Jack Russell, the frontman of the renowned 1980s hard rock band Great White and a spin-off group involved in one of the deadliest nightclub fires in history, has passed away at the age of 63.
The cause of death was attributed to Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy, according to K.L. Doty, the author of Russell’s autobiography. No further details were provided.
Russell’s death was announced on his official Instagram profile on Thursday and later confirmed by Doty. Great White also paid tribute to him on their Instagram page.
Russell co-founded Great White alongside guitarist Mark Kendall. The band, originally known as Dante Fox, began their career playing in small clubs across Southern California in the early 1980s.
They rebranded as Great White in 1984. Their first major hit, “Rock Me,” reached No. 60 on the Billboard Top 100 Chart in 1987.
Great White’s breakthrough came with their third album, which included their most successful song, “Once Bitten Twice Shy.” This hit climbed to No. 5 in 1989 and earned the band a Grammy nomination in 1990.
Russell briefly departed from Great White in 1996 to pursue a solo career but returned in 1999. By 2001, Great White had disbanded.
In 2002, Russell and Kendall formed a new lineup, Jack Russell’s Great White, and began touring in smaller venues.
Tragically, during a performance at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, in February 2003, the band’s pyrotechnics sparked a catastrophic fire that claimed the lives of 100 people, including Great White’s guitarist, and injured 230 others.
The incident remains one of the deadliest club fires in U.S. history.
The club’s owners, who had installed the highly flammable soundproofing foam, and the band’s tour manager, who set off the pyrotechnics, were charged in connection with the fire.
Russell was not charged, but the band members agreed to a $1 million settlement.
By 2005, Jack Russell’s Great White disbanded due to “the stress from lawsuits, inner band turmoil, and Russell’s substance abuse problems,” according to the All Music Guide.
Great White briefly reunited in 2007, but the reunion was short-lived. Russell continued to perform under the banner of Jack Russell’s Great White. However, in a July Instagram post, he announced his retirement due to health issues.
“I am unable to perform at the level I desire and at the level you deserve,” Russell wrote. “Words cannot express my gratitude for the many years of memories, love, and support.”
Jack Patrick Russell was born on December 5, 1960, in Montebello, California. He grew up in Whittier, California, and left high school to pursue a career in music.
He is survived by his wife, Heather Ann Russell, and his son, Matthew Hucko.
