Jill Janus | |
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![]() Janus in 2014 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Jill Janiszewski |
Also known as | Penelope Tuesdae |
Born | New York, U.S. | September 2, 1975
Died | August 14, 2018 Portland, Oregon, U.S. | (aged 42)
Genres | Heavy metal |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 1998–2018 |
Formerly of | Huntress, The Starbreakers, Chelsea Girls |
Jill Janus (née Janiszewski; September 2, 1975 – August 14, 2018) was an American singer who was the lead vocalist of heavy metal bands Huntress, The Starbreakers and Chelsea Girls.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Janus was born in the Catskills Mountains and practiced paganism throughout her childhood.[2] Growing up, she began singing opera before becoming interested in thrash metal as a teen.[3] For her post-secondary education, Janus attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.[4]
Career
[edit]Janus started her music career working as a topless disc jockey under the name Penelope Tuesdae.[5] She also worked in cabaret at the Windows on the World until the night before the September 11 attacks in New York.[3] In 2003, Janus began her career in metal as a member of Vexy Strut and remained with the band until 2006.[6] In 2009, she recruited members of the metal band Professor to join her newly formed band Huntress.[7]
With Huntress, she was the lead singer during the band's three studio albums, the last of which was Static in 2015.[8] In the fall of 2015, Janus announced to social media that Huntress was breaking up. She was later refuted by the band's guitarist Blake Meahl, citing her mental health issues.[9]
Apart from her albums with Huntress, Janus filled in for Amon Amarth's lead singer Johan Hegg during a 2015 co-tour with Huntress.[10] Janus's other projects outside of Huntress included membership of cover bands Chelsea Girls and The Starbreakers as their lead singer.[4] She also co-wrote Victory: The Rock Opera with guitarist Angus Clark.[8] Janus also recorded vocals for Brian Posehn's album Grandpa Metal, which was released in 2020, featuring her performances on the song "Goblin Love"[11] as well as a cover of "Take On Me", the latter of which was released in November 2019.[12]
Artistry
[edit]![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Huntress-Rock_im_Park_2014_by_2eight_3SC8080.jpg/250px-Huntress-Rock_im_Park_2014_by_2eight_3SC8080.jpg)
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.[13] With heavy metal, Janus listed Rob Halford, King Diamond and Jared Warren as a few of her favourite singers.[14] Janus said she had a four octave vocal range as a coloratura soprano.[2] 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.[3]
Personal life
[edit]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.[15] 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[16][17] and alcoholism.[15]
That same year, Janus underwent a hysterectomy after she was diagnosed with uterine cancer.[18]
Death
[edit]On August 14, 2018, Janus died by suicide near Portland, Oregon.[19] Although some sources claim she died at the age of 43,[20] she stated that she was born in September 1975,[15] making her 42 years old at the time of her death.[21]
Discography
[edit]With Huntress
[edit]- Studio albums
- Spell Eater (2012)
- Starbound Beast (2013)
- Static (2015)
- EPs
- Off with Her Head (2010)
- Eight of Swords (2011)
References
[edit]- ^ Shepherd, Jack (August 17, 2018). "Heavy metal singer Jill Janus dies aged 43". Independent. Archived from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
- ^ a b Hartmann, Graham (June 7, 2012). "Huntress' Jill Janus Talks 'Spell Eater,' Practicing Witchcraft + More". Loudwire. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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 (September 10, 2013). "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.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. 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.
- ^ Krovatin, Chris (February 4, 2020). "Brian Posehn Has Written The Mona Lisa Of Comedy Metal Albums". Kerrang.
- ^ Graff, Gary (February 6, 2020). "Comedian Brian Posehn Goofs on Scott Ian of Anthrax in 'Grandpa Metal': Premiere". Billboard.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c Friedman, Michael (September 17, 2015). "Jill Janus' New Beginning". Psychology Today. Retrieved August 17, 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 News. 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
[edit]Media related to Jill Janus at Wikimedia Commons
- Jill Janus at IMDb