No Hope For GREAT WHITE Gig In Massachusetts

Jeanne M. Rideout of the Holbrook Sun reports that "mounting criticism from the enraged relatives of victims killed in The Station inferno — and a request from Mayor David Madden — caused [GREAT WHITE] to cancel a controversial gig in a Route 18 club in South Weymouth [Massachusetts] on Sept. 26.

"The event at the Odyssey Club would have been the band's first performance in New England since 100 people died in the Feb. 20 blaze at The Station in West Warwick, R.I. Of the victims , 33 were from the six-state area.

"GREAT WHITE's appearance would have been part of a fundraiser for families of The Station victims.

"DOUBLESHOT, the band slated to open for GREAT WHITE, will go on with the show.

" 'It's an opportunity to turn a negative into a positive,' said Ed Carvalho, singer for the South Shore band.

"DOUBLESHOT had been scheduled to play the show before GREAT WHITE was added.

"I had some reservations, but we were excited about the opportunity," he said of opening for GREAT WHITE. 'I understand why they pulled out, though. I kind of expected it.'

"The band pulled the plug on the show hours after Madden found out at 7 a.m. last Thursday (Sept. 4) that GREAT WHITE planned on coming to town.

"Madden called on club owner Bill King to cancel the show.

"The decision to cancel was made by the Los Angeles band's management that night as victims' families lashed out at the rock group and wary Weymouth officials pushed to have the show at the Club Odyssey cancelled.

"Fire and police officials met with Madden that afternoon to discuss concerns that the Odyssey, the former Village Steak House, did not have the capacity to handle the crowd expected to show up. The club can accommodate up to 300 people.

"Another concern was that $25 tickets would only be sold at the door, rather than in advance." Read more.