Written by: Alex Green
Former Great White frontman Jack Russell has died.
The charismatic singer who was 63, was surrounded by friends and family.
Russell had recently revealed he’d been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, which resulted in Russell’s immediate retirement from rock and roll touring.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I must announce my retirement from the road,” he wrote in a statement. “After a recent diagnosis of Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy 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.”
Great White guitarist and co-founder Mark Kendall posted a sentimental statement on social media about Russell’s death, calling him, “one of rock’s biggest champions” with an “incredible voice that will live on forever.”
He went on to write: “What do you say about someone who was there by your side on such an amazing journey, the good and the bad? We prefer to let the music fill in the blanks. All those wonderful years together will be held close to our hearts. It was a privilege and joy to share the stage with him – many shows, many miles, and maximum rock. In the studio, Jack was amazing. He always came ready to work. And work hard, he did, Jack stayed until he got the best performance for each song. He brought the same excellence to every show. The consistency of his live performances were always beyond comparison.”
Russell and Kendall were playing in a Great White iteration called Jack Russell’s Great White in 2003, when sparks from the band’s onstage pyrotechnics at the Station nightclub in Rhode Island caused a fire to erupt, killing 100 people and wounding 230. Currently close to $115 million in settlements have been paid or offered to the victims and their families.
Born in Montebello, California, Russell co-formed Great White in 1981 after playing in a series of L.A. outfits. The band catapulted to fame in 1987 with hits like “Save Your Love” and “Rock Me.” Their commercial peak came with a cover of Ian Hunter’s “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.”
Russell had several tenures with the band, but left for good in 2011 and had been touring under the name Jack Russell’s Great White.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Lewy Body Dementia is defined as:”…a general term and includes both Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) (in which Parkinson’s disease is first diagnosed but a year or more later includes dementia) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) (which starts with dementia and is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease, but may include Parkinson-like symptoms at the time of diagnosis or later). LBD symptoms include dementia, visual hallucinations and frequent variations in cognitive ability, attention or alertness.”
