LAMONT’S MUSIC NOTES-FEB 20, 2020…ON THIS DATE IN 2003, THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED AT A GREAT WHITE NIGHTCLUB APPEARANCE IN WEST WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND. ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE DIED WHEN PYROTECHNICS FROM THE BAND STARTED A FIRE AND IGNITED THE CLUB. GREAT WHITE GUITARIST TY LONGLEY WAS ALSO KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE TWO BROTHERS WHO OWNED THE CLUB WERE CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER, ALONG WITH THE GROUP’S FORMER TOUR MANAGER. THE FOAM SOUNDPROOFING AT THE EDGE OF THE STAGE CAUGHT FIRE, AND THE BLAZE SPREAD QUICKLY IN THE ONE STORY WOODEN BUILDING AS ALL THE FANS TRIED TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE SAME EXIT. APPROXIMATELY 200 SURVIVORS WERE BADLY BURNED, MAIMED OR PERMANENTLY DISFIGURED. GREAT WHITE STARTED A TOUR IN JULY 2003 TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE SURVIVORS AND FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS THAT LASTED UNTIL 2005, WHEN THE GROUP EVENTUALLY BROKE UP. THE GROUP IS NOW BACK TOGETHER AND TOURING.
HERE’S A GREAT ROCK SONG, GREAT WHITE AND ‘ROCK ME’