Jack Russell | Great White | September 2003 |

 

Well last time we talked to Jack was about 2 weeks before the terrible night of February 20th..

Now 7 months later, the boys are back on the road making money for the Station Family Fund..

100% of the proceeds go to the fund.. to help the victims and their family's..

Here is Jack to tell you all about it..

 

J - Ok so tell us about the tour your on... for the Station Family Fund...

Jack- well ya know that's the reason we're touring..ya know, obviously its the horrible tragedy that happened on February 20th, we lost 100 of our family members, and we sat home for a couple months and went through major psychological madness and therapy, and all kids of stuff.. and thought, ya know what this isn't doing anybody any good..so I got off the couch and said we're going to do something to help these people..and we finally found a foundation that can get the money right to the victims.. because when we first originally tried was everyone was glad  to take our money, but they wanted a 50% administration fee..and we will put the rest in a collage fund..and I'm thinking what's that gonna do for the 56 children that lost one or both parents, what's that do for skin grafts..or other expenses, mortgages.. etc... nothing, so we finally found an organization which is made up of survivors, and family members of victims..who set up a foundation, and are able to get money directly to the victims..so it works out perfectly.. the money goes straight from the promoters hands, to their hands to the people that need it..for house payments, car payments..

 

J - Is there a website  that anyone can donate at?

Jack - Absolutely.. its called the www.stationfamilyfund.org  and for me.. its not about Great White or a Rock n Roll tragedy its about an American tragedy, regardless if you like Great White or you like rock n roll..or if you like music period.. I think you should step up and help your fellow Americans.. these people were from very small town, very meager incomes, and these people need help, like I said there is children, 56 kids lost one or both parents, and any contributions will help, and if not at the shows, then through the website..or a least write them a letter.. send them your prayers, or something, it means a lot to these folks and they are doing the best they can in these very difficult circumstances..

 

J - How long have you been on the road so far?

Jack - We have done 12 or 13 shows so far, and are planning on doing many many many more..we are just sucking it up and riding in vans, and we used to ride in tour buses, and we had our own bunks, and now I find myself, the other day, driving down the road, and I'm sharing a seat w/my bass player and I wake up and I find my arm on his chest.. and I'm like this is soo wrong.. just keep your shirt on.. haha.. but anyway, this is about the fund.. its not about Jack Russell.. or Great White, its about the Station Family Fund..

 

J - How has the response been?

Jack - Overwhelming.. I'm so proud of our fans..and the rock n roll community.. people can say what they want about the rock n roll community.. w/our long hair and tattoo's.. but these people are the most compassionate and caring people I've ever meet.. I mean someone bought the shirt off my back the other night, cause we auction off the t-shirt that I wear during the show.. every night for the fund.. and someone spent 350.00 to buy my sweaty t-shirt for the fund.. and the firemen have been coming out w/their boots.. to collect money, and people have been donating right and left.. and these people are working class people..ya know, 20.00 is a lot for them. this one guy came down to the Colorado springs show and paid 4000.00 for 4 tickets to give to the fund, its just been overwhelming..

 

J - Do you get people who are against it..or protesting it?

Jack - Ya know we haven't had one person come up and say anything bad.. and I know not everyone agrees w/what we're doing. and I understand, but I lost 100 friends that night.. and a couple very very close friends, and I can't imagine how it would feel to lose a daughter or a son, wife or husband..and its easy to get into the blame game.. but I'm not gonna do that, its not my job, that's the attorney generals job to find out what happened..and if there is fault, who's it is.. and I don't envy that position, but I'm sure he is quiet capable of handling it..  I'm not asking him for vocal lessons, and he doesn't need my legal advise so my only concern right now is helping these people out ..

 

J - Right.. and you don't know how many more dates? your just going to keep going..?

Jack - I don't know, I know we originally scheduled 41 but I believe they are still adding more..

 

J - Ya I'm still waiting or a Florida show..

Jack - Ya there is supposed to be 4 scheduled, but they are not being put up till they are absolutely confirmed..and we have written contracts.. but I know there was four in a row in Florida, when I just looked at my schedule recently.. so when they are confirmed.. they will be on the website..

 

J - Cool.. is there any plans to go back in the studio, and record any new Great White stuff?

Jack - Ya know I cant see that far a head right now, my only concern and focus is this tour..and helping these people out.. ya know if we end up in the studio again some day.. that's fine.. but right now, the most important thing in my career then I've ever done, is what I'm doing right now.

 

J - Yes.. and that's great.. so what's the set list like? old new?.. the hits?

Jack - Its a mix of some older stuff from the first album, there is some newer stuff. some of my solo stuff..

 

J - I was going to ask if you were going to do any solo stuff... I love the solo album!

Jack - Oh thanks very much, I really enjoyed making that.. I look forward to doing another one someday, I also realize I have time for both, my last management company had me convinced I had to do one or the other..and I realized there are 2 different parts of me.. and I need to express them both..

 

J - And it fits in so well.. of course its not Great White, but its your voice, so it fits in so well..people are not going to we wondering.. "what is this"..

Jack - Ya I had so much fun making that.. and it was a long time coming.. I met a woman, who just turned my whole world around, and basically the whole album is about her. and my father...

 

J - Ya you can tell.. its a very mushy album, but its great..anyway... how long is the show, your set?

Jack - Almost 2 hours...

 

J - Well that's about it Jack.. I just wanna really push this tour..

Jack - Yes.. just stress that its not about Jack Russell and Great White, its about American people, and anything you can do to help these people out they so much appreciate..  and they are wonderful group of people..  and can really use the help..

 

J - Is there merchandise... at the shows.. ?

Jack - Yes, there is t-shirts. and they get 100% of the proceeds, and like I said, I auction off my shirt.. I wear the Station Family Fund shirt every night, then auction it off.. to the highest bidder, and that goes directly to the fund..

 

J - And all the concert money too?

Jack - Yes, it all goes directly to them we don't touch it.. someone came up to me the other night w/an envelope w/400.00 bucks, and said here I want to donate to the fund, and I say no.. there is a fireman right over there.. give it to him I don't want any misconceptions, ya know what I mean.. this isn't about us..

 

J - Well that's about it jack.. thanks again..hope to see you in Florida soon!

Jack - Thank you, it was great talking to you again....

 

J - To check out where the tour is going go to the official Great White site.. here.

And to donate or buy a shirt... check out the Station Family Fund Site!