Great White frontman Jack Russell has been talking about his band's decision to carry on touring following the tragic fire at a Rhode Island club earlier this year where one of Russell's band mates and 100 of his fans were killed after pyros caused a massive blaze. The tour has been staged to raise money for the Station Family Fund, which supports those injured in the fire and the families of those who died.
Russell: "It's not about Great White. It's something much, much bigger. This
is the sole purpose of Great White right now. It makes each second on stage
matter. What's important is helping these people out."
His comments followed criticism from the families of some of those killed. One of those family members - Charles Sweet, the father of 28-year-old fire victim Shawn Sweet - told reporters this week: "I think they they're trying to protect their own rear end by being the nice guy … but it's not Jack Russell coming down to visit the gravestones of my son and his beautiful girlfriend. It's me and my wife."
A grand jury is still investigating the fire to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. The band claim the venue was aware of the pyrotechnics the band use in the show and that they weren't alerted of any fire safety concerns. The venue's owners deny any knowledge of the pyros blaming the actions of the band for the fire.
Via: CMU
Article comments
1 - TDavid
It was 1984 when I first saw Great White on the ticket with Judas Priest. Their first album had some punch, but then they became a bit too much of a clone of Zeppelin (they even covered a full album of Zep tunes) instead of staying with their early rock roots.
This fire was a huge, terrible, negligent act, but what are they supposed to do while the legal system figures out liability? Not tour any more? Not do anything for their fans and/or lost loved ones?
As for the comment about Jack Russell not visiting the grave site? How can he if he is out on tour? That comment doesn't make much sense.
Death is a sad thing, especially when it comes a knockin' over an event like this, but I personally like the idea that they are not sitting around grieving (or hiding), they are out trying to do something positive for those affected by this horrible event.
2 - Dennis
I have been a musician for nearly 26 years of my 36 year old life. I have enjoyed the music and personalities of the band members of Great White for nearly 2 decades. I met them in 1989 in Indianapolis before a "Monsters of Rock " show. I was so blown away with their tour with Whitesnake in 1986, I made it a point to learn all of their music ( I play Guitar and sing) that I have followed them since. At the time, they were on top of the world with the release of Once Bitten, and I got back stage to meet Jack and Mark... both were complete gentlemen, and they sure acted sincere about the fact of meeting a dedicated fan such as myself, while other bands were so into all of the other shit that give bands a bad name, they were very concerned about their music, and not their fucking spandex or hair spray, like other bands of the era.I was amazed about the fact they were genuinely concerned to meet me and were concerned of my views of them and thei music!
It is a great tragedy what happened in Jersey, but you know, that could have happened anywhere to anyone... It is a business that you have to be flashy, and they always rock their ass-off on stage ( I have witnessed their greatness on stage so many times I have lost count), From the big arenas, to the small local settings),they have always have been about the fans... So to say they are being commercial in this time of dispair is completely untrue! Great White has always, and will always be about their fan base... For a great and breif time, it was most of the rock-audience-world, but for all of us dedicated fans that have been here from the beginning, we support them and their efforts to help those heal from this tragedy. Death is never an easy thing to accept, but to place blame on the band is not fair or ethical... Managers and booking agents are well aware of tactics used in a show to excite the crowd... It is not the place of the band to check fire-codes, or the structure of the establishment they are booked to entertain... that is a criteria of the owners of the etablisment, and the checks that the local fire marshals must complete PRIOR to booking bands who use such antics to excite the crowd... point-blank, spit-balls... the Managers of the band and establishment are the ones to blame for any negligence... I have known the members of this band long enough to know that they would never play ANYWHERE, where the safety of their fans was placed into jeopardy... Accidents never leave everyone happy, but everyone learns a lesson from the outcome... and so have Great White... leave 'em alone and let them continue to do what they do best...Rock!!!
Sincerely..DJP....
3 - Andrew Ian Dodge
Well said mate, very well said.
4 - DJP is Nuts
Dear DJP,
Dont bother to talk about this subject if you can even get the location of the tragedy correct! Come on?? Jersey?? Jersey?? This didnt happen in frikin Jersey!
Rhode Island man, Rhode Island!