KEEP, established in 1989, was an unfortunately short-lived band project with strong KISS connections, featuring as it did drummer PETER CRISS and guitarist Mark St. John. Previous to KISS, St. John had operated WHITE TIGER. 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, ex-WHITE TIGER frontman and also known for his 1985 tenure with BLACK SABBATH. Changes then saw the introduction of St. John and new bassist Jim Barnes, the latter subsequently superseded by St. John's brother Michael Norton, another WHITE TIGER veteran, in January of 1990.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.

It was announced on April 5th 2007 that Mark Norton died from a cerebral hemorrhage. He was 51 years old.