At 63, Jack Russell, the raw silky co-founding lead vocalist for the glam metal band Great White, passed Thursday. Social media of the musician revealed his demise. The artist had spoken in July about his battles with multiple system atrophy and Lewy body dementia.
On July 17 Russell said on Instagram, "I am unable to perform at the level I desire and at the level you deserve." "Words cannot adequately thank you for the several years of memories, love, and encouragement. I appreciate you allowing me live my dreams. You have made my life a wonder.
Great White's Ian Hunter-penned hit single "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and multiple platinum albums over the hair metal 1980s marked high points in that life of wonder. Russell and his band also were at the epicenter of immense tragedy when their pyrotechnics-filled performance at the little Station nightclub in Rhode Island set fire to the building, killing 100 people and injured 230 more in 2003. Among the dead were Great White guitarist Ty Longley, who burned in the fire.
After word of Russell's death surfaced, fellow co-founder of Great White and guitarist Mark Kendall extended sympathies on Instagram. With a "incredible voice that will live on forever," Kendall praised his one-time partner as "one of rock's biggest champions."
"What do you say about someone who was there on such a wonderful experience, the good and the bad?” the Instagram post that I came across. "We would rather have the music cover the gaps. We shall keep near to our hearts all those amazing years spent together. Sharing the stage with him was an honor and delight—many gigs, many miles, maximum rock. Jack was great in the studio. He arrived always prepared for business. And work hard; Jack stayed until he gave each song his best performance. He gave every performance the same brilliance. His live performances were always well above average.
Born in Montebello, California, on December 5, 1960, Russell gave many a high school rock band his sweet, salty vocals before he met guitarist Kendall in 1977. Highway and Livewire were among the band monikers the growing metal pair used until Kendall and then new band manager Alan Niven renamed the band Great White since the guitarist had platinum hair.
Russell and Kendall's band preparations were derailed prior to Niven's visit when a disturbed Russell was arrested in 1979 for allegedly shooting a live-in maid during an attempted robbery. His sentence was eight years in jail. Although Kendall temporarily collaborated with different lead vocalists, the guitarist teamed up with Russell once more; the singer was freed from prison after serving eighteen months of his term.
Recording and distributing the "Out of the Night" on Niven's indie label, Aegean, Russell and Kendall teamed up with bassist Lorne Black and drummer Gary Holland in 1982. Other Los Angeles radio stations followed suit when Niven persuaded KMET to include Great White on their roster. Opening for like-minded artists including Whitesnake, Dokken, and David Lee Roth's solo band, the band became the toast of the still-growing hair metal movement.
Signed to Capitol/EMI, the band picked up momentum and sales with its "Once Bitten" 1987 album (featuring singles like "Rock Me" and "Save Your Love) and its studio follow-up, "Twice Shy," (1989), which had great White songs like "The Angel Song" and "Once Bitten, Twice Shy." By the early 1990s, grunge, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam grabbed front stage over hair metal's splendor. Great White left Capitol carrying brands like Zoo. Kendall said he was temporarily leaving Great White around 2000. Many more members of the band quit totally after Kendall's exit. Russell's father passed away and the singer broke up what remained of Great White instead of continuing following a brief signing to Columbia Records in 2001.
Russell recorded a few solo albums, including "Shelter Me" (1996) and "For You," (2002), but the singer and guitarist Kendall rebuilt their band under the moniker Jack Russell's Great White. By 2003, whatever dreams they harbored of revived success stopped. Playing at the Station nightclub, a fire started when the band's pyrotechnic sparks set off an unauthorized foam soundproofing material attached to the ceiling and walls surrounding the stage. Following this disaster, Jack Russell Touring Inc. promised to give $1 million to relatives of victims and survivors in 2008.
Great White had many reunions from that point forward, including a 2006 to 2009 version with Russell, Kendall, and a new band record, "Rising." Russell had to have surgery for a perforated colon in 2010, though; he was replaced during his recuperation by a small group of vocalists including Terry Ilous from XYZ and Jani Lane. From there, beginning in 2012, Russell re-formed Jack Russell's Great White – only this time, sparking controversy with Kendall's Great White, resulting in a 2013 Federal Court arrangement wherein Russell gave his rights to the "Great White" moniker over to Kendall & Co.
Russell wrote his autobiography, "The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative," with author K.L. Doty for summer 2024 publication in addition to playing live until his 2024 retirement and recording singles including 2014's "Hard Habit" and a Jack Russell's Great White debut album "He Saw It Comin’s."
From his Instagram, "Jack Russell passed peacefully in the presence of his wife Heather Ann Russell, son Matthew Hucko, cousin Naomi Breshears Barbor, and dear friends Billy and Cheryl Pawelcik."
Heather Ann Kramer, Russell's wife, survives him. 2011 saw the two get married. Announcements of a public memorial are scheduled for a later date.
