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Jack Russell, founding lead singer of hair metal rock band Great White, died Thursday at the age of 63.
The cause is, Rolling Stonehis diagnosis was Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy. He announced his diagnosis and retired from touring just a month ago.
Russell co-founded the band in 1977 and remained with it until 1996. He rejoined the band in 2001 and renamed it Jack Russell’s Great White.
The band released nine studio albums, the most successful of which were “Once Bitten” (1987), “…Twice Shy” (1989) and “Hooked” (1991).
Their two Top 40 hits were “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” a Top Five hit in 1989, and its follow-up “The Angel Song” the same year.
Sadly, the infamous fire at The Station in West Warwick, Rhode Island, during a Great White concert on February 20, 2003, killed 100 people and injured 230. The fire, caused by the band’s fireworks, killed guitarist Ty Longley and led to multiple lawsuits over a five-year period.
The fire remains the deadliest fireworks incident in U.S. history.
Mr Russell is survived by his wife and son.
