Great White's tour will not include stops in New England because of criticism from families of the victims of The Station fire.

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, September 24, 2003

PROVIDENCE (AP) -- Seven months after a nightclub fire that will be associated with their band's name, members of Great White are still trying to make amends.

"It's not about Great White. It's something much, much bigger. This is the sole purpose of Great White right now. It makes each second on stage matter," lead singer Jack Russell said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press. "What's important is helping these people out."

As the band has continued to tour, Great White has donated $37,000 from more than a dozen shows to The Station Family Fund, according to fund president Victoria Potvin. The nonprofit organization was created to benefit victims' families and survivors of the Feb. 20 blaze at The Station nightclub in West Warwick.

Great White started its set that night with a shower of pyrotechnics, leading to the nation's fourth-deadliest nightclub fire. The blaze killed 100 people -- including guitarist Ty Longley -- and injured nearly 200 others.

On the current tour, the band is dealing with renewed fame. But reporters are banging on their hotel room doors to talk about the fire, not the music.

Still, Russell said, touring is the right thing to do. "And if I have to take some heat from some people," he said, "then I'm willing to do that."

Such heat comes from Charles Sweet, the father of 28-year-old fire victim Shawn Sweet. He says the benefit tour is a feel-good tactic by the band to divert bad press.

"I think they're trying to protect their own rear end by being the nice guy," Sweet said. "It's not Jack Russell coming down to [visit] . . . the gravestones of my son and his beautiful girlfriend. It's me and my wife."

Despite the band's sizable following in southern New England, plans for a show in the region have twice been foiled by criticism from family members of victims.

Since the fire, and against the advice of his lawyers, Russell continued touring -- partly for the charity and partly as therapy.

A grand jury is investigating the fire to determine whether criminal charges are warranted. Atty. Gen. Patrick Lynch has said band members have been cooperating.