Great White Raise Funds...But Not For Fire Victims
By
Newsferatu,
Writer
Thursday, January 4, 2007 @ 10:15 AM
Harp Seal Fundraiser
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From BostonHerald.com reporter Dave Wedge:
Aging rockers Great White are kicking off a reunion tour in Los Angeles later this month, but they’ll be raising money to save harp seals in Canada, not to help the hundreds of victims burned when the band’s pyrotechnics sparked a deadly nightclub blaze in Rhode Island three years ago.
“I think if you’re in the band Great White and you’re talking about charitable endeavors, I don’t see how you look past the victims of the Rhode Island fire,” said Steven Minicucci, an attorney who represents dozens of people injured in the 2003 blaze at The Station in West Warwick, R.I.
The ’80s nostalgia act is finishing a new album and embarking on a tour with its original lineup to mark its 25th anniversary. The reunited band’s first show is a Janurary 27th benefit at Hollywood’s Key Club to raise money for Harpseals.org, a nonprofit dedicated to ending Canadian seal hunting, according to the group’s website.
The new tour comes as the Station Family Fund has run dry after handing out $800,000 to victims’ families for housing costs, medical bills and other expenses. Fund president Victoria Potvin, who escaped the blaze, said the account is empty and the fund is “defunct,” leaving some victims helpless.
“There are people who are going to need assistance for the rest of their lives,” Potvin said.
She said Great White has given about $75,000 but hasn’t donated any money since December 2003. Of the new tour, she said: “Great White has no relevance in my life. I don’t care what they do with their time.”
Donald Latulippe of Carver, whose son, Dale, died in the blaze, called the band’s new tour a “pathetic” publicity stunt. “I wish they’d disband,” he said.
James Gahan of Falmouth, whose son Jimmy died in the fire, said he opposes the tour if proceeds are not going to the victims.
“They have given some minor help, but if they ignored the victims, I’d have a problem with that,” Gahan said.
Great White publicists did not return calls, and attempts to reach band members were unsuccessful. In a 2005 interview with The Desert Sun, a California newspaper, Great White vocalist Jack Russell said raising money for the fund was “the only reason” he woke up each day.
“If not for the Station Family Fund, I don’t know if this band would ever tour again,” he said.
Great White toured eight months after the blaze that killed 100 but canceled a Massachusetts gig after complaints from local victims. The band last toured in 2005.
nwo123 - 1/14/2007 8:56:15 AM hey phry,ever check out doctor demento?? was a syndicated radio program when i was a kid(1980's) that's where i first heard the song.
phry - 1/14/2007 6:53:45 AM nwo123: I love that song/ video. The video appears as if to be made by grade five students...a classic.
nwo123 - 1/14/2007 5:41:56 AM fish heads,fish heads,rollie pollie fish heads,fish heads,fish heads, eat them up yummmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!
The_Space_Lord - 1/13/2007 8:46:33 AM I thought the Station Family Fund wanted to disassociate itself from Great White for some time anyway following the verdict in the trial that exonerated the band. Or did I hear that wrong?
CROOKEDCROSS - 1/11/2007 3:27:21 PM he is dead... dipshit and so is spot... hahahahahahaha
Blobber - 1/11/2007 3:00:45 PM Go see Cal? I though he was fucking dead...anyway, I hope all Great White fans get what they deserve.
CROOKEDCROSS - 1/11/2007 2:38:05 PM Cal fuckingworthington.. and his dog Spot! fuck man.. I havent heard that shit since the late 70's bro.. Classic RANT LUNG.. simply classic.. hahahahahahahaha
\m/
Leather_Lung - 1/11/2007 2:20:24 PM revlonred, huh? sounds hookerish... me like it... me like it a lot! >:)
revlonred - 1/11/2007 9:40:42 AM Blaming the Band is about the Stupidest thing I ever heard, It was a God Awful tragedy but it sure wasn’t the bands fault, they lost Ty and a lot of other close friends, Maybe before placing blame some of the folks quoted here should educate themselves.
BEWARNEDofmagor - 1/11/2007 7:14:04 AM Warning. magor is a idiot; a complete dysfunctional. If you happen across this individual be advised he is in need of mental help, and possibly off his meds--yet again. He is highly illogical and loves to hear himself babble, as he has basically no life. Please keep this in mind as you forge thru his epic-length rants of paranoia, half-truths, hearsay, conjecture, speculation and innuendo. This ‘thing’ is highly caught up in his dialectical myopia, and simply can’t be reasoned with. Keep this in mind as you venture forth into his warped little world.
gwfan4life - 1/11/2007 6:34:05 AM It sounds like there are a lot of facts that were left out of this story. The band agreed to donate all of the profits from an entire tour to this fund, which they did - 100% of the profits ! Jack Russell even wore a Station Family Fund t-shirt on stage every night and auctioned them off for the fund at the end of each show. The charity parted ways with the band in 2005 (not the other way around) because they wanted to go the corporate route, and they were afraid that the involvement of the band might hinder their efforts in some way. Great White agreed to part ways but offered their lifetime support and said they would assist the charity in any way they could, anytime. This charity is still raising funds for the families whose loved ones died in the nightclub fire, and they will continue to do so for a long time. Great White has done more for the charity and those families than anyone could have ever expected. And as far as this band being considered an "80s nostagia act," it should be mentioned that they have produced more than fifteen albums in their 25 year span, and they have not only achieved mainstream success in the U.S., but are still widely known in Europe, Japan and South America.
coniglius - 1/10/2007 3:08:05 PM They should have attendees fill out 'pain waivers' ala Dethklok.
Leather_Lung - 1/10/2007 1:24:32 PM just like cal worthington (and his dog spot) said: i'll club a baby seal to make a better deal...
stone_phillips - 1/10/2007 10:26:40 AM Great White? Seriously? OMG, even the fire couldn't stomach these creeps. Lick...my...balls...
scrapmetal - 1/10/2007 6:16:26 AM Magor,Magor,Magor Im going to be merciful on you here since I live in New England & you supposedly reside in Europe (in your mind perhaps?): Mike Gonsales was the dj from WHJY in Providence,RI who had the longest running heavy metal radio show in AMerica.He perished in the fire & his on the air handle was Dr. Metal.ANd BTW,he & I used to host a heavy metal night in a Boston nightclub that couldve easily had the same tragedy occur if we hadnt forbidden all pyro.So now maybe you understand my disgust & outrage at all the tasteless jokes posted on this site every time the Station fire is mentioned.
