Rodney shows up in Reno

[markgw]

Brian:

That's still a sore topic, even though it happened 11 years ago. If you read the Wiki article for it and view the Brian Butler video, you'll understand why.

BTW, I was actually planning to go to that show that Thursday night -- take the leisurely drive up to RI with some friends from work -- but work project commitments that week -- due by close-of-business the next day (Friday) -- prevented us. Noone could've guessed that was a blessing in disguise.

Anyway, you'll recall it was a sad, sad day.
-Sean

Thank you but actually it wasn't really Great White playing that night. The singer and I decided to take a break from Great White and go solo in 2001. I made a record with Dicky Sims from Eric Clapton and a few other guys and went on tour. My singer Jack Russell also made a solo band and went on tour. I was on a break and his manager called me to go out and help him because his ticket sales were weak. I was hired in his band as a sideman. He was calling his tour the Jack Russell "For You" tour before I arrived because his album was called For You. When I arrived he changed it to Jack Russell's Great White. I didn't know anyone in his band. They were using this cold spark effect at the beginning of his show.

Great White has never used pyro in our entire career to this day. We are a blues rock band, we have never been a KISS type band with a lot of smoke pots and whatever. We just use a lot of lights and play loud. Also when I came out he went from playing all solo music to Great White songs mixed with his solo songs. Then they had a show in Rhode Island. The club had this strange black foam on the wall that wasn't flame retardent. They were allowing pyro in the club from bands, as a KISS tribute band had played there 3 weeks prior, with the bass player breathing fire. The accident was waiting to happened in this building as we later found out they had what was equal to 13 gallons of gasoline on their walls, and they allowed smoking and bands to use pyro.

The reason people think the classic Great White line up was playing is because that's the story CNN ran with. It was actually Jack Russell's solo band with me hired to help tickets. No one in his band has ever written a Great White song or played on a Great White Record. I am close with all the surviving victims to this day and I will just say it was a horrible thing to witness...

 

[JAM]

Thank you but actually it wasn't really Great White playing that night. The singer and I decided to take a break from Great White and go solo in 2001. I made a record with Dicky Sims from Eric Clapton and a few other guys and went on tour. My singer Jack Russell also made a solo band and went on tour. I was on a break and his manager called me to go out and help him because his ticket sales were weak. I was hired in his band as a sideman. He was calling his tour the Jack Russell "For You" tour before I arrived because his album was called For You. When I arrived he changed it to Jack Russell's Great White. I didn't know anyone in his band. They were using this cold spark effect at the beginning of his show.

Great White has never used pyro in our entire career to this day. We are a blues rock band, we have never been a KISS type band with a lot of smoke pots and whatever. We just use a lot of lights and play loud. Also when I came out he went from playing all solo music to Great White songs mixed with his solo songs. Then they had a show in Rhode Island. The club had this strange black foam on the wall that wasn't flame retardent. They were allowing pyro in the club from bands, as a KISS tribute band had played there 3 weeks prior, with the bass player breathing fire. The accident was waiting to happened in this building as we later found out they had what was equal to 13 gallons of gasoline on their walls, and they allowed smoking and bands to use pyro.

The reason people think the classic Great White line up was playing is because that's the story CNN ran with. It was actually Jack Russell's solo band with me hired to help tickets. I am close with all the surviving victims to this day and I will just say it was a horrible thing to witness...

I'm pretty sure the American blues music community is a small one, similar to pool. I'm talking about straight blues players.

Have you ever heard or do you know the Nighthawks? Local band in my area They're kind of broken up now, with Mark being the only origial Nighthawk left. Man, they used to rock the house.

Nighthawks ---> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwjEKi0B5g8

 

[markgw]

Mark;

I don't know a lot about your band, Great White, its members and their history but I'm assuming this is the same band who were on stage when the terrible "Station" fire broke out in RI.

If that is the case, G-d bless you, man, along with all of the families and friends of the100 people who lost their lives in that incredible tragedy.

best,
brian kc.

I will just repeat the details for you to know the facts I told someone elses misconceptions Brian...

