Jack Russell, Singer of Great White, Dies at 63
The “Once Bitten Twice Shy” singer has passed away at the age of 63 per reports posted on his social media page.
It read: “With tremendous sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jack Patrick Russell — father, husband, cousin, uncle, and friend.” Jack 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.” You can read the whole statement below.
Sadly it comes just a month after he announced he will be retiring from music due to a recent diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA).
He said, “To my fans and friends, it is with the heaviest of hearts that I must announce my retirement from the road. After a recent diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) in May 2024, I am unable to perform at the level I desire and at the level you deserve. Words cannot express my gratitude for the many years of memories, love and support. Thank you for letting me live my dreams. You have made my life a wonder.”
Great White formed in 1977 with Russell as lead vocalist and Mark Kendall as lead guitarist but they didn’t really get going until 1979 after Russell had a brief stint in prison for a botched robbery attempt. After various names and lineup changes through the early ’80s Los Angeles rock scene, the band didn’t see commercial success until their 1987 Once Bitten release, which hailed the songs “Rock Me” and “Save Your Love.” They followed up the success of that album with … Twice Shy in 1989 and it contained mega hits “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” “House of Broken Love” and the “Angel Song” ballad.
As the ’90s rolled in they toured extensively, changed labels a few times and never really saw the radio success as they did in the ’80s.
Kendall ended up exiting the band in 2000 and Jack carried it on as Jack Russell’s Great White. In 2003 they got the band back together only to have tragedy strike at a small club in Rhode Island where they were playing. After a pyrotechnic display went awry a huge fire broke out at the club and over 100 people lost their lives, along with a band member, and many were injured. Many lawsuits came after, along with Russell’s drug and alcohol relapse.
Well into recovery he started touring again in 2011 under the name Jack Russell’s Great White with a revolving door of bandmates, and released albums in 2017 and 2021.