Jack Russell, the former lead singer of the glam rock band Great White, has passed away at the age of 63. The announcement was made on the Instagram account of Jack Russell’s Great White, the name he used for touring after the original band disbanded in 2001.
The statement expressed deep sorrow, stating, “With tremendous sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jack Patrick Russell — father, husband, cousin, uncle, and friend.” It revealed that Russell “passed peacefully” in the presence of his wife Heather Ann, son Matthew Hucko, and other loved ones. The tribute highlighted Russell’s humor, zest for life, and significant impact on rock music, noting that his legacy will continue.
His family requested privacy and mentioned that details about a public memorial would be provided later.
The original members of Great White shared their condolences, stating, “We hope they take comfort in knowing Jack’s incredible voice will live on forever.” They concluded with, “Rest in Peace, to one of rock’s biggest champions.”
Great White was known for achieving six songs on the Billboard Hot 100 during the late ’80s and early ’90s, including the hit “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” which reached No. 5 in 1989 and garnered substantial airtime on MTV. The album containing the song, …Twice Shy, also performed well, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart.
After the band’s split in 2001, Russell toured under the name Jack Russell’s Great White. This included a notable performance at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island in 2003, which ended tragically when pyrotechnics ignited a fire, claiming 100 lives, including that of bandmate Ty Longley, and injuring 230 others. In 2006, Russell’s tour manager, Daniel Biechele, pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and served two years of a 15-year sentence. The nightclub’s owners also faced legal consequences for their roles in the tragedy.
In September, Russell announced his retirement from touring following diagnoses of Lewy Body Dementia and Multiple System Atrophy, expressing heartfelt gratitude to fans for their support over the years.