Great White Singer Jack Russell, 63, Dies of Lewy Body Dementia. Performed at the deadliest rock concert in the U.S.

Great White singer Jack Russell, who struggled in his career with drug and alcohol addiction, has died of Lewy Body Dementia. He was just 63.

Sadly, Russell was perhaps best known for the deadliest rock concert in the U.S. (a 2003 fire at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, RI), which killed 100 people and left 200 people seriously injured after a fire caused by pyrotechnics set off by Great White.

"I watched this live on CNN as it happened in 2003 and have watched every single video on The Station nightclub, including reading one of several books on the event. Jack Russell and Great White contributed all of 1 million dollars and denied any wrongdoing. I am still haunted by this event to this day," one man posted to X.com.

In 2006, he began touring with the official Great White band when they reformed with their classic lineup, but left the band in 2009 due to a fall in his bathroom where he cracked two vertebrae and herniated a disc. He had multiple back surgeries and was using a plethora of pain medication. Having fallen into alcoholism, the sudden death of his good friend Jani Lane of Warrant, propelled him to get help and become sober.

Fully recovered, he started touring again as Jack Russell's Great White in December 2011 to avoid confusion with the still-touring official Great White band which had continued onward in 2009 with a different singer following Russell's departure.

In 2012, Russell guest-starred on VH1 Classics "That Metal Show", where he revealed his side of the Great White story, and how he was feeling well and ready for more.

In 2017, Jack Russell's Great White released their first album titled He Saw It Comin'.

In August 2021, Jack Russell's Great White released a sequel to Great White's 1998 tribute album to Led Zeppelin titled Great Zeppelin II: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin. In July 2021, a cover of "Whole Lotta Love" was released.

In January 2024, Russell released a collaboration album with L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns, titled Medusa. This was Russell's final studio recording before his retirement and death.

On July 17, 2024, Russell announced that he was retiring from touring and disclosed that he was suffering from Lewy body dementia.

Nearly a month after announcing his retirement, Russell died on August 15, 2024, at the age of 63.