KISS - KISS STAR ST JOHN DIES AT 51

Former KISS guitarist MARK ST JOHN has died after suffering a brain haemorrhage. He was 51. The rocker performed on Kiss' ANIMALIZE album in the early 1980s after replacing VINNIE VINCENT in the band, but he was forced to quit midway through a US tour after developing arthritis-related disease Reiters Syndrome. But his music career didn't end there - St John went on to form WHITE TIGER and released an album of collaborations with another former Kiss star, PETER CRISS, in the early 1990s. BRUCE KULICK, who was called in to replace St John has paid tribute to his friend on his website, writing, "I wish to express my sympathy to Mark St. John's family and friends. Though Mark was the guitarist I replaced, I respected his talent and contribution to KISS. May he rest in peace."