we did some cool stuff, some Bad Company stuff and some random songs it was great. It was a great band.
Sounds exciting fun indeed. The next time I got to see you was with Judas Priest up here in Sacramento at Cal Expo. Care to touch on touring with Judas Priest?
That was an amazing time for us. It was our first U.S. tour—an arena tour—and it sold out every single night for the Defenders of the Faith album, as well as our first album.
The problem was that when we signed with EMI America, we didn’t realize until later that the reason was Gary Durst. He was the vice president at the time and wanted the president’s job, so he made sure our records weren’t in stores. I mean, we would play an arena show and then walk across the street to a record store and ask, “Where’s the Great White album?” And they’d say, “Great White? Never heard of them.”
I’d say, “You’re kidding me.”
They’d say, “No, never heard of them.”
I’d say, “We’re playing at the arena right across the street.”
And they’d say, “I’m sorry, I’ve never heard of you guys.”
So I’m calling my manager, asking what’s going on, because everywhere I went I kept getting the same answer. We ended up selling only about 100,000 units, and we should have been way past that. We had every label in town to choose from, and the manager picked that one. I remember thinking, You idiot.
So we had to put the whole record out again and basically do the whole thing over. After that, we signed with Capitol, the sister label, and then we had some success.
It was weird, but being out with Judas Priest was so much fun. It was great. Rob Halford is a really nice guy, and the rest of the band was great too. I remember one time we were down in Georgia on the beach, where you could walk like a mile out and the water was only knee-deep. We were playing volleyball in the sand with K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton from Judas Priest—playing volleyball on the beach in leather jackets.
Talk about rock stars. Absolutely hysterical.
Now you have a brand new album did it come out last Friday?
No it came out today. Released today. Yeah we’re very excited. It’s been a dream to put this band together and it took me a long time to get just the right people I wanted and when that moment happened I knew it and that’s when I thought it’s time to get record deals and start recording so that’s what we did. I’m really proud of the record I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done I’m really really happy with it it’s diverse and well thought out There’s great songs on it In my opinion I think it’s a win record. I love it I think people are really going to love it
Not only do you have a new record but also a new way of life?
Absolutely. I got sober again almost a year and a half ago. This was the kind of thing where it felt like I had no choice, which was really the only way I would have quit. I’ve had some years clean before—I had eight years clean and sober, and I had two years clean and sober—but I always went back out.
This time, I was on a bender with Don Dokken. He came down, and I was already seven sheets to the wind. When he got to the Cheesecake Factory where I was, we just started drinking these huge Mai Tais. They were three-liquor drinks, and I did about ten of them in twenty minutes. The last thing I remember is falling off the barstool. I just couldn’t stay on it.
The bartender said, “Jack, you’ve got to go, dude. They’re going to call the cops.” I said, “OK.” So Don walked me down to my boat. My wife put me in bed, and the next morning she couldn’t wake me up. She knew something was wrong. Somehow, she got me out of the boat, up the stairs, over the side of the boat, down the stairs to the dock, and into a wheelchair I had from when I tore my Achilles. She got me into the car and drove me to the emergency room.
I spent five days in the ICU in a coma, with my liver almost shut down—it was barely functioning. I remember waking up and seeing all these people in my room: my guitar player, his wife, my wife, and my friend from Chicago. I was thinking, What is going on? I knew I was in the hospital, but that was it. I asked, “What happened?”
My wife said, “Jack, you almost died. You were in a coma for five days, and your liver almost stopped working completely.” I said, “Whoa.”
Then the doctor came in and said, “I hear you’re some kind of celebrity, but I’m just going to tell you straight. I’m not pulling any punches, and I’m not trying to scare you. If you drink again, you are going to die. It’s not that you might die or could die. The way you drink—your wife has told me how you drink—you will die the next time you do that. So I would suggest that you don’t drink, unless, of course, you want to die.”
I took that to heart. There was no gray area left. It wasn’t maybe or you might. If they had left even a crack in the window, I would have given it one more shot. But drinking again for me would be like playing Russian roulette with a gun full of bullets. It’s just something you don’t do.
That made it easier for me to say, “That’s enough.” I’ve drank enough for five people. So I’m just dealing with it. I don’t miss it. I like being clear-headed, and my body feels good. It’s just so much better.
I’ve always liked being sober. It’s just that my addiction never left me alone. I know there will be a day when it comes knocking on my back and says, “You deserve it.” I know I’ll be tested again, but I’m ready for it. I just don’t want to die.
Was it a resentment? Did you leave something off your 4th step or do you know what it was that took you out?
