WHITE TIGER was a much touted and short-lived act founded upon the reputations of two key members, vocalist David Donato and guitarist Mark St. John, both of whom had enjoyed brief sojourns in major Rock institutions, Donato in BLACK SABBATH during 1985 and St. John in KISS. Donato first came to attention in the music business (he had also held down a day job as a male model) in the mid 70's when he teamed up briefly with the Los Angeles based British group ARMAGEDDON following the sudden death of their founder Keith Relf. A further liaison included a stint with Neil Citron's HERO prior to forging WHITE TIGER with guitarist Mark Norton, after initially working with Neil Citron, former DEEP PURPLE vocalist GLENN HUGHES and drummer J.R. Saenz.

This initial version of the band disintegrated as Norton, a guitar teacher in Hollywood, got the call to join KISS after being recommended by guitar builder Grover Jackson altering his surname to the more Rock n' Roll St. John. Hughes found himself involved in his HUGHES/THRALL project and Donato succeeded in landing the plum position of frontman for BLACK SABBATH in 1985.

Donato and St. John suffered in different ways. St. John recorded the laudable 'Animalize' album with KISS but stories then flew regarding an alleged rare arthritic disease Reiter's syndrome that the guitarist had developed in one of his hands on the eve of a European tour, which put paid to his KISS career. St. John only managed to fulfill a handful of American dates with KISS before being permanently replaced by Bruce Kulick.

Donato meanwhile demoed three Bob Ezrin produced songs with BLACK SABBATH and engaged in rehearsals over a period of some six months before being unceremoniously dumped. The singer subsequently recorded further demos fronting up a never realised project of BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler.

WHITE TIGER was reconvened in early 1986 with St. John's brother, an ex-member of DRIVER, being pulled in alongside ex-POCKETFULL drummer Brian James Fox. The resulting album (sometimes referred to as 'Year Of The Tiger') received praise for its songwriting content but was unanimously criticised for its lame production. Demos for a proposed second album, entitled 'On The Prowl', would be recorded but never released.

The WHITE TIGER membership then became embroiled in a new band unit entitled KEEP. Established in 1989, KEEP was an unfortunately short-lived band project with strong KISS connections, featuring as it did drummer PETER CRISS and guitarist Mark St. John. The original line-up saw Criss joined by singer Michael McDonald, ex-707 guitarist Kevin Russell and bassist Joey Mudarri. 'Michael McDonald' was apparently a pseudonym for David Donato. Changes then saw the introduction of St. John and new bassist Jim Barnes, the latter subsequently superseded by St. John's brother Michael Norton in January of 1990.

This incarnation of KEEP recorded demos at Sound City Recording Studios, these tracks including a cover version of LEE MICHAEL's 1971 hit single 'Do You Know What I Mean'. KEEP would put in just one live performance, at the Guitar Center music store in Lawndale, California on 2nd May. Unfortunately the band's timing, caught in the glare of Grunge, kept the record labels at a distance. KEEP folded in early 1991 when the drummer established CRISS. St. John was also reported to have worked with STEVIE WONDER and 'Knightrider' and 'Baywatch' star DAVID HASSELOFF.

Fox later recorded with SILENT RAGE, ironically enough signed to KISS bassist GENE SIMMONS' custom label. St. John issued a five track EP during 1999 billed as the MARK ST. JOHN PROJECT. Vocals are from former CHAIN REACTION, TALAS and CRISS man PHIL NARO, bass from HONEYMOON SUITE and BLOOD RED FLOWER man Stan Miczek and drums by NARO and EMPIRE drummer Roger Banks.

Norton subsequently became a member of Southern styled Rockers LAIDLAW. It was announced on April 5th 2007 that Mark Norton died from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 51 years old.