Mark St. John R.I.P.

This was just posted on Blabbermouth a little while ago... what a shame. R.I.P.

KNAC.COM is reporting that former KISS guitarist Mark St. John (photo) 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).

Sad news i think because i am a big fan of ANIMALIZE by KISS and i also have his WHITE TIGER album on vinyl from 1986. RIP MARK.

That's terrible. My prayers go out to his family. I too was a huge fan of ANIMALIZE and the WHITE TIGER release.

That's sad.



I heard the news on the radio on the way home from the gym today. The
genius DJ played "Tears are Falling" in memory of Mark and then said, "That was Tears are Falling from Asylum. The guitarist on that album was Mark St. John..." and went on to say that he passed away.

That sucks. R.I.P. very underrated guitarist.

That's a shame. He's the forgotten member of Kiss. Was his death related to whatever condition he had that caused him to stop playing guitar?

I'm sure Gene won't pass up the opportunity to sell a KISS Koffin.

ultmetal wrote:

That's sad.



I heard the news on the radio on the way home from the gym today. The
genius DJ played "Tears are Falling" in memory of Mark and then said, "That was Tears are Falling from Asylum. The guitarist on that album was Mark St. John..." and went on to say that he passed away.

That's very nice of them, but Mark St. John didn't play on "Asylum," did he?

Maybe they thought "Heaven's On Fire" was inappropriate?

Fat Freddy wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

That's sad.



I heard the news on the radio on the way home from the gym today. The
genius DJ played "Tears are Falling" in memory of Mark and then said, "That was Tears are Falling from Asylum. The guitarist on that album was Mark St. John..." and went on to say that he passed away.

That's very nice of them, but Mark St. John didn't play on "Asylum," did he?

Maybe they thought "Heaven's On Fire" was inappropriate?

Exactly. That's why I said 'genius DJ'



Bruce Kulick played on Asylum. Mark played on Animalize.

Sad news. Animalize was one of the better non make up Kiss albums IMO and Mark was awesome on it.

I saw the Blabbermouth article too and i was surprised that he was from my town. Heavens on fire was one of the first KISS songs i got into. RIP

Sad to hear. I liked the Animalize album. may he rest in peace.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

That's a shame. He's the forgotten member of Kiss. Was his death related to whatever condition he had that caused him to stop playing guitar?

No, this was something different.

Sad new indeed.

R.I.P Mark,Animalize is my fav Kiss album

Rock in Peace
we love you Mark.
keep medley jamming with Eric Carr.
memorable day for KiSS Fans 'round the world.
still 8 members left.

iamrockerfun wrote:

Cool pic, man. I was just thinking that in all my years of going to KISS conventions and other related appearances by KISS members, I have met and gotten autographs from all of the KISS guys (original four included) except for Eric Carr and Mark St. John (Eric had already passed away by the time I started collecting autographs)... and I had always said "I'll track down Mark St. John someday." Now I'll never get the chance. R.I.P. Mark.
Spinning "Animalize" this morning in tribute.