Actually it wasn't really Great White playing that night. The singer and I decided to take a break from Great White and go solo in 2001. I made a record with Dicky Sims from Eric Clapton and a few other guys and went on tour. My singer Jack Russell also made a solo band and went on tour. I was on a break and his manager called me to go out and help him because his ticket sales were weak. I was hired in his band as a sideman. He was calling his tour the Jack Russell "For You" tour before I arrived because his album was called For You. When I arrived he changed it to Jack Russell's Great White. I didn't know anyone in his band. They were using this cold spark effect at the beginning of his show.

Great White has never used pyro in our entire career to this day. We are a blues rock band, we have never been a KISS type band with a lot of smoke pots and whatever. We just use a lot of lights and play loud. Also when I came out he went from playing all solo music to Great White songs mixed with his solo songs. Then they had a show in Rhode Island. The club had this strange black foam on the wall that wasn't flame retardent. They were allowing pyro in the club from bands, as a KISS tribute band had played there 3 weeks prior, with the bass player breathing fire. The accident was waiting to happened in this building as we later found out they had what was equal to 13 gallons of gasoline on their walls, and they allowed smoking and bands to use pyro.

The reason people think the classic Great White line up was playing is because that's the story CNN ran with. It was actually Jack Russell's solo band with me hired to help tickets. I am close with all the surviving victims to this day and I will just say it was a horrible thing to witness...

 

[markgw]

Hi, Mark. I know Keith really enjoyed speaking with you. Please do let us know when you come to D.C. area. I'd love to see you play, and so would Keith. He says we never get past Whole Foods anymore. My 2007 Volvo only has 12,000 miles on it. :embarrassed2:

Man, I'd really enjoy seeing you jam. Lead guitarist. Wow! :happydance::happydance::happydance:

Haha that's funny Jenny, yes he had shared with me he doesn't get out that much, but you guys would enjoy coming down to a show. He told me some things to practice that would help my cueball consistency that I have never heard from anyone else before!! Shooting off the rail has never been my favorite thing but he told me something that I have never done before and it saved me in the Swanee tournament. I was down 5-1 and won 6-5 and my first shot back was off the rail which I would have normally dogged, but I did something different that I had been practicing that he taught me and it's brilliant!! I have also been running 50 balls every day and controlling the cueball so much better which is great for my straight pool practice runs.. He must be a very good instructor to be able to tell someone things on the phone and have their game go up a couple notches!! I love Keith and his willingness to help me with my game with information so valuable. Blessings to you both......Mark

 

[Rackemep]

HBO is putting on 36 hours of DEADWOOD starting March 15. "White C********R!

JoeyA

I love that scene....Who?...Woo? lol

 

[sfleinen]

I will just repeat the details for you to know the facts I told someone elses misconceptions Brian...

Actually it wasn't really Great White playing that night. The singer and I decided to take a break from Great White and go solo in 2001. I made a record with Dicky Sims from Eric Clapton and a few other guys and went on tour. My singer Jack Russell also made a solo band and went on tour. I was on a break and his manager called me to go out and help him because his ticket sales were weak. I was hired in his band as a sideman. He was calling his tour the Jack Russell "For You" tour before I arrived because his album was called For You. When I arrived he changed it to Jack Russell's Great White. I didn't know anyone in his band. They were using this cold spark effect at the beginning of his show.

Great White has never used pyro in our entire career to this day. We are a blues rock band, we have never been a KISS type band with a lot of smoke pots and whatever. We just use a lot of lights and play loud. Also when I came out he went from playing all solo music to Great White songs mixed with his solo songs. Then they had a show in Rhode Island. The club had this strange black foam on the wall that wasn't flame retardent. They were allowing pyro in the club from bands, as a KISS tribute band had played there 3 weeks prior, with the bass player breathing fire. The accident was waiting to happened in this building as we later found out they had what was equal to 13 gallons of gasoline on their walls, and they allowed smoking and bands to use pyro.

The reason people think the classic Great White line up was playing is because that's the story CNN ran with. It was actually Jack Russell's solo band with me hired to help tickets. I am close with all the surviving victims to this day and I will just say it was a horrible thing to witness...

Mark:

Thank you for the details about this. I know it must still be hard to this day to have to talk about or relive that terrible experience.

