FireHouse Singer C.J. Snare Dead at 64

Meghan Roos
·2 min read
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Vocalist CJ Snare of Firehouse performs during the 'Rock Never Stops' Tour at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater on July 7, 2005, in Pompano, Fla.

C.J. Snare, the singer and co-founder of the hard rock band FireHouse, has died, according to a statement the band released on Sunday, April 7. He was 64.

Snare died “unexpectedly” while at his home on Friday, April 5, according to a statement FireHouse shared on Facebook. His daughter, Heather, told TMZ that the singer died of cardiac arrest following a months-long cancer battle.

Snare co-founded FireHouse in the mid-1980s. In addition to his role as the band’s frontman, Snare also wrote many of the group's songs. He penned "Don't Treat Me Bad,” "Love of a Lifetime” and "When I Look Into Your Eyes,” all of which went on to become hits for FireHouse in the early 1990s, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.

In September 2023, Snare announced on Instagram that he was taking a break from performing with FireHouse “because of doctor’s orders” as he underwent abdominal surgery. By late October, he announced the surgery was over and it was “time to recover and get back to the stage!”

In the months that followed, Snare shared throwback photos and videos on social media from earlier times with the band as he continued recovering from surgery. He was still in recovery as of mid-February 2024, but told fans he would see them “later this year.”

“I’ll be back on stage with FireHouse before you know it,” Snare said in another Instagram post on March 27. "Health is first so making a FULL recovery ❤️‍🩹 before my return.”

Following Snare’s death on April 5, FireHouse told fans that he "was expected to be back on stage with the band this summer after recovering from surgery.”

The band is "in complete shock with CJ's untimely passing,” FireHouse’s statement said. ”CJ 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,” the statement continued. ‘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.”

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