Farewell Lorne Black

Original Great White bassist Lorne Black has died.

Lorne played on Great White's self-titled debut, Shot In The Dark and Once Bitten... He was in the band when it was still Dante Fox.

Jack Russell released a statement: “It is with great sadness that we have been informed of the passing of Lorne Black! Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans. Lorne was a huge part of the first incarnation of Great White! May he rest in peace.”

No official cause of death has been released.

Comments

[Ace Steele]

I don't know where you got your faulty information, but Lorne was not in the band when it was Dante Fox. The bassist at that point was a character by the name of Don Costa. DOn had a unique stage presence. He had a cheese grater taped to the back of his BC Rich Mockingbird bass, & would drag his knuckles over it, making them bleed. he also performed a tapping solo on the bass using a mountaineer's pick hammer. Interesting guy. He also played bass at the very 1st W.A.S.P. show. Last seen in Ozzy's band for a very short time on the Bark At The Moon tour.

But it's Lorne Black we're talking about, as he's the one who passed away, and to fill in your info, Lorne died of Congestive Heart Failure.

[Allyson]

Lorne replaced Costa in DF... and within that same year, DF became Great White so we're talking about a super short time period.

Congestive heart failure? Interesting for such a young guy.

[Gary]

RIP to Mr. Black. Ally,my guess (and I'm sure yours also)to the congestive heart failure at his age would be one of lifestyle choices/abuses cumulatively taking their toll? I'm sure Ace would know a whole lot more than my "hypothesis" on the cause.All I do know for sure is that"old habits die hard" and it's a vicious cycle to extract ones self from. (Believe me when I say that I speak from experience. Lol) As for Don Costa, I knew that I knew his name from back then from his Ozzy stint,but I never knew he was in Great White or was briefly associated with W.A.S.P. Once again Ace, if I ever get out there, dinner and drinks are on me,just to hang and I can pick your brain and listen to "war stories" from back in the day. 8-) \m/

[fletch]

exactly what Gary said.

[Sadie]

Don Costa was replaced by Lorne so Lorne was still in the band when it was Dante Fox.I never heard what happened to him after Great White.He was probably close to 50 so unfortunately a lot of us have heart attacks at this age.it wasnt necessarily that he partied. sometimes people just drop dead.poor Lorne.he was just a quiet nice guy. then he thought he had to be Costa Jr and I dont think that was really who he was. rest in peace lorne.

[Ace Steele]

I post the entire timeline & detailed info last night as to when & where things changed from Dante Fox, including the details as to where DF became GW, exactly why is was impossible for Lorne t have been in the band until it was GW. Looks like "somebody" got her feelings hurt over being proven wrong, & the post never got approved. So it never appeared here. Interestng.

[Allyson B. Crawford]

Ace,

Not sure what you are talking about because there are no comments hung in the approval cue. Everything gets posted automatically within 15 minutes to this site. I never actually read and approve anything before the comments go live. Every once in a while Squarespace has a glitch and comments get hung, but it doesn't seem like that is the case here.

Not sure why you felt the need to get so defensive. We all know you were part of the LA "scene."

Allyson

[Mike]

R.I.P. Lorne.

That first Great White album is so amazing, always have it with me on my iphone.

I had no idea he played on Once Bitten, another classic.

[Ace Steele]

Perhaps is was because it so so detailed & long. Who knows. I just thought it ironic. Usally 2 page refreshes & I can see what I've posted, to make sure. I will retract my suspicious snarkiness & offer an apology, Allyson. Cut me a little slack, 2 friends dying in one week has made me a little raw.

I bow to you...

ACE

[Family]

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but remember there are family and friends grieving. Whatever your assumption is on what he died of or how long he was in Great White for doesn't matter. He was a talented guy who died too young. He was waiting for a heart transplant sometime after December. May he rest in peace and rock the heavens with so many other talented musicians that are already there.

[dj]

RIP all the good die young. Great White is classic you gotta love em. Get most the band back together while you can Jack. no more two versions.

[Metalboy!]

God Bless and God Speed, Lorne. And God Bless the Family, so gracious to give a statement here.

[Jodi]

To the family my heart and thoughts and prayers are with you! I knew Lorne before GW when he was in a garage party band called Impulse and he and they were my crowd back then gracious enough to play at an awesome party for my wedding reception in 1980!!!

I am sorry to hear of his passing!!