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Wartian Herkku
At 63, Jack Russell, the raw silky co-founding lead vocalist for the glam metal band Great White, passed Thursday. Social media of the musician revealed his demise. The artist had spoken in July about his battles with multiple system atrophy and Lewy body dementia.
On July 17 Russell said on Instagram, "I am unable to perform at the level I desire and at the level you deserve." "Words cannot adequately thank you for the several years of memories, love, and encouragement. I appreciate you allowing me live my dreams. You have made my life a wonder.
Great White's Ian Hunter-penned hit single "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" and multiple platinum albums over the hair metal 1980s marked high points in that life of wonder. Russell and his band also were at the epicenter of immense tragedy when their pyrotechnics-filled performance at the little Station nightclub in Rhode Island set fire to the building, killing 100 people and injured 230 more in 2003. Among the dead were Great White guitarist Ty Longley, who burned in the fire.
After word of Russell's death surfaced, fellow co-founder of Great White and guitarist Mark Kendall extended sympathies on Instagram. With a "incredible voice that will live on forever," Kendall praised his one-time partner as "one of rock's biggest champions."
"What do you say about someone who was there on such a wonderful experience, the good and the bad?” the Instagram post that I came across. "We would rather have the music cover the gaps. We shall keep near to our hearts all those amazing years spent together. Sharing the stage with him was an honor and delight—many gigs, many miles, maximum rock. Jack was great in the studio. He arrived always prepared for business. And work hard; Jack stayed until he gave each song his best performance. He gave every performance the same brilliance. His live performances were always well above average.
Born in Montebello, California, on December 5, 1960, Russell gave many a high school rock band his sweet, salty vocals before he met guitarist Kendall in 1977. Highway and Livewire were among the band monikers the growing metal pair used until Kendall and then new band manager Alan Niven renamed the band Great White since the guitarist had platinum hair.
Russell and Kendall's band preparations were derailed prior to Niven's visit when a disturbed Russell was arrested in 1979 for allegedly shooting a live-in maid during an attempted robbery. His sentence was eight years in jail. Although Kendall temporarily collaborated with different lead vocalists, the guitarist teamed up with Russell once more; the singer was freed from prison after serving eighteen months of his term.
Recording and distributing the "Out of the Night" on Niven's indie label, Aegean, Russell and Kendall teamed up with bassist Lorne Black and drummer Gary Holland in 1982. Other Los Angeles radio stations followed suit when Niven persuaded KMET to include Great White on their roster. Opening for like-minded artists including Whitesnake, Dokken, and David Lee Roth's solo band, the band became the toast of the still-growing hair metal movement.
Signed to Capitol/EMI, the band picked up momentum and sales with its "Once Bitten" 1987 album (featuring singles like "Rock Me" and "Save Your Love) and its studio follow-up, "Twice Shy," (1989), which had great White songs like "The Angel Song" and "Once Bitten, Twice Shy." By the early 1990s, grunge, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam grabbed front stage over hair metal's splendor. Great White left Capitol carrying brands like Zoo. Kendall said he was temporarily leaving Great White around 2000. Many more members of the band quit totally after Kendall's exit. Russell's father passed away and the singer broke up what remained of Great White instead of continuing following a brief signing to Columbia Records in 2001.
Russell recorded a few solo albums, including "Shelter Me" (1996) and "For You," (2002), but the singer and guitarist Kendall rebuilt their band under the moniker Jack Russell's Great White. By 2003, whatever dreams they harbored of revived success stopped. Playing at the Station nightclub, a fire started when the band's pyrotechnic sparks set off an unauthorized foam soundproofing material attached to the ceiling and walls surrounding the stage. Following this disaster, Jack Russell Touring Inc. promised to give $1 million to relatives of victims and survivors in 2008.
Great White had many reunions from that point forward, including a 2006 to 2009 version with Russell, Kendall, and a new band record, "Rising." Russell had to have surgery for a perforated colon in 2010, though; he was replaced during his recuperation by a small group of vocalists including Terry Ilous from XYZ and Jani Lane. From there, beginning in 2012, Russell re-formed Jack Russell's Great White – only this time, sparking controversy with Kendall's Great White, resulting in a 2013 Federal Court arrangement wherein Russell gave his rights to the "Great White" moniker over to Kendall & Co.
Russell wrote his autobiography, "The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative," with author K.L. Doty for summer 2024 publication in addition to playing live until his 2024 retirement and recording singles including 2014's "Hard Habit" and a Jack Russell's Great White debut album "He Saw It Comin’s."
From his Instagram, "Jack Russell passed peacefully in the presence of his wife Heather Ann Russell, son Matthew Hucko, cousin Naomi Breshears Barbor, and dear friends Billy and Cheryl Pawelcik."
Heather Ann Kramer, Russell's wife, survives him. 2011 saw the two get married. Announcements of a public memorial are scheduled for a later date.
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