Station nightclub fire
Main article: The Station nightclub fire
The band returned to the national spotlight on 20 February 2003. At the beginning of a Great White performance at The Station night club in Rhode Island, pyrotechnics used by the band's crew created a spray of sparks that ignited the foam soundproofing material in the ceiling around the stage. One hundred people including the band's guitarist Ty Longley, died in the fire that followed. In 2008 the band agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and victims' relatives of the fire while admitting to no wrongdoing.[14] This amount also covers former tour manager Daniel Biechele along with the band members, record label, and management as it existed at the time of the fire.[14] The settlement was the maximum allowed under the band's insurance plan.[14] Victims had previously received $3.8 million raised by United Way of America.[15]
Though the media referred to the band as "Great White" following the tragedy in Rhode Island, the band was officially performing under the moniker of "Jack Russell's Great White" at the time of the incident.[16] In fact, prior to the fire, the band's official website posted a message stating that Great White had not re-formed.[17] It's unclear when the band began officially going by "Great White" again.
Great White played their first full show following the Rhode Island tragedy on 22 July, starting a benefit tour for the survivors and victims of the fire.[18] The band toured until 2005 to raise funds for the Station Family Fund, which had been set up to help the victims of the tragedy. In late 2005, citing "medical reasons", the band canceled the second half of their summer tour.
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