Jill Janus
Jill Janus | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Jill Janiszewski |
Also known as | Penelope Tuesdae |
Born | New York City | September 2, 1975
Died | August 14, 2018 Portland, Oregon, U.S. | (aged 42)
Genres | Heavy metal |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1998–2018 |
Associated acts | Vexy Strut, Huntress, The Starbreakers, Chelsea Girls |
Jill Janus (born Jill Janiszewski, September 2, 1975 – August 14, 2018)[1] was the lead singer of American heavy metal bands Huntress, The Starbreakers and Chelsea Girls.[2]
Early life and education[]
Janus was born in the Catskills Mountains and practiced paganism throughout her childhood.[3] Growing up, she began singing opera before becoming interested in thrash metal as a teen.[4] For her post-secondary education, Janus attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.[5]
Career[]
Janus started her music career working as a topless disc jockey under the name Penelope Tuesdae.[6] She also worked in cabaret at the Windows on the World until the night before the September 11 attacks in New York.[4] In 2003, Janus began her career in metal as a member of and remained with the band until 2006.[7] In 2009, she recruited members of the metal band to join her newly formed band Huntress.[8]
With Huntress, she was the lead singer during the band's three studio albums, the last of which was Static in 2015.[9] In the fall of 2015, Janus announced to social media that Huntress was breaking up. She was later refuted by the band's guitarist citing her mental health issues.[10]
Apart from her albums with Huntress, Janus filled in for Amon Amarth's lead singer Johan Hegg during a 2015 co-tour with Huntress.[11] Janus's other projects outside of Huntress included membership of cover bands and The Starbreakers as their lead singer.[5] She also co-wrote Victory: The Rock Opera with guitarist Angus Clark.[9] Janus also recorded vocals for Brian Posehn's album Grandpa Metal, which was released in 2020, featuring her performances on the song "Goblin Love" as well as a cover of "Take On Me".
Artistry[]
Janus's musical influences ranged from rock to heavy metal. In rock, Janus named Ann Wilson as an influence while citing Freddie Mercury as one of her vocal inspirations.[12] With heavy metal, Janus listed Rob Halford, King Diamond and Jared Warren as a few of her favourite singers.[13] Janus said she had a four octave vocal range as a coloratura soprano.[3] While she was in Huntress, Janus stated that each Huntress album respectively focused on a part of her life. Janus based each of the Huntress' albums on a part of the Triple Goddess in neopaganism.[4]
Personal life[]
In 2015, Janus disclosed to Revolver that she was living with bipolar disorder since her early teens, and had made numerous suicide attempts, as early as age of 16.[1] She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 20, then later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Later in her life, she was experiencing dissociative identity disorder, schizophrenia[14][15] and alcoholism.[1]
That same year, Janus underwent a hysterectomy after she was diagnosed with uterine cancer.[16]
Death[]
On August 14, 2018, Janus died by suicide near Portland, Oregon.[17] Some sources claim she died at the age of 43,[18] though she said she was born in September 1975[1] making her 42 at the time.[19]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Friedman, Michael (September 17, 2015). "Jill Janus' New Beginning". Psychology Today. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ Shepherd, Jack (August 17, 2018). "Heavy metal singer Jill Janus dies aged 43". Independent. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hartmann, Graham (June 7, 2012). "Huntress' Jill Janus Talks 'Spell Eater,' Practicing Witchcraft + More". Loudwire. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Wise, Lauren (November 4, 2013). "Huntress' Jill Janus: I Despise The Glorification of Mediocrity in Metal". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "ALICE COOPER Guitarist NITA STRAUSS, HUNTRESS Singer JILL JANUS Join Forces in THE STARBREAKERS". Blabbermouth. February 9, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ Pasbani, Robert. "HUNTRESS' Jill Janus Used To Be A Topless DJ (NSFW)". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ "Huntress Frontwoman Jill Janus Has Died". Loudwire. August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ "JILL JANUS' Pre-HUNTRESS Demo Song 'Back From The Dead To Kill' Posted Online". Blabbermouth. January 6, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Payne, Chris (August 16, 2018). "Jill Janus, Vocalist of Metal Band Huntress, Dies at 43". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ Runtagh, Jordan. "Huntress Guitarist Denies Jill Janus' Announcement That The Band Is Breaking Up, Cites Her Mental Health Issues". VH1. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ "AMON AMARTH Joined By HUNTRESS Singer JILL JANUS At Plymouth Concert; Video Available". Blabbermouth. January 18, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Forman, Bill (December 23, 2015). "Head Huntress". Colorado Springs Independent. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ "Huntress Singer Jill Janus' Top 5: Vocalists". Metal Insider. June 3, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ "Exclusive Interview: Huntress' Jill Janus Discusses Her Lifelong Battle with Mental Illness and Recent Cancer Diagnosis". Revolver. July 16, 2015. Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ "Jill Janus' New Beginning". Psychology Today. September 17, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ Henne, Bruce (July 20, 2015). "Jill Janus fought cancer alongside depression". Metal Hammer. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ Fernandez, Alexia (August 16, 2018). "Jill Janus, Frontwoman of Heavy Metal Rock Band Huntress, Dies By Suicide at 43". People. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ "Jill Janus, singer of the metal band Huntress, dies at 43". Associated Press. August 16, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
- ^ Bellino, Vince (August 16, 2018). "Huntress Singer Jill Janus Dead at 42". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
External links[]
- Jill Janus at IMDb
- 1975 births
- 2018 deaths
- 2018 suicides
- 21st-century American singers
- 21st-century American women singers
- American female heavy metal singers
- People with bipolar disorder
- People with schizoaffective disorder
- People with schizophrenia
- Suicides in Oregon
- Singers from New York (state)
- People with dissociative identity disorder
- American Modern Pagans
- Performers of Modern Pagan music