He died in The Station nightclub fire on February 20, 2003, which claimed a total of 100 lives. He was the only band member to die in the fire. Longley was survived by his wife Heidi (Peralta) Longley, who was three months pregnant with the couple's only child. Their son Acey Ty Christopher Longley was born on August 12, 2003. Acey is also a musician, and runs a charity for hospitalized children in his father's memory.