Former KISS Guitarist MARK ST. JOHN Dead At 51

[T-Bone]

KNAC.COM is reporting that former KISS guitarist Mark St. John died this morning from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 51 years old.



Acccording to KissFAQ.com, Mark St. John was born Mark Norton, in Hollywood, California, on February 7, 1956. His parents moved in the early 1960s to Garden Grove, CA where Mark was initially more interested in sports than music. In an interview with KISS Strike, Mark recalled, "I played all sports, in fact I played sports before I got into music. Especially basketball, I mean I tried all sports but basketball is what I excelled in. And when I got into high school we started playing CIF with other teams from L.A. and they were all black and I felt that I wasn't a very good basketball player. I mean they just slip and slide all over you, they jump higher and they run faster and you felt belittled after the first five minutes and I gave it up after that."

Growing up in Southern California, Mark didn't start playing guitar until he was a sophomore in highschool in 1972 when he also started to grow his hair longer, undoubtedly part of that age-group's rebellion from their parents and society. Initially guitar playing started as a hobby, but within a year Mark had become quite serious about it.

As to why he started plaing guitar, Mark recalled, "I guess because the guitar was the new thing happening — it was the sound. I'm from a generation that went through a whole different thing in music, like a culture-type thing. It was the voice of the people. It was a source of rebellion and the guitar was one of the biggest things. I remember watching television and seeing THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES on the 'Ed Sullivan Show'. They didn't have tubas, they had guitars and everyone was going crazy and that put a spark in my mind... The guitar is rock 'n roll. That's what it's all about. From the '50s on, the emphasis was on the guitar sound. Everyone was trying to make the guitar sound like other instruments, but it's not so easy to make other instruments sound like the guitar. The guitar is what's happening"

Mark has a brother, Michael (born 1964), who plays bass. The two would be in bands together following Mark's tenure in KISS. They also have one sister (born 1960).

[Deuce]

Wow, I went out for a few hours and I returned to read about this. It's shocking and sad. Although we never really got to know him, I still feel a sense of loss. KISS is my favorite band and Mark was its most intriguing member. Animalize was the first album that I ever bought on record. I really enjoy White Tiger and his solo work as well. I was fortunate to have met him a number of years ago. He was a bit quiet during his Q&A, but he still told a number of interesting stories. He was friendly to the fans when we each met him personally. Also, the highlight of Mark's life was during the same year that I was born.

I was hoping that we would get more new music from him and that I might even get to meet him again one day, but this is the reality of life.

Goodbye, Mark. Thanks for leaving us great music that will last forever.

[X factor]

Wow, I went out for a few hours and I returned to read about this. It's shocking and sad. Although we never really got to know him, I still feel a sense of loss. KISS is my favorite band and Mark was its most intriguing member. Animalize was the first album that I ever bought on record. I really enjoy White Tiger and his solo work as well. I was fortunate to have met him a number of years ago. He was a bit quiet during his Q&A, but he still told a number of interesting stories. He was friendly to the fans when we each met him personally. Also, the highlight of Mark's life was during the same year that I was born.

I was hoping that we would get more new music from him and that I might even get to meet him again one day, but this is the reality of life.

Goodbye, Mark. Thanks for leaving us great music that will last forever.

Yep...sad news. Kinda makes me feel OLD,too!

[atticus]

This really bummed me out when I heard the news.I met Mark once at a guitar store in North carolina of all places and he was one of the sweetest and nicest guys I ever met.

My condolences to his family and the Kiss Army and fans of Mark. He will be missed.

[Floater]

This really bummed me out when I heard the news.I met Mark once at a guitar store in North carolina of all places and he was one of the sweetest and nicest guys I ever met.

My condolences to his family and the Kiss Army and fans of Mark. He will be missed.

I share your feelings.

With no disrespect to the departed, a cerebral hemorrhage can be a common result of habitual cocaine use.

[MRMUSIC413]

With no disrespect to the departed, a cerebral hemorrhage can be a common result of habitual cocaine use.

Sadly, he did have a history of drug issues.