Rollin' Stoned

Hey, Zoo Freaks, it’s your Zoo Crew DJs, spinnin’ the vinyl and crankin’ up the vibes with “Rollin’ Stoned” by Great White, off their 1999 jam Can’t Get There From Here. This track’s a straight-up time machine, mixin’ bluesy riffs with tales of wild nights and near misses. Jack Russell, the band’s frontman, spilled the tea in a 2004 Metal Express Radio chat, sayin’ the song came from late-night studio sessions where the boys were swappin’ stories about old pals—Rich buildin’ houses, Gary doin’ time, Jamie lost in the desert, and Brently packin’ heat. Those lyrics? Pure life, man, with that “two wrongs makin’ a right” chorus hittin’ like a shot of whiskey. Over on X, fans are still vibin’—one Zoo Freak posted about blarin’ this tune on a ‘99 road trip, feelin’ that “wonder I’m alive” line in their bones, while another shared a grainy pic of Great White’s tour bus, callin’ it the “ultimate underrated banger.”

This song was a team-up with Jack Blades from Night Ranger, givin’ it that extra kick to climb to No. 51 on the Mainstream Rock charts. Even in the grunge-heavy ‘90s, it got some love on the airwaves. X folks keep the love alive—one user dropped a 2024 thread about Blades bringin’ a fresh spark, and fans swapped bootleg vids from the Ratt and Poison tour where “Rollin’ Stoned” had crowds screamin’ along. Another Freak shared how Russell dedicated it to “ghosts of gigs past” at a 2000 gig, which hits different knowin’ the band’s wild history, like that tragic 2003 Station fire that left a shadow on their legacy. It’s the kinda tune that makes you wanna crank the volume and toast to survivin’ the chaos.

So, how’d Great White even get rollin’? Picture 1977, the gritty L.A. scene, where guitarist Mark Kendall—aka “Great White” for his shark-like stage swagger and bleach-blond locks—started jammin’ in dive bars as Dante Fox. They were scrappy, with early singer Lisa Baker beltin’ out raw sets that turned heads in Orange County. Then comes Jack Russell, fresh outta an 18-month jail stint for a drugged-up shooting gone wrong. He barely snagged the mic after a tight band vote, but his soulful wail, inspired by Free and Bad Company, sealed the deal. By ‘82, manager Alan Niven caught Kendall’s fire at the Troubadour, renamed ‘em Great White, and they dropped the indie EP Out of the Night. That thing blew up on L.A. radio—KMET and KLOS couldn’t get enough—turnin’ club gigs for 100 into arena roars for thousands. As Kendall told Songfacts, those early days were “survival rock,” forged in the Sunset Strip’s haze with Mötley Crüe and Guns N’ Roses, layin’ the groundwork for hits like “Rock Me.”

Wanna keep up with Great White’s groove? Hit up their official website for tour dates and sweet merch to rep the band. Slide over to their Facebook, where 181,000+ fans dig into behind-the-scenes goodies. On Instagram, @greatwhiterocks drops live clips and fan love. Check their X account for quick updates and throwback gems. For the real Zoo Freak vibe, join the party at the Great White thread on Classic Music Rock forums, where fans geek out over rare albums, or the Great White American hard rock band history Facebook group, where the crew swaps old photos and setlist hot takes. Keep it rollin’, Freaks!