Thirty-three-year-old Pamela Gruttadauria died on May 4th at Massachusetts General Hospital of burns sustained at the February 20th fire during a Great White concert at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Gruttadauria was the 100th victim of the tragedy, which was triggered by the pyrotechnics display on stage. Also among the dead was a local radio station DJ and Ty Longley, Great White's guitarist. More than 200 fans were injured in the fire, though there is no official count as to how many remain hospitalized.

The day after Gruttadauria's death, bulldozers began to remove the remaining debris from the site of the fire.

Last week, Great White frontman Jack Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall gave their first performance since the tragedy, playing one song at a benefit for those who lost loved ones in the fire. The band is planning a fifty-five-date tour this summer with Warrant and L.A. Guns, with Great White's portion of the proceeds also going to families of those killed.

ANDREW DANSBY
(May 6, 2003)