Jack Russell, singer for and founding member of Great White, has died at age 63. The ‘80s hard rocker was performing with his version Great White at a nightclub in Rhode Island in 2003 when a pyrotechnics display ignited a fire. The blaze killed 100 people, including the band’s guitarist, Ty Longley, and ranks among the deadliest nightclub fires in U.
S. history. The Station fire is one of the worst nightclub disasters in U.
S. history Great White formed in Southern California in the early 1980s and went on to score hits with songs such as “Rock Me” and “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” The band broke up in 2001, but shortly after, Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall reformed the group with several new members.
The new band, performing under the name Jack Russell’s Great White, headlined a concert at The Station nightclub in Warwick, Rhode Island, on Feb. 20, 2003. The club had a maximum occupancy of just over 400, but 462 people were inside.
Shortly after 11 p.m., Great White began their set and the tour manager set off the band’s pyrotechnics.
The pyrotechnics ignited acousical foam near the stage, quickly setting the small club ablaze. Many concertgoers fled toward the exits. The main entrance to the club soon became blocked as people tried to escape.
Ultimately, 100 people died in the disaster and hundreds more were injured. More than 20 years later, The Station fire remains the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in U.S.
history. Jack Russell called The Station fire a �.