It is with a sad heart that we write this article. One of Lebanon’s earliest Rock and Metal voices passed away. Jack Khatchadourian, mainly known by his stage name BIG JACK, just closed his final chapter on Earth on July 25.
About Big Jack
For those who don’t know, Big Jack fronted one of the earliest Rock/Metal bands in Lebanon back in the late 70’s called “Electric Warriors“. The band went above and beyond by creating the first generation of Rock and Metal scene in Lebanon. Jack was known for his strong vocal abilities and stage charisma and as a great guitar technician. He inspired a whole generation of vocalists who followed his path between the 80s and 90s and still they resonate until today. A true Legend.
Other than being an inspirational Lebanese musician, Big Jack was also known for his humanitarian activities. From a young boy scout, having his guitar on his back spreading joy and doing all kinds of charity work, to a young man using his own Renault 12 station wagon car as an ambulance during the civil war. Jack was a real life super hero.
Eddy: Lead guitar | Ramsey: Drums & percussion | Souhail: Bass guitar | Big Jack: guitar & lead vocal
Electric Warriors
After the band’s inception in the late 70’s, Electric Warriors became a household name in the Lebanese scene. They sold out theaters and became one of the first bands, if not the very first band, to use special effects on stage in Lebanon. Of those legendary concerts were the multi-day shows at La Cite, Jounieh in 1983. The shows were spread into 4 days, from 27 to 30 of December that year.
Check out below some photos from the golden age of Rock and Metal in Lebanon. The photos below are from Electric Warriors from several eras of the band’s life and their shows in 1983 at La Cite Jounieh.
Electric Warriors Gallery
After Electric Warriors
After Electric Warriors went into hiatus in the early 90s, Jack then went into a solo career and worked on a lot of side projects. The most notable was the 2004 song “Rise for the Genocide” by A.R.G.F. that featured many local musicians as a local All-Star song in the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. (Video Below)
In the year 2010, Electric Warriors did a reunion in an attempt to revive the band. They had a show later on in 2011 at FreeWay Center in Sin El Fil with Christian Metal band TAKWEEN.
After that, Big Jack went on to form a new band, MARANATHA, a Christian Heavy Metal band, with the youth of his church. In September 2016, he shared his excitement with us that Maranatha will be releasing a full-length. “Soon we have a surprise for everyone. New album release of MARANATHA. Christian metal group followed by a concert”- Says Jack to Metal Bell in 2016.
This news was great for us since Jack was out of the spotlight for many years at the time.
Unfortunately, only few months later, in December that year, Khatchadourian was hospitalized but soon recovered and went back to his home only days later. After that incident, the news of a New Album from the Legendary vocalist were gone.
Big Jack is the father of Chris Khatchadourian, the vocalist of the theatrical Rock band In Sanity Q. The band also shares Electric Warriors’ drummer extraordinaire Ramsey Khattar.
The Metal Bell family would like to send its condolences to Jack’s family and friends.
BIG JACK ROCK IN PEACE \\m//
- We would like to thank Ramsey Khattar for the information he shared with us about Big Jack, in order for us to complete this article.
Want to join Metal Bell? We are looking for authors, photographers, and designers.
Send an email to: JOIN US.
What do you think? Leave a Comment.
