Jill Janus

About Jill Janus

Jill Janus was the vocalist for the heavy metal band, Huntress.

Jill Janus née Janiszewski was an American singer and frontwoman of the heavy metal band Huntress (2009–2018), known for her powerful vocals, charismatic stage presence, and contributions to albums like Spell Eater (2012), Starbound Beast (2013), and Static (2015). She also performed with bands like The Starbreakers and Chelsea Girls earlier in her career. Originally from New York, she moved to Los Angeles, embraced the underground metal scene, and became a prominent figure in modern heavy metal, often advocating openly about mental health struggles (including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, and alcoholism). She was diagnosed with early-stage uterine cancer in 2015 but was declared cancer-free after treatment.
She died on August 14, 2018, at age 42 (some early reports listed 43 due to discrepancies in reported birth year) near Portland, Oregon. Consistent across reliable sources—including Wikipedia, People, BBC, Blabbermouth, Revolver, and statements from her band/family—her death was suicide. A longtime sufferer of severe mental illness, she took her own life; the band confirmed she "took her own life outside of Portland, Oregon" and urged fans to seek help for similar struggles. No specific method was publicly detailed in reports.