Former GREAT WHITE and current JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell has parted ways with Frontiers Music Srl and has inked a new deal with Cleopatra Records.
Russell confirmed his split with the Italian rock label during a March 31 interview with Eric Blair of "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" at the Rock Against MS benefit concert and award show in Los Angeles.
Asked how his deal with Frontiers is different from some of the deals he had with other record companies in the past, Jack responded (see video here): "Well, we're not with Frontiers anymore. We bought ourselves out of the contract. They were very congenial. They go, 'If you're not happy, then we don't want you to be somewhere you're not happy. But if you want to shop us your new album, we'd love to hear it.'
"It's just too hard to have a label that's overseas, communicating only by text or e-mail," Russell continued. "So we're with Cleopatra. We've got [Cleopatra head] Brian Perera, whom I've known for years and done a lot of business with. He's got Tom Keifer [CINDERELLA] as well. So I think it's a good change. And if I get mad at him, I can drive 20 minutes and go face to face [with him] and go, 'Dude, what are you doing?'"
According to Jack, part of the reason he wanted to be released from the Frontiers contract was the fact that JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE's debut album, "He Saw it Comin'", did not receive the kind of exposure he felt it deserved.
"Frontiers, when they signed Jizzy Pearl [LOVE/HATE] — no offense to Jizzy Pearl — it's, like, they're starting to just sign anybody," Russell explained. "There's so many bands they have on the label, how can you get the attention that you need to really have them focus on your album?
"I think our last record — and I mean this with all humility — is the best piece of music that I personally have ever done," he added.
JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE features Russell alongside former GREAT WHITE bassist-turned-guitarist Tony Montana (as a guitar player and keyboardist), Dan McNay (MONTROSE) on bass, Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar and Dicki Fliszar (BRUCE DICKINSON) on drums.
"He Saw it Comin'" was released in January 2017 and featured the singles "Blame It On The Night", "Sign Of The Times" and "Love Don't Live Here".
JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with the current touring and recording version of GREAT WHITE, which features Mark Kendall (guitar), Scott Snyder (bass), Audie Desbrow (drums), Michael Lardie (guitar, keyboards) and Terry Ilous (lead vocals).