ENTERTAINMENT

Jack Russell, lead singer of band Great White who was onstage during horrific ’03 concert fire, dies

Aug 16, 2024, 12:45 PM | Updated: 12:54 pm

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 29:  Members of the band Great White perform at a concert benefiting for...

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - APRIL 29: Members of the band Great White perform at a concert benefiting former band member Ty Longley at the Key Club on April 29, 2003 in West Hollywood, California. Longley passed away in a tragic bar fire accident in Rhode Island in February. (Photo by Robert Mora/Getty Images)

(Photo by Robert Mora/Getty Images)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jack Russell, the lead singer of the bluesy ’80s metal band Great White whose hits included “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me” and was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island, has died. He was 63.

“Jack is loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life, and unshakeable contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will forever thrive,” said a statement posted Thursday to his Instagram page. The death was confirmed by K. L. Doty, author of Russell’s autobiography, “The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative.”

Russell recently stopped touring after announcing he had been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia and Multiple System Atrophy, which causes loss of coordination and balance, and changes in speech.

Fellow metal stars mourned Russell, with ex-Cinderella member Fred Coury writing on X: “The world lost 1 of the nicest guys in the business & 1 of the great voices to sail across the airways of the 80’s.” Poison singer Bret Michaels posted: “To my friend Jack Russell, such an amazing voice. May you rest in peace.”

A different iteration of Great White that Russell led — performing under the name Jack Russell’s Great White — was involved in one of the most tragic concerts in U.S. history in 2003. During a show at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island, the band’s pyrotechnics sparked a fast-moving blaze that caused a bottleneck as fans tried to flee. The fire killed 100 people, including the band’s guitarist, Ty Longley, and injured more than 200 others.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – APRIL 29: Members of the band Great White perform at a concert benefiting former band member Ty Longley at the Key Club on April 29, 2003 in West Hollywood, California. Longley passed away in a tragic bar fire accident in Rhode Island in February. (Photo by Robert Mora/Getty Images)

″It was a horrible tragedy,” Russell told The Roanoke Times in Virginia in 2010. “I wish we could go back in time and erase it. I wish there was something I could’ve done about it. This was one of those things where you don’t see it coming — there’s no way you can possibly see it coming. You just kind of pick yourself up and move on. You take what life gives you.

The only people criminally charged were Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the owners of The Station nightclub, and Daniel Biechele, Great White’s tour manager, who set off the pyrotechnics without a permit. The three struck plea deals.

Great White held benefit concerts after the fire to raise money for the Station Family Fund, a charity that helped people who were severely burned, children who had lost parents and others. The band agreed to pay $1 million to more than 300 people as part of a settlement.

Russell was a California native who joined Great White in 1981 and found success with its blend of blues and hard rock, before he left to record a solo album. The band split up in 2001, and Russell reformulated a version under his own name.

Great White’s biggest hit was the Ian Hunter-penned song, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” from its 1989 album, ”… Twice Shy,” peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, aided by a popular MTV video. A Russell original, “The Angel Song,” reached No. 30 on the chart, and ”… Twice Shy” wound up selling about 2 million copies. The band would earn a Grammy nomination in the best hard rock performance category.

The band reunited in 2007 with original members to mark their 25th anniversary, issued a new studio album and spent the last two months touring Europe.

KSL 5 TV Live

Entertainment

An aerial overall exterior general view of Caesars Superdome, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New Orleans...

Associated Press

Super Bowl 2025: Time, channel, halftime show, how to watch Chiefs vs. Eagles livestream

Super Bowl weekend has arrived. The Kansas City Chiefs will go for a historic three-peat in the NFL's title game on Sunday in New Orleans, while the Philadelphia Eagles are the only remaining team that can stop them.

2 days ago

Nancy Duncan and Nick Jenderko behind Sabrina Carpenter at the 2025 Grammy Awards show....

Mike Anderson

Utahns sat among stars at the Grammys

Some Utahns earned some bragging rights after a night at the Grammy Awards.

2 days ago

Taylor Swift, left, presents the award for best country album to Beyonce for "COWBOY CARTER" during...

Mark Kennedy, AP Entertainment Writer

The Grammys had a few surprises up their sleeves. Here are some key moments from the show

Beyoncé winning the trophy for album of the year was the highlight of the Grammy Awards on Sunday, but there were plenty of other key moments.

7 days ago

FILE: Salt Lake City Police...

Alton Barnhart

SLCPD’s citywide public safety enforcement results in 22 arrests

Citywide enforcement efforts conducted by the Salt Lake City Police Department resulted in the arrests of 22 people.

8 days ago

This image released by the Sundance Institute shows Dylan O'Brien, left, and James Sweeney in a sce...

Lindsey Bahr, AP Film Writer

Breakout Sundance films and key takeaways from this year’s festival

As the Sundance Film Festival comes to a close, here are some key takeaways from the 41st edition of the festival.

9 days ago

A two-day sting operation that was coordinated along the Jordan River Trail resulted in 23 arrests ...

Alton Barnhart

23 arrests, 1700+ fentanyl pills seized in operation along Jordan River Trail

A two-day sting operation that was coordinated along the Jordan River Trail resulted in 23 arrests and 1,770 fentanyl pills, according to SLCPD.

9 days ago

Sponsored Articles

holiday gift basket with blue tissue paper and gingerbread cookies...

Kneaders Bakery & Cafe

Holiday hacks for a stress-free season

Get more out of your time with family and loved ones over the holidays by following these tips for a stress-free season.

2 computer techs in a computer shop holding up a computer server with the "hang loose" sign...

PC Laptops

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right computer

With these tips, choosing the right computer that fits your needs and your budget will be easier than ever.

crowds of people in a German style Christmas market...

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Celebrate Christkindlmarket at This Is The Place Heritage Park!

The Christkindlmarket is an annual holiday celebration influenced by German traditions and generous giving.

Image of pretty woman walking in snowy mountains. Portrait of female wearing warm winter earmuff, r...

Lighting Design

Brighten your mood this winter with these lighting tricks

Read our lighting tips on how to brighten your mood in the winter if you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder.

A kitchen with a washer and dryer and a refrigerator...

Appliance Man

Appliance Man: a trusted name in Utah’s home appliance industry

Despite many recent closures of local appliance stores, Appliance Man remains Utah's trusted home appliance business and is here to stay.

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

Jack Russell, lead singer of band Great White who was onstage during horrific ’03 concert fire, dies