I don’t think I did my 4th step as thorough as I should have. I have so much stuff. And there were certain things that I didn’t bring up from pride or embarrassment. I didn’t know better than that. That’s the kind of stuff that can take you out. So I have a really good sponsor. He’s great, he’s super, and I’m also working with his sponsor, so my grand sponsor. So now I got these 2 guys watching over me and then a lot of my sober friends that have been sober some like 28 years. So now I have all that influence around me and all the tools and I’m using them. Now my life has really turned around because of that. Everything has changed.
That’s awesome and now you have this brand new killer album. How many songs is this album?
There’s 11.
And do you have a favorite song on the album?
Everyday it changes cuz I love this whole record so much. “Sign of Times” is great. I love every track for different reasons. OK if I had to give an answer for 1 today it would be “Sign of Times”, which we did a video for it. It’s a great song, it’s monumental. And I’m trying to do this with all humility. I’m just stating my truth. If it was someone else’s record I would buy it. I just think it’s a great record. All in all it’s just a really good collection of songs.
Not a concept but a collection. I see “My Addiction” and “God Speed”. Sounds like you’re in a positive direction.
I write auto graphically. There is only one song on the record that isn’t and that is “Spy Vs Spy” that came from the old Mad Magazine and I’d been watching a lot of spy movies and I saw that movie with Melissa McCarthy SPY and it was just hysterical and she was such a bad ass in the movie and I was like “holy crap” so I thought you know I’m going to write a spy song, so then I came up with the music and the lyrics and first I took it to my guitar player and I showed him the chord changes and he was like” OK, spies huh?” “I don’t know we’ll give it a shot” and then he was saying I love this song and I was good I told you. So yeah it’s nice to have a record you’re really in love with because I’ve done some that I wasn’t. And I’ve felt you know I don’t really want to have to do this.
Have you done any bonus tracks?
Yeah we have recorded a bonus track. We haven’t released that yet but. I don’t know where that’s going to go once we’re done with it.
Can you tell us what the song is called at least?
One for the Road. Exactly opposite of the way I live my life. But it was how I lived my life.
Been there done that.
Yep been there done that bought the T-shirt, Read the book, my home.
So what’s going on in the world? Your world is looking good how’s. In your opinion how’s the world coming along? I know you have an opinion on things of that matter. Do you have a positive outlook on the way things are coming along?
You know, I’m just going to wait and see. I give everybody a chance. I mean, when Obama got elected, I wasn’t over the moon about it, but I’m not the kind of person who’s going to rage and preach against him or anything like that. I said, “Let’s just see what happens. Let’s see what he does.” Give everybody a chance.
That’s how I look at it. Whoever is elected president deserves at least a chance to do what they say they’re going to do. Either they will or they won’t. That remains to be seen. I’ve heard enough promises from presidents throughout my whole life, and it seems like they say whatever they need to say to get elected. Then, once they’re elected, they don’t do what they said they would do.
But we’ll see. I just say give everybody a chance. He won the election fair and square, so let’s see what he can do. I’m hopeful. We need a government that goes back to the people, and if that happens, it’s really going to be a good thing—because we’ve had big government for too long.
Those guys go into Congress and say, “I think we should give ourselves a raise,” and everyone else co-signs it. Then, when it comes to the yeas and nays, everybody says “yea,” and we’re left thinking, Oh man, really? I wish I could do that. I’d love to say, “I’m raising my guarantees to $10,000 a show.” OK!!
You’re a small business owner yourself, for the most part.
Yeah absolutely
And since you own a small business did you get the short end of the stick, the last 8 years compared to years prior to that as a small business owner?
Let’s just say there was a lot more taxes. It’s really hard to have a small business or a small corporation and with corporate taxes and all that kind of stuff it’s just really hard. For anybody. My hat’s off to anybody. You see all these business owners, I got to raise my hat to them because I know how hard it is. But fortunately I’ve never worked a day in my life. That’s why they call it playing right, playing music not working music. The ends justify the means.
The new album is all meant to play live? How likely is it that all the new songs will see a live setting?
We’re doing three shows right now. We’re having an album release party/show next Friday at the Whisky in Hollywood, and we’ve got a lot of friends coming down to play with us. Lita Ford is going to introduce “Save Your Love” for me, and Don Dokken is coming up and we’re going to do one of his songs. It’s going to be a really fun evening.
We’re going to do a few new songs in the set, depending on how long it is. There’s nothing worse than having a band come out and just bombard you with the whole record, without playing the songs you love and already know. You have to play the hits. We’ve got a lot of songs that were hits, and we’re going to play them, so we’ll have to make the set a little longer—which is OK with the fans. It’s harder on us, but it’s fun. I love it.
