BRETT CARLISLE – AN UNPLUGGED AND UNSCRIPTED MUSICAL JOURNEY

By Lori McKone

Imagine being plucked from the trenches of the rock music scene and catapulted into the spotlight alongside one of the most iconic bands of the 80s. For Brett Carlisle, this wasn’t just a fantasy—it was his reality. With his raw, powerhouse vocals and unbridled energy, Brett was the perfect storm of rock ‘n’ roll fury. Brett‘s musical journey began at the age of 8 when his mother gifted him his first guitar on Christmas morning. This spark ignited a lifelong passion for music, leading him to become the frontman of two notable bands: All Or Nothing (AON) and Great White.

Brett looks back on his early guitar-playing days with a mix of humor and humility. “It was frustrating,” he admits. “I didn’t have any devices to look up YouTube tutorials or any formal instruction.” His early attempts were marked by naivety: “When I first got my guitar, I didn’t even know tuning was a thing. I just picked it up and thought, ‘Playing looks so easy,’ and ‘Oh yeah, I can do that,’ and then you have it in your hands, and you’re like, ‘I don’t know what to do right now.’”

As he progressed, Brett drove himself to master each challenge. “I would wake up early, practice after school, and play until I fell asleep,” he recalls. When faced with a difficult song, Brett would commit to practicing for hours, days, or even weeks until he could play it flawlessly. “I’d think, ‘That’s crazy, I’ll never be able to play it.’ But I was determined to figure it out.” With persistence and a keen ear, Brett developed his skills. “I never learned about theory; I taught myself everything by ear,” he says, highlighting his self-taught approach.

As Brett‘s guitar skills continued to evolve, his dedication drove him to master each challenge, including exploring another aspect of his musical talent – singing. Brett‘s transformation from guitarist to singer began in high school, when his band’s singer wasn’t comfortable with a song’s high notes, and Brett was given the opportunity to try vocals. “I had been practicing singing for a while, and nobody knew because I was home alone a lot,” Brett recalls.

As Brett‘s vocal career took off, he continued to refine his craft through meticulous practice and self-reflection. “I’m always trying to improve everything,” he says. “I’ll drive myself crazy until I figure it out and become comfortable with it.” This relentless pursuit of perfection has enabled Brett to develop a distinctive voice that resonates with audiences worldwide.

Soon, Brett‘s confidence in his singing grew, he began to refine his craft through meticulous practice and self-reflection. Despite initial skepticism from his father, Brett proved himself, modeling his voice after Sebastian Bach and sending his dad a recording of him singing “I Remember You” by Skid Row. “My dad felt I was too good at guitar to be a singer,” he explains. “Singing the big note at the end of the song, caught my dad a little off guard,” Brett says with a smile. His dad’s response was a turning point: “After he heard me a couple of times, he became very supportive. His exact words were, ‘I’ll shut up now.’”

Through his self-taught approach, Brett has developed a unique sound that blends his guitar and vocal skills. Brett acknowledges that vocal coaching would be beneficial because he feels he could be doing better technically, but instead, he’s developed a DIY approach to improve his technique. Using his smartphone’s voice memo feature, he records himself singing in various environments, such as the kitchen or car, to utilize natural acoustic effects.

Using self-recording and critical evaluation, Brett refines his sound. “I record myself, listen back, and redo specific words or phrases until I get the desired sound,” he explains. “It’s all about chipping away at what I want things to sound like – just record, listen back, redo.” Brett explains, “With guitar and singing, it might not be easy, but the challenge is fun, right?”

Brett Carlisle‘s DIY approach and perseverance have propelled him to success in the rock music world. As the frontman of All Or Nothing (AON) and Great White, Brett delivers high-energy performances that blend crushing riffs, soaring melodies, and blues-infused hard rock. With Great White gearing up for their upcoming tour, fans can expect a show-stopping performance that draws inspiration from iconic frontmen like David Lee Roth and Sebastian Bach and blends diverse influences into a rich musical landscape.

Brett‘s path to stardom began with his first band, Food at Five, a name chosen spontaneously when food arrived at a party. “It’s a horrible name; I came into it,” he says laughing. He later formed a cover band, Wicked Abyss, which evolved into AON which he cofounded with drummer Skyler McCain. The duo has remained the core of AON since they were 15.

