Former KISS Guitarist Dies

Former Kiss guitarist Mark St. John died last Thursday from an apparent cerebral hemorrhage. He was age 51. Fans of the "unmasked" Kiss remeber and mourn his loss. DJ Junkman noted on his radio stations website, KNAC.COM, "Just got a call this afternoon stating that my friend, former KISS guitarist Mark St. John, died this morning. I have known him for a long time. I roadied for his band White Tiger, and just spoke with him at the recent NAMM show. I will let you know. My heart goes out to his family. A very sad day. " Many can relate to these sentiments as even I myself have a fondness for Kiss, the band who was the headliner for my very first rock concert.

A Southern California native ,born Mark Norton in Hollywood, CA, St. John was Kiss' third lead guitarist, having replaced Vinnie Vincent. Vincent was the substitute for Ace Frehley, the original Kiss lead guitarist, in 1984. Mark attained noteriety as KISS` shortest serving guitarist. St. John lasted only eight months with the band , joining them on stage in public three times.

By then Kiss had done away with its trademark makeup and costumes but the group was enjoying a resurgence career. St. John appeared only on , "Animalize," an album that re-established the group as one of the world's top arena metal bands. The album spawned the popular MTV video, "Heaven's on Fire".

St. John's playing was reflective of the era's Van Halen-influenced rock guitarists, but it certainly helped spark the material on "Animalize". The album is considered by many fans as one of Kiss' strongest non-makeup releases.

However, right around the time Kiss was to launch a worldwide tour in support of the album, St. John developed a form of arthritis called Reiter's Syndrome. Swelling in his arms and hands from the disease prevented him from playing guitar.

Guitarist Bruce Kulick filled in and eventually replaced St. John as Kiss' permanent guitarist.

As his health improved after leaving Kiss, St. John started a pop/metal band, White Tiger, with ex-Black Sabbath singer David Donato. St. John briefly teamed up with original Kiss drummer Peter Criss in a group but they didn't release any recordings. In 2001, he released an all-instrumental album, called "Magic Bullet Theory."

Kulick, St. John's replacement has paid tribute to his friend on his website, writing, "I wish to express my sympathy to Mark St. John's family and friends. Though Mark was the guitarist I replaced, I respected his talent and contribution to Kiss. May he rest in peace."