EasyReaderNews.com recently caught up with GREAT WHITE frontman Jack Russell. An excerpt from the article is available below:

“I just lost a good friend of mine to this disease (alcoholism), Jani Lane from WARRANT, who died the same day (August 11, 2011) I had my surgery to repair a shattered pelvis. I was dead. I died. I was flat-lined on the table from sepsis from a bowel perforation. I was in a coma for 5 days. . . . Steven Tyler from Aerosmith called me a couple days later and said, ‘Dude, what are you doing?’ He’s always been my sober coach. That really woke me up. I’m just so happy to be sober.”
“Right now I think the biggest misconception is that I’m not ready to go back on the road. But you can tell I’m not crippled here. The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I’m lucid. I’m sober. I feel great. I am ready to go back on the road. Once people see me on stage, they’ll go, ‘Oh, well, there you go.’”

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As previously reported, Russell is currently embroiled in a legal battle with his former Great White bandmates over use of the band name. Russell has retained the services of The Law Offices of Michael Kelly to protect his rights to make his living and play under the Great White name, the band that he founded in 1978. Mr. Kelly has represented high profile rock stars in disputes for more than 35 years.

Although Russell has had several public battles with addiction and his health, he has always been the lead vocalist for Great White, and any other vocalist involved was there only to fill in until he was able to return. It has never been stated, in public or private, that Russell was leaving Great White permanently.

After several discussions with Great White management, in December 2011 Russell decided to continue as the lead vocalist for Great White, without the current touring members. He has brought in former members of Great White, as well as other musicians he has worked with previously, and in order to avoid any confusion, will be touring and performing under the name JACK RUSSELL’S GREAT WHITE.

Although the current touring members of Great White came out with a statement saying that they were “shocked” by Jack’s decision, it has since been discovered that prior to any conversations or correspondence with Russell, they filed an application (of which Russell’s name was omitted) to trademark the band name Great White, of which Russell was the founding member, and the only consistent member since its inception. This information was discovered by Russell’s legal team, and he was never informed of this by the other band members or management.

Along with attorney Michael Kelly, Russell has hired the legal team of Brian Acree and Brenda Carey, and all proper legal actions are now in motion. The Law Firm of Carey & Acree is praised among industry insiders for their expertise in these sorts of matters and have begun taking the necessary legal actions. He has also enlisted the help of his longtime friend and legendary entertainment attorney Stan Diamond. Despite threats, defaming and untrue comments made by Russell’s former band members and manager, he has every right to use the name of the band he founded, and no legal actions can be taken against anyone booking, promoting, publicizing, or working with Jack Russell’s Great White in any capacity, and all entities will be indemnified of such.

Jack Russell and Great White are best known for its platinum selling hard rock sound. Attorney Michael Kelly is well known in his industry as “The Great White.” Michael Kelly has 40 plus years of experience representing high profile clients, and the staff at The Law Offices of Michael Kelly has some of the best attorneys in the nation.