GREAT WHITE Guitarist's Remains Identified - Feb. 23, 2003
GREAT WHITE guitarist Ty Longley has been officially identified as one of the 96 people that lost their lives last Thursday night when The Station club in West Warwick, Rhode Island burned down at the beginning of the group's performance at the venue.
"We have learned that Ty Longley has been identified as one of the people that passed away in West Warwick," reads a message on the official web site of GREAT WHITE singer, Jack Russell (
www.planetjr.com).
Upon his return to Los Angeles next month, the 31-year-old guitarist was planning to move in with his 29-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Heidi, who now lives in Chicago, his friends told L.A. Daily News.
Longley grew up near the Ohio/Pennsylvania border, and was inspired to pick up the electric guitar after hearing Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and LED ZEPPELIN. In Los Angeles, he relished warm-weather activities like body-boarding and biking, but remained a loyal Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Although the band were touring on their old hits, for Longley it was a step up. He recently bought a BMW and was recording a solo album on his own.
Ty's girlfriend Heidi is scheduled to be making an appearance on NBC's "Dateline" tonight, Sunday, Feb. 23 at 7:00 p.m. EST. Check your local listings to verify time and channel.