Great White's tearful return to the stage.

[hotforscott]

I got this news off of AOL, so I thought it was worth posting for anyone who would like the information!


WEST HOLLYWOOD, California (April 30) - Two members of the rock band Great White made a tearful return to the stage in their first public appearance since a fire killed 99 people at their concert in Rhode Island.

Guitarist Mark Kendall and lead singer Jack Russell played a somber rendition of the song ``Mother's Eyes'' off of their 1994 album ``Sail Away'' at the Key Club late Tuesday.

The pair expressed sorrow over the loss of their guitarist Ty Longley and the ``98 other Great White family members,'' who were killed in the Feb. 20 blaze at The Station nightclub in West Warick, Rhode Island.

``If this has taught me anything, it's how fragile and precious life really is,'' Russell said, stopping numerous times during the introduction to wipe tears from his eyes.

Earlier, attorney Ed McPherson, who represents the group, said that Great White would perform as part of a nationwide tour with other rock bands and donate their percentage of the profits to existing charities in Rhode Island.

``Their thoughts from the beginning have been, `What are we going to do to help the victims?' And the only thing they do is perform.'' McPherson said.

Investigators suspect the band's pyrotechnics ignited foam that had been placed on the club's walls for soundproofing. A grand jury is investigating.

Organizers of the latest concert said proceeds would be donated to a charity supervised by Longley's family and earmarked for a scholarship and trust fund for the 31-year-old musician's unborn child.

After reaching a career peak in 1990 with a cover of the Ian Hunter song ``Once Bitten, Twice Shy,'' Great White has performed mainly as a nostalgia act at smaller venues.

In addition to founding members Kendall and Russell, its current lineup includes bass player Dave Filice and drummer Eric Powers.

Hours before the Great White members were to perform, about 100 ticket holders, flanked by nearly a dozen reporters and photographers, milled about the club. Most said they came to honor the memory of friends who died in the blaze.

Duane Serfass, 30, of San Francisco handed out badges with a photo of his friend Jeff Rader, who he said escaped the club fire but died when he went back in to try to rescue his girlfriend.

``I just want to make sure that my friend is recognized,'' Serfass said.

04/30/03 08:09 EDT


Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

[Rune]

wow that's pretty sad


by the way, in your sig, what lawsuit are you referring to?

[Dogstar]

Thanks for posting that, Carrie.

[Lechium]

It is sad that only way a has-been like Great White can get attention is though a tragedy...

[Dogstar]

Yes, it is. That is forever how they will be remembered.

[Lechium]

Just like creed will be remebered for the lawsuit and stapps drunk acrobatics on stage that night haha

And this can be true actually.

[Dogstar]

Quote:

Originally posted by Lechium
Just like creed will be remebered for the lawsuit and stapps drunk acrobatics on stage that night haha

And this can be true actually.

I doubt it. Nobody friggin died.

[Lechium]

It's not about ho wmany people die, it's about how much hype does media produce.

[Dogstar]

Yeah, I know that. 98 people dying will draw a lot more media *hype* than a silly lawsuit about the drunken antics of a band's lead singer. We'll see what happens, but I really don't think in the scheme of things that this is going to be a permanent identifier of Creed, especially given the antics of other bands over the years. Now, if they drag this through the courts, that could be another story, but I think the jury is still out, so to speak, on the long-term impact of all of this.

[hotforscott]

Quote:

Originally posted by Rune
wow that's pretty sad


by the way, in your sig, what lawsuit are you referring to?

I guess there is really no need in answering this now, huh?
Dogstar and Lechium covered it quite nicely, LOL!

[Dogstar]

[Lechium]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dogstar
Yeah, I know that. 98 people dying will draw a lot more media *hype* than a silly lawsuit about the drunken antics of a band's lead singer. We'll see what happens, but I really don't think in the scheme of things that this is going to be a permanent identifier of Creed, especially given the antics of other bands over the years. Now, if they drag this through the courts, that could be another story, but I think the jury is still out, so to speak, on the long-term impact of all of this.

When 2 (i think) kids dided on The Who concert it made much mroe hype than 98 who died for Great White.

When US bombed Hospital and School in Yougoslavia almost a hundred of civilians on 4/20/1999 noone noticed that, instead media switched it's attention to Clumbine where much less people were killed. So it's not magnitude of the event it's if media wants to blow it out of proportion. Clinton cheated on his wife with one girl and people went all crazy. JFK did it with dozens and noone minded.

[Dogstar]

I work in the media, so I'm well aware of how it works. You can pick a gazillion examples to make either point. All I'm saying is, I don't think this one with Creed is going to be as big a deal as you think it will be. I don't remember the exact number of kids who died at the Who concert, but I think it was more than two. What gets hyped is done so in context with the times.