"Information and education is so important, and what happens following an unfortunate incident like this is people sit up and take notice and try to be cognizant of what it takes to be safe."

....Countless lives have been affected by the Station fire, not the least of them that of Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch, who was sworn in just 40 days before the fire.

"This has made me a little tougher," Lynch tells Billboard. "To stand in front of these people, some of them with horrific injuries, as a father, son, brother and a person, has been utterly painful. But it also deepens my resolve."

As for Great White, the band has continued touring following the fire, donating proceeds after expenses to the Station Family Fund, which has raised more than $70,000 for the families of fire victims.

"That's a pretty fair chunk of change for a band of our stature," Russell tells Billboard. "That's 41 shows in clubs, traveling in vans and staying in cheap motels. That part has been a good experience, and the fans have been great. I have a lot of respect for rock fans who have been coming out and supporting the fund."

In the Station case, three criminal indictments were issued in December, following a nearly 10-month investigation by a Rhode Island grand jury.

Former Great White tour manager Dan Biechele and club owners Michael and Jeffrey Derderian were each charged with 100 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter with criminal negligence and 100 misdemeanor counts of involuntary manslaughter. Each count of manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 30 years. All three pleaded innocent.

....The attorney general says he is seeking a "just penalty" if the defendants are found guilty. "And if they are found guilty, in my estimation a just penalty would include significant jail time."

....The grand jury conducted its investigation independently of the numerous tragedy-related lawsuits filed at the state and federal levels, many of which name the band.

Jurisdiction is still being determined in those cases. It is estimated that more than $1 billion in damages may result. It could take at least four years for all the civil suits to be settled. Such suits typically follow criminal cases in the courts.

Great White will continue to tour and raise money for the victims' families. To mark the anniversary, Russell says he'll go to church Feb. 20 "for the first time in probably 20 years. I'm going to pray for the families, victims and friends we lost. I hope as time goes by, we all find some peace."