Jack Russell: Great White Hard Rock singer dead at 63

Jack Russell the primal, velvet-throated co-founding vocalist of the glam metal band Great White, departed from this world on Thursday at the age of 63. The somber news was relayed through his social media channels. In July, the singer had vulnerably disclosed his battle with Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy.

Jack Russell :

“I can no longer perform at the level I aspire to or that you deserve,” Russell conveyed on Instagram on July 17. “Words fail to encapsulate the depth of my gratitude for the years of memories, love, and support. Thank you for allowing me to live my dreams. You have rendered my life extraordinary.”

That extraordinary life had its pinnacles, such as Great White’s Ian Hunter-penned hit single “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and numerous platinum albums during the hair metal epoch of the 1980s. However, Russell and his band were also embroiled in profound tragedy when, in 2003, their pyrotechnic-laden performance at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island ignited a deadly inferno, claiming 100 lives and injuring 230 others. Among those who perished was Great White’s guitarist, Ty Longley.

Mark Kendall, guitarist and fellow co-founder of Great White, expressed his condolences on Instagram following the news of Russell’s passing. Kendall lauded his former bandmate as “one of rock’s stalwart champions” with a “remarkable voice that will echo through eternity.”

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“What can be said about someone who stood by your side throughout such an incredible journey, through the highs and lows?” the Instagram post reflected. “We prefer to let the music speak for itself. Those cherished years together will remain etched in our hearts. It was an honor and a pleasure to share the stage with him—countless shows, countless miles, and unyielding rock. In the studio, Jack was exceptional. He always arrived ready to give his all, and he worked tirelessly to achieve the best performance for each song. He brought the same excellence to every live show. The consistency of his performances was unparalleled.”

Born on December 5, 1960, in Montebello, California, Russell lent his smooth yet gritty vocal prowess to various high school rock bands before crossing paths with guitarist Kendall in 1977. The nascent metal duo cycled through band names such as Highway and Livewire until Kendall and then-new band manager Alan Niven rebranded the group as Great White, a moniker inspired by Kendall’s platinum locks.

Before meeting Niven, Russell and Kendall’s band aspirations were temporarily derailed when, in 1979, a troubled Russell was incarcerated for shooting a live-in maid during an attempted robbery. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. Despite this, Kendall continued to collaborate with other vocalists until Russell was released after serving 18 months of his sentence.

By 1982, Russell and Kendall had joined forces with drummer Gary Holland and bassist Lorne Black, recording and releasing the “Out of the Night” EP on Niven’s independent label, Aegean. After Niven successfully persuaded Los Angeles radio station KMET to add Great White to its playlist, other stations in the area soon followed suit. The band quickly became a fixture in the burgeoning hair metal scene, opening for acts like Whitesnake, Dokken, and David Lee Roth’s solo project.

Signed to Capitol/EMI, the band gained momentum and commercial success with their 1987 album “Once Bitten” (featuring singles such as “Rock Me” and “Save Your Love”) and its 1989 follow-up “Twice Shy,” which included signature hits like “The Angel Song” and “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” However, by the early 1990s, hair metal’s dominance had waned, eclipsed by the rise of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and grunge. Great White subsequently left Capitol for smaller labels like Zoo. In 2000, Kendall announced his departure from Great White. Following Kendall’s exit, several other members also left the band. After a brief stint with Columbia Records in 2001, Russell disbanded what remained of Great White following the death of his father.

Though Russell recorded a handful of solo albums, such as “Shelter Me” (1996) and “For You” (2002), he and Kendall reunited under the name Jack Russell’s Great White. By 2003, however, their dreams of renewed success were dashed when their performance at The Station nightclub ended in tragedy. Following the disaster, Jack Russell Touring Inc. agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and victims’ families.

From then on, Great White experienced several reunions, including a 2006-2009 lineup featuring Russell, Kendall, and a new band album titled “Rising.” But in 2010, Russell underwent surgery for a perforated bowel; during his recovery, he was replaced by various vocalists, including Warrant’s Jani Lane and XYZ’s Terry Ilous. Starting in 2012, Russell re-formed Jack Russell’s Great White, leading to a legal dispute with Kendall’s Great White, which culminated in a 2013 federal court agreement in which Russell relinquished his rights to the “Great White” name to Kendall and his bandmates.

Despite these setbacks, Russell continued to perform until his retirement in 2024, releasing singles such as 2014’s “Hard Habit” and a debut album titled “He Saw It Comin’” in 2017 under Jack Russell’s Great White. He also penned his autobiography, “The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative,” co-authored with K.L Doty, slated for a summer 2024 release.

According to his Instagram, “Jack Russell passed peacefully, surrounded by his wife Heather Ann Russell, son Matthew Hucko, cousin Naomi Breshears Barbor, and dear friends Billy and Cheryl Pawelcik.”

Russell is survived by his wife, Heather Ann Kramer, whom he married in 2011. A public memorial will be announced at a later date.