Farewell Brian Jack, Singer of Child's Play

Brian Jack, Child's Play singer from 1984 - 1991, has died. So far, no details about the death are publicly known.

John Allen, now the singer of Charmed City Devils and formally the drummer for Child's Play, posted on his personal Facebook page about Brian's death.

"I am completely shocked and saddened by the death of Brian Jack. He was one of the most gifted, charismatic artists I have ever had the pleasure of sharing the stage with. He along with the rest of the guys were the brothers I never had. I will miss him incredibly."

Child's Play released Rat Race in 1990. Let's rock out to some Child's Play in honor of Brian today!

Comments

[Rock-It]

I'm so glad that I went to the Child's Play reunion show last December. I knew that it may have been my last chance to see them again.. but I didn't expect this.

This is not at all official... But from talking to a Baltimore area musician friend who was in a band with Brian, I heard that the preliminary cause of death is a heart attack... THIS ISN'T BY ANY MEANS OFFICIAL.

R.I.P. Brian...

[Kenny Ozz]

Sad day, indeed. :-(

[Metalboy!]

Aw, Geez. What next in this crazy and often tragic Rock and Roll World we have all chosen to live in.

I must a seen Child's Play like 20 times from '83 to '89, all "up in the 'Dena", otherwise known as Pasadena, Maryland, stomping grounds for band's like Child's Play, just around 20 minutes or so from Baltimore. The Seagull Inn, The Sandbar and Network all showcased Childsplay on a more than regular basis.

These guys were always giving KIX a run for their money on the local scene. I'll never forget when Child's Play finally got a big record deal with a major. It really was "Local Boys Make Good" with the release of their seminal album, "Rat Race".

God Bless ya, Bri. Godspeed. What a talented showman and singer. Rock On!

[Metalboy!]

A.L. Gators was another joint they ruled.

[KixRules]

This is really horrible news, especially for the Baltimore rock community. Brian, when on, was one of the best front men i have ever scene and certainly along with Steve Whiteman, one of the best to ever come out of Baltimore. Cannot believe the December reunion show in Baltimore was the last time i will ever see him or Child's Play again. Very sad day indeed. If anyone is in Baltimore this weekend, they should go to the Charm City Devils show at the Recher in Towson where CCD will dedicate the show to Brian. RIP Brian!

[Kari]

I was so hopeful for the chance to see Child's Play. I listened to RAT RACE like CRAZY!!!!

DAY AFTER NIGHT AFTER NIGHT AFTER DAY...IT'S MY BOTTLE, IT'S MY WHIKSY IF I WANT I'LL DRINK IT ALL...LONG TIME PUNCHES KNOCK THE WIND OUT OF ME...

WHAT A ROCKIN' ALBUM!!

Very sorry to hear this news!

[KixRules]

Kari it is/was a great rock album that should have been a huge commercial success...sorry you will never get to see them live now.

[-T]

I've seen Childs Play many many times always a good show. Brians solo stuff was very good also. He brought me both of his solo cds to a bar in Canton one night and they really show how good of a writer and singer he was. I remember plenty of nights at The Horse You Came In On and other bars in Canton seeing him do his acoustic shows they were always a good time and he would always throw Wind and My Bottle in to his acoustic set. -T

[Mike]

I really dug the Rat Race album. RIP

[Metalboy!]

Again, my heart goes out to Brian and his family.

p.s. One thing I've always felt may have contributed to the lack of commercial success for "Rat Race" was the horrible cover art with the exception of the typography of their logo, which I always thought was very clever.

[Cory Shredz]

Such a sad loss, R.I.P Brian you will be missed by many!!! Such a great talent!!!!

Truly dissapointed and wish I could of had the chance to catch them live but I will always imagine it when that records spinnin' up there on my shelf!

Rock on brotha' there aint no others like ya!!
\m/

[Metalboy!]

For those who never saw Child's Play with Brian Jaclyn fronting... He was the consummate frontman, loud, strutting up and down the stage all hyper like an 80's Jagger or Tyler, cajoling the audience AND the band with lots of call and response.

He would really get this going performing the song "Rat Race". When you listen to the studio version, you hear him and then guitarist Jimmy Shafer doing the call and response thing.

Well imagine that live with he and Jimmy doing that for awhile and then the whole thing getting whipped up into such a frenzy, you had Jack then holding the mike out to the audience, his hand cupped to his ear with Shafer crankin' it out while at the same time bowing his head down, spinning his hair into a giant brunette wheel of fortune like a stripper does (sorry, ladies).

All this happening while the drummer's bashing away and the bassist is thumpin' it up! It looked like a three ring circus with Brian as the ringmaster and the crowd, especially the chicks, just went wild.

He was a real pro and coulda stolen all our girlfriends and in many cases, most assuredly did!

RIP, Brian!

[Damnp78]

Such a sad day for Childs Play, Baltimore, and the rest of the music industry. RIP...

Hey Kix, Surf City is doing a photo mantage to Brians music tonight at 9pm, I believe.

[Rock-It]

The guy who owns Surf City booked Child's Play all the time at A.L. Gators. I ran into Bob at the Child's Play show last December. Again... so glad I travel to Baltimore for that Child's Play show in December of 2011.

[SoSad]

tribute videos and other nice things at a R.I.P. Brian Jack page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/RIP-Brian-Jack-Childs-Play/212540735522981