Kiss Guitarist Mark St. John Died
Former Kiss guitarist Mark St. John died Thursday from an apparent brain hemorrhage.
He was 51.
Mark St. John (born Mark Leslie Norton February 7, 1956 in Hollywood, California – April 5, 2007) was a guitarist best known for his short stint with the rock band KISS. St. John was featured on the album, “Animalize” recorded during mid-1984. During work for the album, St. John clashed with the other members of the band, and eventually developed arthritis (Reiter’s Syndrome), which caused his hands and arms to swell. He was all but unable to perform live as a member of KISS, and only played three (one in full) shows during the “Animalize” tour, with Bruce Kulick filling in for the rest. He was officially replaced by Kulick on December 8, 1984.
His medical condition improved after leaving Kiss, and St. John launched a pop/metal outfit, White Tiger, with ex-Black Sabbath singer David Donato. St. John briefly teamed up with original Kiss drummer Peter Criss in a group that didn’t release any recordings, and appeared as a guest speaker at Kiss conventions. In 2001, he released an all-instrumental album, “Magic Bullet Theory.”
Comments
By Christi Carl on April 13th, 2007 at 8:52 am
Mark St. John, was a Great Guitarist and Teacher, as well as a real freind to many. He would go out of his way to help anyone if he could and he did it because he was a good person. He never had to put on airs about who he was, he was very humble about it all. He gave guitar lesson and would teach anyone who wanted to learn. Mark taught some of the greatest bands of our generation, including Queensryche Chris Degarmo Guitarist from 1983 - 1997 & 2003; and Dave De Best who put “Slaughter” on the charts with his original “Up All Night, Sleep All Day”,(Dave wasn’t given credit for, just big bucks) Dave was the Founding Lead Guitarist of “Slaughter”, most fans don’t know that, but it is fact. Mark once told me and I quote “Out of all the guitarist I have ever taught Dave De Best was my favorite student.” “Dave would always take the last lesson of the day, so he could stay longer, and Dave would needle me with questions.” He spoke highly of Dave to me several times, Dave was my mentor, like Mark was Dave’s. Anyways, Mark did alot for Rock and Roll, and your atical barly even scratches the surface. By the way Animalized was the albam that put KISS back on top. Mark was the real deal, and he was a close personal friend of mine as well, God Bless His Soul.. Mark will be laid to rest, tomorrow 4/13/07 at Ross Hills, in Whittier, Ca. USA at 11am pacific time.
By Rachelle Hilton on April 14th, 2007 at 4:23 am
I too knew mark St. John very well. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him for 7 years. He was a very talented man. He had such a big heart and was willing to do what he could for anyone. Mark gave my son Vincent his first eletric guitar. he ad mark would jam together, the good times we have had. How much you will be missed my friend. I was at the services today and it was beautiful how many lives you have touched.
By Gina Pesce on April 23rd, 2007 at 8:34 am
I was the last person to see Mark alive and I’m still grieving.We reunited after 35yrs. last August 29th. and I had been with him since a few hours before he passed.My name is Gina and we were in love.I miss him every minute of the day,he was the kindest man I have ever known and am honored to have been loved by him.R.I.P Skippy…
By john rain on April 24th, 2007 at 12:49 am
so what?he was a damn queer.
By neecy on April 24th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
you homophobic psycho
By A Friend on May 7th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Gina Marie Pesce?????????????
By Julio Sun on November 18th, 2007 at 8:11 am
To start, he was a great musician that, unfortunaly, happened some sad things in his life, but he did a good job.
R.I.P. TEACHER
By the way, Mr “john rain” or Mr “john drizzle”, if you want to know, you are so damn freak and damn idiot, that you don’t know why that you are saying it. Can you understand it or I’ll have to draw it?
By jimb on February 10th, 2008 at 10:31 am
That is NOT Mark St. John in that picture.
By mark lira on April 8th, 2008 at 10:26 am
r.i.p. i’m very sad. he was a great guitarrist…animalize was a great album for him and kiss.
i didn’t know about this bad notice…until last saturday…
i’m a kiss fan, since the beginning, when they were without make-up, too. i like all the kiss albums, including “the elder”.
my son likes kiss, he’s 8 years old. he enjoys the kiss and videos music. and his favorite member is eric carr.
rock on!! stay heavy! i love kiss!!
i’m from aguascalientes, mexico
By mark lira on April 8th, 2008 at 10:29 am
i saw kiss in mexico city in 97, 99 ans 2004.
rock and roll all nignt!!!!!!!!!!!!
i’d like to see kiss without make-up. i didn’t see in 1994 in mexico.
By Gene Simmons on April 21st, 2008 at 9:36 am
If any are interested, the Kiss Kasket in which Mark was originally buried has been fully factory refurbished and is
available for purchase at a slightly discounted price. It was unfortunately repossessed several months ago due to non-payment
by the Norton family. For more information, please contact Signatures Network at(310)492-9700.
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