C.J. Snare, the renowned lead vocalist and co-founder of Firehouse, has passed away at the age of 64. The announcement of Snare’s demise was made by the band on Sunday (April 7) through a statement posted on Firehouse’s official Facebook page.
“Today is a sad day for Rock N Roll,” the message began. “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.”
The statement reveals that Snare, who was anticipated to resume touring this summer after recovering from abdominal surgery he had planned last fall, “passed unexpectedly” at his home on Friday night (April 5).
In October, Snare took to Instagram to inform fans about his surgery, expressing his determination to recover swiftly and return to the stage.
On March 27, Snare wrote,
“I’ll be back on stage with FireHouse before you know it. Health is first so making a FULL recovery before my return.”
“We are all in complete shock with CJ’s untimely passing,” the group wrote on Saturday, highlighting Snare’s vocal talent and noting he’d been on the road with FireHouse “non-stop the past 34 years.”
Following their signing with Epic Records in 1989, Firehouse achieved two top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the early ’90s with their power ballads “Love of a Lifetime” in 1991 and “When I Look Into Your Eyes” in 1992.
The statement released by Firehouse on Snare’s passing concluded with heartfelt condolences extended “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.”