House Of Broken Love

Album: Twice Shy (1989)
Charted: 44 83
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • During a concert recorded for the BBC Radio program The Friday Rock Show, Great White frontman Jack Russell said "House Of Broken Love" is a song about the very next address on lonely street.

    It appears though to have had a more direct - and for White, painful - inspiration. It was written after his first divorce. Lead guitarist Mark Kendall had also gone through a break-up; the two men were sitting together when their manager, Alan Niven, walked in and asked, "What is this, the house of broken love?" >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England
  • "House Of Broken Love" was the last single from the Twice Shy album, issued in early 1990 about nine months after the album had been out. This was a high-water mark for the band, which had emerged from the Los Angeles glam-metal scene to become a headline act with two multi-Platinum albums. But soon after, they started to sink. Their sales gradually declined, and by 2013 they had broken off into two acts, with Mark Kendall leading the original Great White and Jack Russell forming an offshoot called Jack Russell's Great White.
  • The full-length version on the album runs 5:58, with an intro that goes 1:44. The single was cut down to 4:13.
  • The B-side of the single is a medley they titled "Bitches And Other Women." It's not as offensive as it sounds: the medley is covers of "Bitch" and "It's Only Rock 'N' Roll" by The Rolling Stones, and "Women" by Foreigner.
  • The writers on this song are Jack Russell, band manager Alan Niven, and their guitarist, Michael Lardie.

Comments: 2

  • Mo from Mesa ArizonaI first saw Great White open for Whitesnake at the Miami Sportatorium a long time ago. They blew away Whitesnake that night. I also saw them a few times in Omaha at the Ranch Bowl up close. A great but troubled band stolen from Jack. Mark Kendall is a great guitarist though.
  • Gabriel Sica from Saint Louis, MoThis is a great song. Great White put out a few excellent tunes.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.