By Andrea Uhde
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MIDDLETOWN - Great White is on its way to the Tristate.

But don't expect the band's Sept. 6 concert at CC's Showcase in Middletown to involve flames of any sort. The band is on a charitable tour in the aftermath of a fire, ignited by stage pyrotechnics, that killed 96 people at a Rhode Island club on Feb. 20.

The band's guitar player, Ty Longley, died in the fire at The Station nightclub. This weekend, his girlfriend is expecting to give birth to his child.

The concert here will feature laser lights, good old blaring rock 'n' roll tunes, and firemen from the local fire department greeting concertgoers as part of a fund-raiser.

Great White, a Southern California blues-rock band that began in 1984, has raised $15,000 for the 56 children and other family members of victims of the fire during its first two weeks and five shows of touring. Local fire departments have been coming to the concerts to help the cause.

"It's not about the band; the band's an afterthought," said Great White manager Obi Steinman.

The money, which goes to the Station Family Fund, helps victims and families of victims pay bills and buy food, Steinman said.

The band won't be taking the money without giving their fans a taste of the long fluffy hair and hardcore rock they love.

"The band is going to go out and play all their hit songs and give a great rock show," Steinman said.

Great White was nominated in 1990 for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for the song "Once Bitten, Twice Shy," and earned a double platinum for the album ...Twice Shy.

The band will play at CC's Showcase, a 500-person venue at 2830 Cincinnati-Dayton Road. Tickets are $20.

For information on how to donate money to the Station Family Fund, visit (www.stationfamilyfund.org) .

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E-mail auhde@enquirer.com