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Jack Russell, Great White frontman who survived deadly nightclub fire, dies at 63

BBG News

As a longtime follower of hard rock music, I’ve always held Great White and Jack Russell in high regard for their contributions to the genre during the 80s and beyond. The news of his passing at the age of 63 is indeed saddening, especially considering the circumstances that surrounded him throughout his career.

As a movie critic reflecting on a life filled with rhythm and raw energy, I find myself compelled to share the news of Jack Russell’s passing. Known for his gripping vocals and hard-hitting hits in the ’80s as the frontman of Great White, he left an indelible mark on the world of rock music. Tragically, he faced a harrowing ordeal in 2003 when a nightclub fire in Rhode Island took the lives of 100 souls, yet Jack managed to survive. At 63 years old, his journey has come to an end.

News of his passing at his Southern California residence emerged on Thursday via an Instagram statement. The statement indicated that he passed tranquilly, surrounded by family members and close friends. K.L. Doty, a collaborator on a 2024 memoir with Russell, mentioned that the cause was Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy; however, she chose not to disclose the exact date of his death.

In July, the artist announced his decision to stop touring due to health issues, expressing on Instagram, “I can no longer deliver the kind of performances that you expect from me, and that I expect from myself.”

Originating from the rowdy Los Angeles nightlife scene in the late 70’s, Great White was known for their gritty yet melodic rock tunes, fitting squarely within the rowdy, hair-metal genre; Mark Kendall’s guitars often produced a grinding, shrill sound, while Jack Russell’s vocals could mimic the masculine wail reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant.

The band initially appeared on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1987 with the soulful “Rock Me,” where Russell promised a woman that staying the night would turn wrongs into rights. Their most popular song was a lively rendition of Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” which reached No. 5 in 1989 and boosted their album “…Twice Shy” to over 2 million copies sold. In 1990, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” was nominated for the best hard rock performance at the Grammy Awards.

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As a die-hard movie buff reminiscing about the ’90s, I can’t help but notice the shift in trends that impacted even my favorite heavy metal band, Great White. The rise of grunge and alternative rock on the airwaves and MTV seemed to push hair metal aside, and it showed in Great White’s commercial success. Eventually, they called it quits in 2001. However, the spirit of Great White didn’t fade away entirely; the following year, Russell and Kendall formed a spin-off group, Jack Russell’s Great White, and started touring clubs across the nation.

On February 20, 2003, during the band’s performance at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, a firework show caused soundproofing material on the venue’s walls and ceiling to catch fire. This fire rapidly spread throughout the club, resulting in a tragic loss of life. Among those who perished was the band’s guitarist, Ty Longley; 230 others were reported injured.

Afterward, both the tour organizer for the group and the proprietors of the station faced charges of involuntary manslaughter. Subsequently, Russell and fellow bandmates from Great White consented to a settlement amounting to $1 million, paid to survivors and families of those affected by the fire’s tragic events.

Born in Montebello in 1960, Russell later joined the reunion of the original Great White band until it disbanded once more, leading him to establish Jack Russell’s Great White. In 2021, his latest album, a tribute to Led Zeppelin, was released; this year, he collaborated with hair-metal veteran Tracii Guns from L.A. Guns on a duo album called “Medusa.”

Russell’s survivors include his wife, Heather Ann Russell, and his son Matthew Hucko.

On Instagram yesterday, his ex-bandmates from Great White expressed their sympathies to Russell’s family, stating that it was both a privilege and pleasure to perform alongside him, sharing numerous stages, miles, and a whole lot of rock.

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2024-08-16 23:01

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