Throughout his career, Brett has emphasized the importance of camaraderie and collaboration. He’s had the opportunity to share the stage with his AON bandmates, including Skyler and Ian, who have filled in for Great White’s drummer and bassist during times of need. “I’ve brought my guys up to play with us…it’s been cool to be able to do that,” Brett says, highlighting the value of his musical relationships.

For Brett, AON was a crash course in the realities of making music in the digital age. He learned about social media metrics, handling merchandise orders, booking studio time, and navigating the different platforms to release their songs. “You don’t realize how much goes into it when you just want to have fun and do this forever,” Brett recalls. Initially managing the band’s business side was overwhelming. “It was like being thrown out into the sea and you’re gonna sink or swim,” he says laughing. Despite the daunting challenges, Brett developed valuable skills and resilience.

As the frontman of AON, Brett Carlisle showcases his versatility in transitioning between styles and genres, from pop and R&B to black metal. His voice conveys a wide range of emotions and moods, shaped by his early experiences attending hardcore metal shows at venues like Zydeco and The Forge in Birmingham.

This diverse musical background has not only influenced his sound but also prepared him for the challenges of a music career. Adaptability and authenticity have been key to his success. Brett‘s passion for music has led him through challenging times, including sleeping on couches, and touring in a U-Haul van. Despite these difficulties, Brett remains philosophical, grateful for the journey and the lessons learned. “I knew there would be tough times…When things get tough, I remind myself that this is what I asked for.”

Brett‘s spiritual perspective, shaped by his devout grandparents, guides his approach to life. He’s all about spreading positivity and kindness and being mindful of the vibes he puts out into the world. “I was raised very religious because my grandmother took care of me while my mom and dad were at work. My grandad was a preacher, so we were at church all the time. I’m more spiritual now, because I see a lot of similarities in many different religions. The Golden Rule, and the energy you put out, comes back to you—so make sure it’s good, right?” This mindset helps him navigate the ups and downs of the music industry.

Maintaining mental health is crucial for Brett, especially on tour. “Consistency is key,” he explains. “You’ll either learn from your experiences or keep repeating the same problem until you’re ready to move forward.” Brett emphasizes the importance of self-care, particularly in the face of social media and others’ opinions. “If you don’t take care of yourself first and don’t feel that first, then it’s cool and you appreciate it, but it’s easy for external validation not to line up with your reality. You’ve got to prioritize yourself first to be able to give the most to others.”

AON’s powerful song “Escape” tackles the heavy topic of suicide, reflecting Brett‘s emphasis on self-care and internal alignment. The song’s creation was a meticulous process, led by guitarist Jacob Mann, who poured his heart into the track. Jacob’s personal connection to the song’s message added depth and emotion, as he dedicated it to the person who taught him how to play guitar.

“It’s not something that should be taken lightly. It doesn’t just impact you; it pushes that pain you’re feeling on everyone around you who cares about you.” Brett emphasized the importance of conveying the seriousness of the topic through their music. At the end of the music video a sobering reminder of the number of suicides that occur daily is listed. “It’s a shocking end. We wanted it to be because it’s not an easy subject. But we were very proud with how it came out.”

Great White, known for hits like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and “Rock Me,” has always had a knack for finding exceptional vocal talents. Maintaining Great White’s legacy of extraordinary musicianship, Carlisle‘s addition to the band not only preserves this tradition but also promises to take it to new heights. His versatility and zeal for music shine through in every note, captivating audiences.

As fate would have it, Great White’s Michael Lardie and Andrew Freeman had seen Brett perform with AON at the same casino where Great White was playing upstairs. Impressed by his talent, they decided to reach out to him. This chance encounter proved to be the catalyst for a new era in Great White’s history.

Brett’s live debut as Great White’s frontman took place September 24, 2022, at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite the surprise announcement, Brett‘s performance received widespread acclaim from both the audience and the press. This successful performance marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Great White, with Carlisle at the helm.

