Great White Return to Stage
Two months after a fire at their Rhode Island show claimed nearly
100 lives, Great White will regroup to play a benefit for the
unborn child of late member Ty Longley. The thirty-one-year-old
guitarist was killed in February 20th fire, which was caused by
stage pyrotechnics.
The benefit, one of several worldwide, will take place April
29th at the Key Club in West Hollywood, California. The members of
Great White — Jack Russell, Mark Kendall, Eric Powers and Dave
Filice — will perform one as yet undetermined song.
“They’re all going through a tough time, obviously,” says Paul
Woolnough, the president of the band’s management company. “This
will probably be the hardest song any of them have ever
performed.”
Proceeds from the show will go to the Ty Longley Memorial Fund,
set up by Longley’s parents to provide financial support to the
child being carried by Longley’s girlfriend, Heidi, as well as
other victims’ families and arts scholarships. Also on the bill are
Eighties band XYZ and 5 Cent Shine, the group Longley was a member
of prior to joining Great White. Woolnough says that more national
acts will be added to the bill soon.
Great White members are also expected to be present, but not
necessarily perform, at an April 17th benefit at the Hard Rock Cafe
in Beverly Hills, California, which will benefit the Baby Longley
Fund, specifically for Longley’s unborn child. That show will
feature Happenin’ Harry and the Haptones, and Yuko Tamura,
keyboardist in the Jack Russell Band.
An April 19th U.K. concert benefiting the Longley and Rhode
Island Relief Funds is slated to feature a mix of original and
heavy metal cover bands. Among the groups expected to play are
Tygers of Pan Tang, Unleash, Blackfire, Tycho, In Extremis,
Super08, Oliver Dawson Saxon, Dirty DC (an AC/DC tribute band),
Stone Free (a Jimi Hendrix tribute), Ironically Maiden, Queen Rocks
and Fake No More.
Black Knight records is preparing a May release for an album
that will benefit the Ty Longley Memorial Fund called Ty
Longley: Regular Guy. Woolnough said the album will contain
two live Great White songs, an acoustic performance from frontman
Jack Russell, songs by 5 Cent Shine, and “Vacation,” the first song
Longley recorded for Regular Guy, which was to be his solo
debut.
Contributions can be sent to:
Ty Longley Memorial Fund
c/o City National Bank
400 N. Roxbury Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
The Baby Longley Fund
c/o First Midwest Bank
2300 Illinois Route 59
Plainfield, IL 60544