The influx of '80s bands making a comeback of sorts, or at least returning to the public eye, have a couple things in common.

First, they know they won't be as popular in the 21st century as they were 25-30 years ago. Second, for those wanting to move forward, they face the challenge of creating quality new music and not completely living off their past while attempting to remain relevant to their longtime fans. If they're fortunate enough, they'll pick up new followers, too.

Great White certainly has those things to contend with. But that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface.

The original quartet of singer Jack Russell, guitarist Mark Kendall, guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow -- along with bassist Scott Snyder, who joined in 2008 -- know they will forever be linked to the Rhode Island nightclub fire that broke out less than a minute into opening song "Desert Moon" during a 2003 concert, when pyrotechnics set off by the group's manager ignited sound insulation foam in the walls and ceiling. The blaze quickly spread and gutted the club, killing 100 people including guitarist Ty Longley, and injuring a couple hundred more. As the fire began and the band stopped playing, Russell can be heard calmly saying, "Wow. This ain't good." (WARNING: Check out video footage here, but some may find it too graphic).

Russell knows he can never do another interview without being asked about that fateful night. He also knows that if he and his band beat themselves up about it that it would eventually take its toll and perhaps, just perhaps, result in dire consequences if they allowed it.

Great White has endured the usual inner-band turmoil, gone their separate ways, flirted with calling it quits -- and returned. Russell even got a facelift. In 2009, they released Rising, a couple songs from which you can expect to hear when Great White headlines Scout Bar this Friday night with Broken Teeth, the band fronted by Austin native and Dangerous Toys singer Jason McMaster (read my recent interview with McMaster here).

But fans can still expect to hear classics such as "Lady Red Light," "The Angel Song," "Rock Me," "Save Your Love," "Face The Day," "House Of Broken Love" and "Once Bitten . . . Twice Shy." I phoned Russell, 49, over Memorial Day weekend:

Q: When was the last time you played San Antonio, and what can fans expect this time around?
A: God, I don't really recall the last time. But as far as what to expect, same thing as always, a great rock and roll show. We're a great rock band, and I say that with all humility. We're in our prime as far as playing. We feel honored to do what we do.

Q: What does the title of the latest album symbolize for you and the band in 2010 and moving forward?
A: Well, that's exactly what it means. Pretty simple and self explanatory, rising above the crap that's been laid upon us every year. Making a new start. We're coming up on Year 30 for this band, and Mark and I have been playing together longer.

Q: How would you compare the songs and the sound on Rising to any of the other past records?
A: You know, I think every record has its unique stamp. I've said that every record is a snapshot of where the band is at, at that time. This record talks about my life and what I'm going through. I try to be brutally honest in my lyrics and don't leave anything out.

Q: Playing with mostly the original lineup intact, through all the ups and downs over the years, do you feel like you and the band have come full circle?
A: You know, yeah, our friendships have been renewed and solidified. We've gone through a lot of stuff together, perhaps more than a lot of other bands. We've accomplished a lot together. We're a rock band and partners in a war.

Q: How difficult is it to walk that fine line of creating new music and not wanting to live off the past material, yet knowing the old stuff is what fans gravitate to live?
A: You get used to that after awhile. You can't go out there and bombard people with the new stuff. You play a couple new songs, give them a taste of it, and if they like it, they can go out and buy the record. There are times where it's "God, I don't wanna play that song again." But we've mixed up the set, and it's more enjoyable now and easier to do than even five years ago.

Q: At the same time, how difficult is it to progress from the fire aftermath and yet not lose sight of what went down?
A: It's just part of life. Take it as it comes. I've never tried to get over it per se. You never get over something like that, nor should you. That'd be a slap in the face to a lot of people. You just try to live your life the best you can, and hopefully that will suffice. I don't know what else to say.

Q: On the band's website, there's a clip of you and Michael bagging groceries last year. Was that really your jobs at that point, and why did you want your fans to see that?
A: Oh, no, it was just something we did for a fundraiser. We were doing some stuff for NASCAR. Someone from a food company approached us about it, and we went out and helped and goofed around. If it came out that that was really my job, I wouldn't want the fans to see that (laughs).