We were rehearsing the new songs for the first time, and everything sounded great. I was like, Wow, you guys really know these songs. I was really impressed, especially with all the harmonies. We did a lot of vocals on this record—big harmonies, stuff I’ve never really done before. Intentionally, I wanted the vocals and harmonies to be really big, very Beatles-esque, Queen, Beach Boys kind of stuff, and it really turned out well.
We did things we’ve never done before, like the vocal breakdown in “Sign of the Times.” It’s really different. The harmonies on that and on the title track—I just love this record. And I don’t want to sound prideful, because I’m really not. I’m just proud of it.
Sounds like you were quite inspired.
Yeah, it’s a combination of Robby Lochner and myself that brings this music to fruition. When you write with a different person—whether they can write or not—it can be intimidating. I was really apprehensive. I’d never heard anything he’d done, and I didn’t know what kind of music went on in his head. But when we started writing together, it was like magic. I was like, Wow, this is such a great combination.
We both think alike, but he’s more rooted in music theory and also very street-smart in a musical way. We became like brothers, in a sense, and it was very easy to write with him. Every song on the album is something we wrote together. We didn’t write anything extra. Everything we decided to work on, we felt, OK, this is good. This is valid.
There were a couple of times when we came up with something and I was like, “Nah,” and he would just throw it away without putting a bunch of energy into it. It was a really magical time. Writing like that was something I’d never experienced before—it was just that fun, and the ideas were constantly flowing.
It’s really kind of indescribable. I can’t fully explain it unless you’re a musician. If you are, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
I’m a musician and I completely understand what you’re talking about.
Yeah you know when you’re in that zone and you get that feeling that everything is right. It’s almost like a high. You get that sense of wow and you get the chills. That’s when you know you’re on the right track. I’ve always judged songs by the chill factor.
Totally it’s almost like sex.
Absolutely. And I would actually say that sometimes it’s better. No offense to anybody and I’ve had my share of that. Because there were the times and it’s something you did and you’re like “Oh my God” body orgasm.
Right music is the gift that keeps on giving unlike sex where it ends and then you go mow the lawn or something.
JR: (laughing)
Right on I got a couple more questions. What would you say your top 3 bands of the 80’s?
Cinderella, Kix & Dokken. There were so many great bands.
That’s a great pick. Dokken for sure. Yeah that’s a great pick there.
If I had to pick one album I would pick Under Lock and Key. That’s just the greatest album. Don’s just a really great song writer and He’s got a really great voice. He’s singing a little differently now I mean we all get older But he’s still great. I love Don. I’ve always loved Don. He was very integral to getting us signed. Without him it would have taken us a lot more. I’m sure it would have eventually happened but you know.
Some people are not always helpful like that. Some people are like unhelpful.
Yeah. Exactly
And when you have people that are helpful it’s a blessing.
Yeah. He was instrumental for us. He really was. He’s been there every time—always there. I would ask Don, “Get me up to John Kolodner’s office,” and he would get me right up there. That’s how we got a deal with Sony in ’99. I went and got it.
John said he didn’t want to talk to any managers or anyone like that. He said, “I’ll just deal with you, Jack, and see if we can get this thing working.” So we brought him demo after demo after demo. Finally, I said, “How about if we get Jack Lays to produce it?” And he goes, “I like that idea.”
We got a hold of Jack, and I said, “Hey dude, can you work on some songs for me?” He said, “Yeah.” So I came up to his house, and we worked on some tunes. Mike Lardie and I spent a few days up there recording some demos.
I was sitting back at my house, waiting for the word. Then he calls one day and says, “Jack, it’s John. Yeah, I’m signing a band, and I don’t know if you’ve got another album, but I believe in you, so I’m going to sign you.”
I went, “Right on!” and jumped into my pool in the middle of winter with all my clothes on. I told my wife, “I got this record deal—I don’t care what time it is!” It was freezing, but I didn’t feel cold at all—I was so hot with excitement. It was a great moment.
So do you have a final words of advice? Words of wisdom? Anything you’d like to say to anybody that might be listening or reading?
Yeah. Sure if you have a drug or alcohol problem please try to recognize it, if you cannot stop drinking or using. Life is so much better on the other side. Get help. It’s out there and for any musicians out there or anybody anywhere. If you want something whatever it is you can have it you just have to believe it and put all your energy into it. You have to visualize it like your actually doing it. And you’ll get where you want to be.
All right Jack. Thank you so much for your time and we look forward to seeing you on the road.
With a new album released and a revitalized lineup behind him, Jack Russell enters this phase of his career focused on forward momentum rather than nostalgia. Jack Russell’s Great White reflects both personal recovery and artistic recalibration, blending the familiar blues-driven hard rock sound with a renewed sense of purpose. As the band brings these songs to the stage, Russell’s emphasis remains clear: evolution, honesty, and staying present—both in music and in life.
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