When the hard rock band Great White takes the stage this Saturday as part of the Glendale Heights Fest, they will have 10 albums and 25 years of material from which to draw their song selections.

While the band has sold millions of albums and played in front of sold-out stadiums in their heyday in the late 1980s, Great White may forever be known for a tragic nightclub fire in Rhode Island in 2003 that killed 100 people caused by on-stage pyrotechnics. It was a tragedy lead vocalist Jack Russell said forever changed his life and has made him rethink what is important.

Russell, who talked with the Press from his Palm Springs home earlier this week, said he is looking forward to returning to the Chicago area, which he said boasts one of the band’s biggest fan bases.  

Q: Great White is set to play at Glendale Heights Fest this weekend as part of the group’s 25th anniversary tour. How is the tour going for the band so far?
A: Things are going well so far. We have been on tour for almost a year now since releasing the album (“Back To The Rhythm”) last year. We have played all over the country, and the tour took us overseas. It’s been a lot of fun, and the crowds have been great.

Q: What are you looking forward to the most in coming back to the Chicago area?
A: The Chicago area crowds have always been good to us. Some of our biggest album sales figures have come from the Midwest area, and we have had some memorable shows at the Rosemont Horizon (now the Allstate Arena) and other venues in the past. My wife is from the Rockford area, and we have family out that way, and it’s always nice to return to Chicago.

Q: While the band has sold millions of albums and has charted six Billboard Top 100 hits, many people know the band only from the Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people in 2003. How did that night change your life?
A: I have come to appreciate the little things much more now. Having a brush with death like that, I don’t know how it could not change someone’s life. Family and friends are a lot more important now — not the material things that are part of a rock ’n’ roll lifestyle.

For months after that night, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to take the stage again. But ironically, it was playing those benefit shows for the victims that got me back to wanting to perform music again.

Q: While many 1980s hard rock bands have had a resurgence over the last few years, the performers are much older now than in their heyday. How much longer can you personally continue to tour and perform music?
A: The band has been going since 1982. I’m 47 years old now, and I have no plans to stop doing this anytime soon. I’ll know when it is time for me to stick a fork in it. I’m still having a good time and continue to get enjoyment out of this.
It’s amazing that we have kids as young as 12 or 13 years old now coming to the shows — three generations of rock ’n’ roll fans who are still into what we are doing. As long as we keep getting fans to come to the show, I will continue doing this.

Q: For those who aren’t familiar with Great White who will be attending Glendale Heights Fest, what can they expect? How about the longtime fans?
A: For the new fans, they can expect a kick-ass rock ’n‘ roll show. For the longtime fans, we have a set list that expands our entire career. We can’t play every album, but there are some surprises and some stuff that the longtime Great White fan will be excited to hear.