Q: Back in the '80s, I read somewhere that you'd been arrested about 47 times. How many times has it been now?
A: I think it was more like 53. I'm still saying 53 -- though it's a little more than that.

Q: Why did you decide on a facelift in 2006?
A: Well, you know, I wanted my outside to look like how I felt on the inside. I felt good and young and rejuvenated. I wanted to look that way, too, and the opportunity was there. Look as young as you can. That's my motto (laughs).

Q: I think the MTV unplugged version of "Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You" is one of your best vocal performances. And a couple years ago you did "Diamonds and Rust" in a tribute to Judas Priest. What other bands influenced your sound?
A: Deep Purple. Any incarnation of Deep Purple. Alice Cooper, he's a great singer, and I've loved his voice. Geoff Tate's a great singer, Jeff Keith, Tom Keifer. Layne (Staley) from Alice in Chains, God rest his soul.

Q: Several bands have reunited or made peace with those they'd been feuding with in other bands. Is this trend best explained by growing older and wiser, or is there something more to it?
A: Hopefully it's the love of the music they made together and not economics. I wouldn't be able to guess and venture anyone else's situation, but for me, I didn't want to make another record without the original guys. It was coming up to our 25th anniversary, and I didn't want to insult our fans. So I decided to eat some crow and make some phone calls, and when we got on the phone, we didn't really know what we had been fighting about (chuckles).

Q: Do you enjoy playing all the old hits these days?
A: Yeah, for the most part. Sure. Rehearsal, no. In rehearsal, I'm like, "You guys know it, you go ahead and jam."

Q: I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you whatever happened to the famous blonde in all the early videos. Who was she?
A: Tracy Martinson. There was also Bobbi Brown (famous for Warrant's "Cherry Pie" video) in one of them. Tracy got married, and she's living in Seattle doing the mom thing. Not looking anything like she originally did.

Q: The most meaningful Great White song to you and why?
A: "House of Broken Love" because that's how most of my relationships end up. "Rock Me" was the first song Mark and I worked on together that became a really huge hit. "Save Your Love" was another -- the record company didn't want to put it on the album. They thought it was too wimpy.

Q: Oh, man, that's a great song. How did you convince them to put it on there?
A: I told them I'd quit and they'd have to find another singer if it didn't make it.

Q: I interviewed Bobby Blotzer of Ratt in the past month. He has a new book out that shares stories of many of his metal friends, including you. Can you share which story that might be?
A: God, I have no idea. There's so many. Blotz and I . . . I'm trying to think. One time we were on my boat, and a friend of mine was out with us. I made this guy get in the dinghy, and we were pulling behind the boat on a rope. We're drunk as hell, and it's nighttime. We looked back one time, and he's not there, and we're like "Oh, my God! Where is he?" We eventually found him. But I don't know. Most of my stories, I don't remember. I have to have someone recite them for me. I killed too many brain cells back in the day.

Q: A question I asked Bobby that I'll ask you: Are you happy with your band's legacy?
A: Absolutely.
Q: There's nothing you would change?
A: I mean, sure there's things I'd change. But whatever your belief system is, life has a way of putting you where you're supposed to be. And some things weren't meant to be changed.

• WHO: Great White with Broken Teeth, Feel Never Real and The Wolfpack
• WHEN: 8 p.m., Friday, June 11 (all ages; doors 7 p.m.)
• WHERE: Scout Bar (19314 U.S. 281 and Redland)
• TICKETS: $26.25 + $5.75 service charge at Fastlane Concerts or at the box office (210-494-7700)
• OF NOTE: Feel Never Real will perform Friday at 9 a.m. on "Great Day S.A." on KENS-5 TV.

Subscribe to the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner for free at the top of this article for exclusive interviews, concert announcements and reviews, and all things metal. You can also become a Facebook fan of the "San Antonio Metal Music Examiner" page or follow him on Twitter at Hawkeyedude93.