When Brett received the call from Great White inviting him to audition, he was thrilled. “It’s really cool growing up, listening to Great White, and hearing Jack, and now I get to sing those songs, and the guys like what I’m doing.” After the first show in Vegas, Brett felt an instant connection with the band.

As Brett settled into his new role, he focused on mastering Great White’s iconic songs, adapting his style to suit each song’s unique requirements. To perform Great White’s catalog, Brett adapts his style to suit the song’s requirements, ensuring both technical precision and meaningful audience interaction. “Doing songs and doing them well for anybody, you have to find your own meaning for them to be able to pull from to get that emotion across. At times, you draw your own meaning from it.”

Brett navigates his commitments with both Great White and AON, managing the differences in writing and performing for two distinct bands. He explains, “AON’s heavier and a different style, making it easier to separate the two. The challenge comes with traveling between shows like when Great White is in California and AON is in Florida the next day. I’m leaving Florida midtour with AON to fly to California and then returning the next day.”

Imagine being part of two bands that feel like family – that’s Brett’s reality. When he’s with AON, a bond like no other. “When I’m with AON we’re family. We’ve lived together at times; we’ve been through everything growing up together so when I’m out with them I’m out with my boys and we’re having a blast doing whatever we’re doing.”

The experience with Great White is a masterclass in rock ‘n’ roll, with legends who have seen and done it all. “When I’m with Great White I can learn from them and soak in their experience. They’re super cool, we get along great!” Despite their differences in age, Brett believes they come from the same energy. “We’re still the same type of people and we just click as humans. We have a great time on and off stage, joking around and having a great time.”

With Brett Carlisle at the helm, Great White is gearing up to release new music that seamlessly blends their signature sound with bold, dynamic influences. “I don’t want to change what they’re doing at all,” Brett says. “Mark always says we need to bring the pain and make sure our music shows everybody that we’re still here,” he adds. “My transition from singing heavy, aggressive tunes in AON to more bluesy, ballad-like songs have been a natural fit. The stuff we’ve been writing is really interesting, really cool. We want to make some stuff tough, diverse, and cool and so far, it’s really good. I’m really excited.”

The songwriting process has been a true collaborative effort, with Carlisle‘s ideas being warmly embraced by the band. Brett‘s goal is to create music that captures the band’s current passion and fire. “I want our new songs to be a reflection of the excitement and energy we’re feeling right now,” he says. I want to make the statement: “Damn Great White, okay we hear you!”

Brett emphasizes that this isn’t about him joining the band, but about creating music that will resonate with fans. His addition has brought a renewed sense of excitement and energy to Great White. “I love seeing the guys excited,” Carlisle says. “They’re excited because they don’t have to question what’s going to happen. I’m consistent every night, so everybody’s amped up right now.”

With Brett at the helm, Great White is poised to embark on a thrilling new journey. Undaunted by the challenge of living up to Great White’s iconic hits, Brett’s focused on forging a new path that harnesses the band’s current energy and drive. “We’re not trying to recreate the past; we’re focused on making music that’s a reflection of the excitement and energy we’re feeling right now.” The band wants their new songs to electrify fans and show the world they’re still a force to be reckoned with.

Carlisle‘s musical journey began in Alabama, where rock and soul became his lifeblood. AON propelled him into the limelight with high-octane performances. His vocals, a powerhouse of rock’s raw energy fused with the deep, emotive rhythms of soul, promise to reinvigorate Great White, creating an unforgettable experience for both loyal fans and new listeners. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to their sound, get ready for an electrifying ride showcasing the relentless energy and drive that defines Brett Carlisle and Great White.

As Great White prepares for their upcoming tour, fans can expect a show-stopping spectacle. Brett’s dynamic presence and vocal prowess are set to elevate the band, offering thrilling performances that blend timeless Great White anthems with fresh, innovative sounds. Get ready to experience his explosive stage presence firsthand! Head to Great White’s official website at officialgreatwhite.com to check out their upcoming tour dates and get ready to rock!

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To learn more about Great White, check out their Website

Follow on: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube

Stream music:  Spotify | Apple Music

Purchase: Amazon Music

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To learn more about AON, check out their Website

Follow on: Facebook | X | Instagram | YouTube

Stream music:  Spotify | Apple Music

Purchase: Amazon Music

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