MARK KENDALL, founding guitarist of GREAT WHITE, has revealed that he is battling stage four kidney cancer. The 68-year-old musician shared the news with fans on November 22 through an emotional and encouraging message posted to his official Facebook page. His announcement marks a deeply personal moment for fans who have followed his career since he first formed GREAT WHITE (originally known as DANTE FOX) back in 1977.
Kendall explained that he waited to go public until he had a clearer understanding of his condition and treatment plan. Although the diagnosis is serious, his tone was filled with hope, gratitude, and determination.
In his message, Kendall wrote:
“Hello Friends! Just wanted everyone to know I was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer a few months ago. I wanted to wait to go public until I knew a little more about it.”
“Just to give you an update the tumor has shrunk from 13 centimeters to 8, so I’m going in the right direction with my first scan.”
“There isn’t a cure for cancer but what I have is manageable.”
“I have the best doctors in the world and one of them invented immunotherapy which is the treatment I’m on.”
“I only had to do 3 radiation treatments which is a good thing! To be clear, I don’t need any financial help but I’ll take prayers & encouragement!”
“I’m gonna fight this thing and be okay. People in my support group were diagnosed with my exact issue up to 20 yrs ago, so that is encouraging!”
“Blessings All!”
His update immediately drew an outpouring of love and encouragement from fans around the world. Many praised his courage, while others shared stories of their own battles with cancer or offered prayers for his continued recovery.
A Rock Veteran With Deep Musical Roots
Kendall’s announcement also prompted many fans to reflect on his long, influential career. Born into a musically gifted family in Huntington Beach, California, he grew up surrounded by sound. His father played jazz trumpet, his mother sang passionately to adoring audiences, and his grandfather was a skilled pianist. Because of this upbringing, music became second nature to him from an early age.
As he grew older, Kendall discovered inspiration in guitar legends who shaped rock and psychedelic music. He has often credited Jimi Hendrix, CREAM, and THE DOORS as his earliest influences. Their energy, improvisational style, and emotional delivery inspired him to pick up the guitar — and never put it down.
Kendall once described what the guitar means to him on a deeply personal level:
“The thing I love about the guitar is it’s an instrument that allows me to express myself in how I’m feeling at any given time.”
He added:
“All the musicians that made me want to play guitar, played straight from their heart with a lot of feeling in their playing. They pour their very soul into every note.”
For Kendall, music has never been just technique or performance — it has always been about emotional truth.
He continued:
“My feeling is no matter what instrument you play, do it with passion and feeling. When music is delivered in that way it creates emotions, which can even make a person cry at times. That to me is real music with a human feel that no machine could ever duplicate.”
These words reflect the same authenticity that has defined his playing style across decades of touring, recording, and performing with GREAT WHITE.
A Career Spanning Nearly Five Decades
As a founding member of GREAT WHITE, Kendall helped shape the band’s signature blues-infused hard-rock sound. Through the 1980s and beyond, the group delivered hit after hit, including “Rock Me,” “Lady Red Light,” and “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” which earned them global recognition. Kendall’s melodic leads and expressive solos became essential parts of the group’s identity.
Beyond his technical skill, fans often praise his emotional playing — the kind that blends precision with raw feeling. His ability to craft solos that resonate deeply with listeners has long been considered one of GREAT WHITE’s musical cornerstones.
Facing His Diagnosis With Strength and Hope
Although the phrase “stage four cancer” is frightening, Kendall’s message emphasized hope rather than despair. His treatment plan includes cutting-edge immunotherapy, and he has already seen significant progress: his tumor has shrunk from 13 centimeters to 8. His medical team includes specialists at the forefront of cancer treatment, including one doctor who helped invent the immunotherapy method he is now receiving.
He also noted that many people in his support group have lived 20 years with the same diagnosis, which gives him additional strength as he continues treatment.
Because of the encouraging results so far, Kendall intends to keep fighting—and keep living life with the same determination he has brought to music for nearly half a century.
Support From the Rock Community
Fans, friends, and musicians across the rock world have rallied behind him since his announcement. Many praised his bravery, while others stated that Kendall’s music helped shape their own taste in rock. Messages of encouragement continue to pour in from every corner of social media, reinforcing that Kendall is far from alone in his fight.
Although he clarified that he does not need financial assistance, he welcomed positive messages and prayers — and those have arrived in abundance.
Looking Ahead
Kendall remains hopeful, grounded, and focused on his treatment. His optimism, paired with his medical team’s expertise, offers encouragement to fans who have followed him since the DANTE FOX days.
For now, Kendall’s message is one of strength: he intends to keep fighting, keep healing, and keep embracing the support of the fans who have stood by GREAT WHITE for decades.
