Great White frontman planning documentary about tragic nightclub fire

Rocker Jack Russell is hoping to share his side of the story of the infamous Great White concert fire by making a documentary about the 2003 tragedy.
The group was onstage at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island 12 years ago, when its pyrotechnics show went awry and sparked a huge blaze, which left 100 people dead, including Great White guitarist Ty Longley.
The band’s tour manager, who set off the fiery effects without a permit, and the club’s owners all spent time behind bars for the fatal incident, while the remaining bandmembers agreed to pay $1 million (£625,000) to survivors and families of the victims of the blaze in 2008.
Russell, who never faced any charges, avoided issuing any kind of apology at the time of the tragedy as his lawyer feared it would imply guilt, but now he wants to try and make amends by opening up in a new film.
In an interview with Portland, Oregon radio station 105.9 The Brew, the singer reveals he still thinks about the fire every day and feels “survivors’ guilt”, explaining, “Why did I get to live and so many other people didn’t? I feel guilty for people coming to see me play and losing their lives. It’s really hard to deal with it.”
He continues, “It’s not like I had anything personally to do (with the fire). It was just a horrible accident.”
A release date for the project has yet to be announced, but Russell is hopeful the film will “get me some peace”.
However, Russell’s plans do not sit well with some relatives of those killed in the fire, including Jody King, whose brother Tracy was a bouncer at the club and perished in the blaze.
He tells The Associated Press, “I think it’s ruining all the positive strides that we’re now making to heal here in Rhode Island. If he wants to help, stay away, shut your mouth.”
The documentary news emerges two years after Russell was ordered to rename a benefit show in California to distance himself from a fund set up in memory of those who died. The singer had planned to donate proceeds from his gig to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, but his offer was rejected due to “resentment and animosity” still felt among the families and survivors.