Photo by Christopher Lee Helton
Great White guitarist Mark Kendall recalls getting submitted to a full strip search at German border in ’83
Lead guitarist Mark Kendall has been touring the world with Great White for over 40 years and he recently shared a fun road story about when his band had to cross the border into Germany back in 1983.
The following message was posted in part on Kendall‘s Twitter (X) page earlier today:
“Road Stories – You have to imagine, it’s 1983 and this bunch shows up at your border in Germany, while touring Europe!! Of course we had no drugs or paraphernalia because we heard you can get in trouble for that!!
So naturally the border patrolman singles me out for a little question and answer time. Just the general stuff you know, why are you here, where are you from etc.. I answered everything accordingly, I’m a guitar player here to play shows and so on!
But then he came with a question that really surprised me, he asked me “Do you like Muddy Waters?” I said I love Muddy Waters, he inspired a lot of my guitar heroes! He says ah ha!! Two other guards take me in a room for the full strip search and go through everything I had in my suitcase! What he was actually asking was “Do you like Marijuana??” His accent was so extreme it sounded like Muddy Waters! That was an experience I will never forget!!”