Jack Russell of ’80s band Great White dies at 63

Jack Russell, the rock icon known as the former frontman of Great White, has died. He was 63.
A rep for Russell’s autobiographer K. L. Doty confirmed his death via email Thursday. Doty “was personally approached by Jack to write his story” and “in honor of Jack’s wishes, she will continue to be his voice,” wrote publicist Laura Orrico.
His death was also announced on his unverified Instagram page Thursday on behalf of his family, saying the singer was “loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life, and unshakable contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will forever thrive.” The family noted a public memorial is to be announced.
Publicist Olivia Reagle said via email Friday that Russell died in Southern California, surrounded by his family. The rock singer died from Lewy body dementia and multiple systems atrophy, which Russell referenced in announcing his retirement from the stage last month.
Los Angeles-based band Great White rose to notoriety in the late 1980s. The band is known for the platinum-selling albums “Once Bitten” in 1987 and “…Twice Shy” in 1989, and the singles “Rock Me” and “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” Current band members include Mark Kendall, Audie Desbrow, Michael Lardie, Scott Snyder and Brett Carlisle.
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The group disbanded in 2001 and took on the name Jack Russell’s Great White until 2006.
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Lewy body dementia is “one of the most common causes of dementia,” according to the National Institute on Aging. The disease involves abnormal protein deposits, or Lewy bodies, in the brain, which cause problems with movement, thinking, behavior and mood. There is no cure.
Multiple systems atrophy is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that causes people to lose balance and coordination, changes in speech and loss of bodily function control, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition, which has also been called Shy-Drager syndrome, shares symptoms with Parkinson’s disease.
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In 2003, during a performance in Rhode Island, the band’s pyrotechnics set nightclub The Station on fire, causing the death of 100 people, including guitarist Ty Longley, and injuring hundreds of others. The fire is the fourth worst nightclub fire in United States history, according to The Providence Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Sparks from the pyrotechnics ignited foam soundproofing that lined the club’s walls. Fueled by the flammable foam, the fire spread quickly, trapping many people inside.
At the time, Russell was among those blamed for the fire, but he was never charged. Daniel Biechele, the band’s road manager who triggered the pyrotechnics that sparked the fire, and the club’s owners, Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, were the only people ever charged, according to the Journal. Each pleaded to 100 counts of manslaughter, with Biechele pleading guilty and the Derderians pleading no contest. Biechele and Michael Derderian were sentenced to four years in prison, though each was released early. Jeffrey Derderian was sentenced to community service.
Lawsuits followed, totaling nearly $180 million.
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In 2013, as the 10th anniversary of the fire neared, Russell announced that he would host a benefit concert in California and donate the proceeds to a foundation that was seeking to build a memorial on the fire site, but officials of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation told Russell’s manager it did not want his money.
Great White remembered Russell on its unverified Instagram page Thursday. The band wrote that Russell’s “love for the fans and his sons went unmatched, as was his own love for rock music.”
“What do you say about someone that 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,” the statement continued. “All those wonderful years together will be held close to our hearts. Rest In Peace, to one of rock’s biggest champions.”
Contributing: Providence Journal staff reports