Great White alters benefit tour dates

Insurance problems have forced the heavy metal band Great White to alter plans for a summer benefit concert tour to raise money for families of 99 fans who died in the fire that erupted during the group’s concert in Rhode Island in February.

The group’s manager, Charrie Foglio, told VH1.com that the problem wasn’t over the band itself but insurers’ worries that some concert attendees might become angry and disruptive.

At a concert by two members of the band in April at the Key Club in West Hollywood -- their first performance since the band’s pyrotechnics started the fire -- Great White announced the tour, also to feature hard-rock bands L.A. Guns and XYZ.

Now the group is planning a series of dates at clubs and festivals that carry blanket insurance that will cover the band. Those shows are scheduled to begin July 22 in Sterling, Colo.

Initially, 18-year-old guitarist Jordan Martin is slated to take over for Great White guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire. In September, original guitarist-keyboardist Michael Lardie is expected to rejoin the band.

-- Randy Lewis