FireHouse frontman C.J. Snare has died, aged 64, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
The musician sadly passed away “unexpectedly” at home on April 5, with the news coming as a huge shock to remaining members of the American rock band, as he was planning to return to the stage this summer after recovering from colon cancer surgery.
The group – comprising Bill Leverty, Michael Foster, Allen McKenzie, and Nate Peck – dubbed Snare “one of the best vocal talents of a generation” and said the world has lost a “rock and roll warrior”.
In a statement on social media, his surviving bandmates announced: “Today is a sad day for Rock N Roll.
It is with great sorrow we are letting the world know we have lost our brother: CJ Snare, the rock and roll warrior, lead vocalist, and a founding member of Firehouse.
CJ snare passed unexpectedly at home Friday night, April 5, 2024. He was a young 64 years old.
As you are all aware, CJ was expected to be back on stage with the band this summer after recovering from surgery.
We are all in complete shock with CJ’s untimely passing.
CJ was was arguably one of the best vocal talents of a generation, touring the world with Firehouse non stop the past 34 years.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Snare family, Katherine Little, friends, and all our beloved fans all over the world.
“Reach for the Sky” CJ! You will be forever missed by family, friends, fans and your band mates. You’re singing with the angels now. (sic)”
In her own heartbreaking statement, his widow, Katherine Little, revealed her spouse went for a second opinion about his devastating diagnosis, and he underwent a “life-saving” operation in 2021.
Unfortunately, he started having “more issues” and had to have another surgery in October 2023, and his widow admitted it left him “unable to live a full life”.
She wrote on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart that I write this and it’s extremely difficult to find the right words. CJ left this world on Friday, April 5th. I’ve had 8+ wonderful years with this man and I love him to his core.
In September of 2020, CJ was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. His initial prognosis was grim, but that didn’t stop him. We went for a second opinion and in September of 2021, he had a life-saving operation that gave us these last years with him. He was so incredibly positive during this whole disease. He was so strong. He never lost hope. All he wanted was to be the CJ that you all know and love. Last spring, he started having some more issues and he had another surgery in October 2023. This last surgery left him very weak and unable to live a full life. I’ve been by his side from day 1 and I would have never given up on him.
CJ leaves behind three wonderful children that are all so very special to me. Life will never be the same. I’m not ready to face this. There is so much to say but words are incredibly difficult right now. Please respect our family during this time of grief and keep us in your thoughts. (sic)”
Snare joined FireHouse in 1987, and they had glam rock hits such as ‘Love of a Lifetime’, ‘All She Wrote’, and ‘When I Look Into Your Eyes’ in the early 90s.
Together with his bandmates, he recorded seven studio albums from their 1990 self-titled LP to 2003’s ‘Prime Time’.