Concerning the bolded part above, just FYI (so you know), I was working for a company in Norwalk, CT, at the time, and the radio stations in CT were advertising that show as "Great White." And, in the Brian Butler video of the fire, you can plainly see that the signage outside the club (and on the handrail to the small walkway outside) bills the event as "Great White" as well. They didn't mention any of the name variations you mentioned above.

I was always a fan, and a couple of folks from my crew at work wanted to leave work early that day, and make the trip up to RI to be there for the show. There's no "misconceptions" about that fact. Perhaps about the band's name or line-up -- or how the media was advertising it -- sure. But any misconceptions with the way the media (and the Wiki article, for that matter) portray the events, you'll need to take up with those folks. I wasn't there.

Just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was portraying myself as some kind of authority on what happened. I was just a fan trying to round up some buddies to go see the show after work, but some looming deadlines prevented us from going. Thus, all we knew of the event is what was put out by the media.

Many condolences,
-Sean

 

[markgw]

Mark:

Thank you for the details about this. I know it must still be hard to this day to have to talk about or relive that terrible experience.

Just FYI, so you know, I was working for a company in Norwalk, CT, at the time, and the radio stations in CT were advertising that show as "Great White." And, in the Brian Butler video of the fire, you can plainly see that the signage outside the club (and on the handrail to the small walkway outside) bills the event as "Great White" as well. They didn't mention any of the name variations you mentioned above.

I was always a fan, and a couple of folks from my crew at work wanted to leave work early that day, and make the trip up to RI to be there for the show. There's no "misconceptions" about that fact. Perhaps about the band's name or line-up -- or how the media was advertising it -- sure. But any misconceptions with the way the media (and the Wiki article, for that matter) portray the events, you'll need to take up with those folks. I wasn't there.

Just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was portraying myself as some kind of authority on what happened. I was just a fan trying to round up some buddies to go see the show after work, but some looming deadlines prevented us from going. Thus, all we knew of the event is what was put out by the media.

Many condolences,
-Sean

Right, on all the flyers from all the venues it always said Jack Russell's Great White. Even the backdrop they were using had a giant banner of Jack's eyes on it. Our backdrops always say Great White on them. On their billboard from the station night club it just said Great White, so I can see why people get confused. All of our band members are upset because people think they were there, but they weren't. Regardless, I didn't know his band members but they seemed to be capable musicians. I'm sure CNN thought it would be a much bigger story to just say the classic Great White line up was playing instead of Jack Russell's solo band..I think the reason Jack couldn't sell tickets is because his music was so mellow our GW fans couldn't get used to the change.

 

[sfleinen]

Right, on all the flyers from all the venues it always said Jack Russell's Great White. Even the backdrop they were using had a giant banner of Jack's eyes on it. Our backdrops always say Great White on them. On their billboard from the station night club it just said Great White, so I can see why people get confused. All of our band members are upset because people think they were there, but they weren't. Regardless, I didn't know his band members but they seemed to be capable musicians. I'm sure CNN thought it would be a much bigger story to just say the classic Great White line up was playing instead of Jack Russell's solo band..I think the reason Jack couldn't sell tickets is because his music was so mellow our GW fans couldn't get used to the change.

Believe me, I hear ya, Mark. It's obviously a sticking point that the event was advertised the way it was. Attached, btw, is a screenshot from the footage for the benefit of others reading this, so they may know the mis-advertising that went on.

No matter how you look at it, it was a horrible day.

Again, condolences to you and yours,
-Sean

 

[takeitdown]

Isnt this the Rodney Morris bashing thread?

What gives?
Hoping Rodney takes down the SBE pro event...over 50 entered already.

 

[sfleinen]

Title: Isnt this the Rodney Morris bashing thread?
What gives?
Hoping Rodney takes down the SBE pro event...over 50 entered already.

Just some sidelining to water-down the bashing, 's all.

 

[markgw]

Believe me, I hear ya, Mark. It's obviously a sticking point that the event was advertised the way it was. Attached, btw, is a screenshot from the footage for the benefit of others reading this, so they may know the mis-advertising that went on.

No matter how you look at it, it was a horrible day.

