US fire band begin charity tour

Great White wanted to do a 55-date tour

The rock band who were performing when 100 people died in a nightclub fire are due to begin a national tour to raise money for victims and their families on Tuesday.

Great White, whose guitarist was among those killed in the blaze at the Station nightclub in the US state of Rhode Island in February, have announced 13 dates.

The first gig is in Sterling, Colorado, on Tuesday, according to their website, with proceeds going to the Station Family Fund.

They had reportedly hoped to do embark on a 55-city tour - but were forced to scale it back because insurers were reluctant to provide cover.

The fire was started by pyrotechnics that were part of the band's stage show.

"As a band, the only thing we can do for our fans and their families that were involved in the tragedy is to pray for them and play for them," they said.

"We lost 100 friends in that fire, and our hearts are deeply broken.

'Insurance problems'

"There are hundreds who are still struggling with medical and burial costs."

The band have insisted they had permission from the club to carry out the display - something denied by the venue's owners.

Their manager was reported as saying the group had "massive insurance problems" when setting up the tour.

"The insurers were not worried about covering the risk, but about people being upset at shows and possibly doing something [disruptive]," Charrie Foglio recently told MTV.

The band's first show since the fire was at the beginning of May at a benefit concert for the pregnant girlfriend of their late guitarist, Ty Longley.

The Station Family Fund has so far raised more than $10,000.