Great White Guitarist Among the Dead, Radio Personality Still Missing

02/24/2003 7:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Darren Davis

(2/24/03, 7 a.m. ET) -- Among the 97 people dead in the fire at the Great White show in Rhode Island on Thursday night (February 20) is Great White guitarist Ty Longley, who had been with the band since 2000. Also feared dead is WHJY radio personality Mike Gonzalves (also known as Dr. Metal), who introduced the band at the radio station-sponsored event.

Longley was not an original member of Great White, and he had played in a number of other bands, including the touring band of former Megadeth drummer Nick Menza. He also was in Samantha 7, the punkish side-band of Poison guitarist C.C. DeVille. Longley joined Great White in 2000.

After the current Great White tour ended, Longley had planned to move in with his pregnant girlfriend Heidi.

Gonzalves was the host of a specialty show on WHJY in Providence, and was at the show to introduce the band. WHJY has suspended all special programming and promotions and is focusing on doing what it can for the victims and families of the victims.

The following message was posted on Great White singer Jack Russell's website (PlanetJr.com): "The thoughts and prayers of everybody associated with the band goes out to every person that has been affected by this tragedy. There are no words to express our sadness at the loss everybody has suffered."

New York's Daily News reported Saturday (February 22) that a web posting by Russell had read: "We will continue our tour with a replacement guitarist sometime in the next few days." We have been unable to confirm this posting, however.

-- Darren Davis, New York

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