Jack Russell was a rock singer and musician best known as the co-founder and frontman of Great White, who had a big hit with their cover of Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.”
- Died: August 15, 2024 (Who else died on August 15?)
- Details of death: Died after a fight with Lewy body dementia at the age of 63.
- We invite you to share condolences for Jack Russell in our Guest Book.
Jack Russell’s legacy
When singer Jack Russell met guitarist Mark Kendall, the pair knew they wanted to make music together. They formed the group that would become Great White in 1977, but their plans went astray almost right away when Russell was sentenced to eight years in prison for shooting a maid during a botched burglary attempt. He served 18 months, and Kendall got him back into the band upon his release.
Great White paved their way through the rock club scene throughout the 1980s, finally hitting mainstream paydirt in 1987 with their third album, “Once Bitten,” an LP that included the hits “Rock Me” and “Save Your Love.” Their next record, “…Twice Shy,” continued their success with the major hit, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” a cover of a song by English rocker Ian Hunter.
In 2000, group co-founder Kendall took a hiatus. Other members did, too, and soon Russell was touring with a new band as Jack Russell’s Great White. This sparked an unofficial reunion between the two under that name in 2002. Then, on Feb. 20, 2003, things took a dark turn when the band performed at The Station in Rhode Island. Pyrotechnics set off in the small club lit the venue on fire. Panic ensued, and with few easy exits, showgoers could not escape. One hundred people, including Great White’s guitarist, died in the blaze.
The group forged on a few months later and toured through 2005 to raise funds for the fire victims’ families. Russell and the band would split and reform several times after that, with him releasing several albums under the name Jack Russell’s Great White while the original outfit continued with a different lead singer. He didn’t stop touring until just last month, when he announced he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy.
Tributes to Jack Russell
Full obituary: Billboard