Again, condolences to you and yours,
-Sean

Thanks Sean,

I'm sure these club owners felt that putting Great White on their billboard would help with the tickets, club owners can be shady. Yes it was horrible. Luckily for me I am able to fellowship with a lot of the surviving victims on a daily basis. Victoria Potvin and Todd King who started the Station Family fund foundation are my closest friends along with Mike Katz, Linda Fisher and many many other survivors. Even praying with my pastor on a daily basis couldn't help my healing process as much as fellowshipping with all my friends from RI. They are wonderful people...The only thing positive that has come out of this is nobody can get away with using non flame retardent foam on their walls for soundproofing in clubs, and safety is taken more seriously. When you have 4 exits and 2 are chained shut and locked you are not looking out for your customers safety. These days you won't see that happen.

 

[watchez]

MarkGW - I saw you guys play here in St Louis at the Ameristar Casino in their Blues Bar several years ago, when you opened up for Vince Neil. You guys were good, your lead singer can still hit the notes fair enough.
Vince sounded terrible, btw but my girlfriend is a huge Motley Crue fan so she still enjoyed the show.

 

[The Saw]

you stopped by Classic Billiards in Rochester many, many years ago. I played you for a couple of hours. Had to leave. You then played Roy Ruffin for a few hours more. Didn't make the connection till your post.

Lyn

I have heard this same story about Mark with different names and cities probably 15 times.... Mark is a road player disguised as a professional musician. Mark played Bartram once here in Columbus.

 

[The Saw]

MarkGW - I saw you guys play here in St Louis at the Ameristar Casino in their Blues Bar several years ago, when you opened up for Vince Neil. You guys were good, your lead singer can still hit the notes fair enough.
Vince sounded terrible, btw but my girlfriend is a huge Motley Crue fan so she still enjoyed the show.

Vince sounded bad in concert in the 80's......

 

[yobagua]

HBO is putting on 36 hours of DEADWOOD starting March 15. "White C********R!

JoeyA

Thanks Joey! I like the SAN FRANCISCO C*******er! I think they actually made t shirts out of those in SF and many wear them proudly!!!

 

[yobagua]

I saw you the other night on one of my FAVORITE shows: NCIS Los Angeles. You played the boss at the fish market, where there was a bombing.

Man, you really do get around, Yobagua! :wink2:

Yep! This week Im finishing up on a show called Franklin & Bash a TNT show that's been on for 4 years now. Whats great is I get to work with Malcolm McDowell who was the head villain in Clockwork Orange many years back.

 

[CJ Wiley]

Malcolm could make the best of us "dog it"

Yep! This week Im finishing up on a show called Franklin & Bash a TNT show that's been on for 4 years now. Whats great is I get to work with Malcolm McDowell who was the head villain in Clockwork Orange many years back.

'Clockwork Orange' - that brings back memories.....Malcolm could make the best of us "dog it" with that gaze of his

 

[PETROBOY]

I think Goggins' performance on Justified is one of the best performances in any role by any actor I have ever seen.

And that gaze... You're right. If he's not crazy in real life then he's an even better actor than I thought...

Did you see him in Sons of Anarchy he plays Venus Van Dam

 

[westcoast]

Yep! This week Im finishing up on a show called Franklin & Bash a TNT show that's been on for 4 years now. Whats great is I get to work with Malcolm McDowell who was the head villain in Clockwork Orange many years back.

A Clockwork Orange was a great movie. He played that role very well.

 

[sixpack]

Did you see him in Sons of Anarchy he plays Venus Van Dam

Yes I saw that. Another amazing performance. I didn't know him at all when I saw it. Then while SOA was on hiatus I watched all of 'Justified.' I didn't realize until I went back to SOA that it was him as well. Later still I watched 'The Shield' and he was amazing in that too. IMO he is really killing it on Justified.

I photographed an unknown model last year that I thought "If I was a national brand, she would be the face of it." And the other day I saw her on a billboard for a major retailer. GAP maybe??? Anyway...If I were filming a movie now, I would do whatever I could to get Walton Goggins in it. I know he's already had some great success but he is about to explode even bigger than he already has. (If he wants to).