Mark Kendall, the founding guitarist of Great White, has revealed he is battling stage four kidney cancer. The 68-year-old rocker shared that the diagnosis came a few months ago, but he waited to go public until he had a clearer understanding of his condition.
In his message, Kendall announced encouraging news: his tumor has already shrunk, going from 13 centimeters down to 8 centimeters after his first scan. Although there is no cure, he described his cancer as “manageable” under his current treatment plan.
Kendall is undergoing immunotherapy — a treatment pioneered by one of his doctors — and has only needed three radiation sessions so far, which he considers a positive outcome. He emphasized he’s not asking for financial help, only asking fans for their prayers and support. “I’m gonna fight this thing and be okay,” he said, referencing others in his support group who have had the same diagnosis with long-term stability.
As a founding member of Great White, Mark Kendall has been a central figure since the band began (originally as Dante Fox) in the late 1970s. The band rose to fame with bluesy hard rock hits like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and “Rock Me.”
Despite the serious diagnosis, Kendall remains optimistic and forward-looking. He recently spoke about working on new music with the current Great White lineup, writing demos, and planning future releases. His courage and honesty have drawn a wave of support from fans and fellow musicians alike as he faces this difficult chapter.
