Great White frontman Jack Russell, who was on stage during horrific concert fire in ’03, has died

NEW YORK — Jack Russell, lead singer of 1980s blues metal band Great White, whose hits include “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Rock Me,” was fronting his band the night 100 people died in a fire at nightclub in Rhode Island in 2003, died. . He was 63 years old.

“Jack is loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life and unwavering contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will thrive forever,” said a statement posted on his Instagram page Thursday. The death was confirmed by KL 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 dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy, which causes loss of coordination and balance and changes in speech.

Other metal stars mourned Russell, with former Cinderella member Fred Coury writing on X: “The world has lost one of the nicest guys in the business. & One of the great voices that sailed the airways of the 80s.” Poison singer Bret Michaels posted: “To my friend Jack Russell, such an amazing voice. May you rest in peace.”

Another iteration of the Great White that Russell led – performing under the name Jack Russell’s Great White – was involved in one of the most tragic concerts in US history in 2003. During a performance at the nightclub The Station in Rhode Island, the band’s pyrotechnics sparked a rapid fire that caused a gridlock as fans tried to flee. The fire killed 100 people, including the band’s guitarist, Ty Longley, and injured more than 200.

“It was a terrible tragedy,” Russell told The Roanoke Times in Virginia in 2010. “I wish we could go back in time and erase it. I wish I could have done something about it. This was one of those things where you don’t see it coming – you can’t see it coming. You just pick yourself up and move on. Take what life gives you.

The only people charged criminally were Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the owners of The Station nightclub, and Daniel Biechele, the tour manager of Great White, who set off the fireworks without a permit. The three entered into plea agreements.

Great White held benefit concerts after the fire to raise money for the Station Family Fund, a charity that helped people who were badly burned, children who lost their 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 his blend of blues and hard rock before leaving to record a solo album. The band broke up in 2001 and Russell reworked a version under his own name.

Great White’s biggest hit was the Ian Hunter-penned track “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” from his 1989 album “… Twice Shy”, which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, helped by a popular MTV video. A Russell original, “The Angel Song”, reached number 30 on the chart and “… Twice Shy” sold around 2 million copies. The band would earn a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.

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