"It's been a long, long time. Legal Statement. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) Thursday marks the 17-year anniversary of the Station Nightclub fire that left lasting scars on numerous families and the state of Rhode Island. The club had several doors that were permanently locked shut, and emergency exits were fenced off to prevent people from sneaking in and avoiding a cover charge. He was 21. A fire breaks out at a Great White concert in Rhode Island, killing 100 people, including the band's guitarist, Ty Longley. [And they told me], 'But you can't say it. At least 96 people burned to death here in a matter of minutes Thursday night as a roaring fire sparked by a heavy metal rock band's pyrotechnic show consumed an old, wood-frame . "On the night of February 20th, 2003 America's deadliest rock concert began in West Warwick, Rhode Island, when the band GREAT WHITE ignited pyrotechnics inside a run-down roadhouse called The Station. ", Five years ago, Russell told Psycho Babble TV about the upcoming documentary: "What it is is partly my life story, as a kid growing up, and then it goes off into the fire, unfortunately, and the aftermath of that, and testimonies not testimony, but talks by the victims and their families and how it affected them.". The ensuing stampede crushed and knocked over many, and people died from suffocation, smoke inhalation, or were claimed by the fire itself including Great Whites lead guitarist, Ty Longley. James said the foundation gave the family a sense of comfort and purpose during their grief. Subscribe for exclusive city guides, travel videos, trip giveaways and more! BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. A version of this article was previously published in 2011, and was updated on Nov. 8, 2021. Their stories embody courage and deliver inspiration while others depict a much darker aftermath. In all, over two hundred injuries were reported, and a hundred people lost their lives. He sent a handwritten letter of apology to each of the families affected by the fire. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). It is an abject lesson in the tragic potential of poor decisions, adds documentary director David Bellino. I'm very close with everybody in Rhode Island. The band was popular during the late 80s, when their cover of Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" became a Top 5 hit in the United States. In 2021, the Derderians gave an interview to 48 Hours, explaining, for the first time, their side of what happened. "If he wants to help, stay away, shut your mouth.". And, just when it couldn't get worse, they played Rhode Island. The club's owners were fined just over $1 million for their negligence and sentenced to fifteen years; four served and eleven suspended. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. The fire started by pyrotechnics ignited during a Great White concert at the Station, a rock club in West Warwick, R.I., resulted in the deaths of 96 people and injuries to 200 more. We learn about the installation of inappropriate sound-proofing materials, the physical layout of the building and the questionable results of any number of fire and safety inspections. The guy [making it] He's done Disney movies. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. (Bob Breidenbach-Pool/Getty Images). M3 Rock Festival 2-Day Pass. Great White's songs would never again be played by Rhode Island radio stations. For many of those passionate fans, what appeared to be their very luckiest day turned out to be their last. (Nicolaus Czarnecki/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images), Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines February 18, Ali Wong says she's 'best friends' with her ex-husband: 'It's an unconventional divorce', 'Champions' star Woody Harrelson: SNL monologue controversy caps storied personal journey, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry suffered Hollywood 'miscalculation' with explosive tell-alls: experts, Jussie Smollett files appeal argument in hate crime hoax conviction, Michael B. Jordan apologized to his mom before steamy Calvin Klein underwear ad was released, Kristin Cavallari jokes shes 'heartless' for breaking up with guys over text: 'I know thats horrible'. With intimate insight from people who were impacted by the tragedy, this is a potent portrait of humanity, from deep resentment and brutal suffering to resilience and the power of community., This documentary addresses timeless themes of personal responsibility, loss, courage and forgiveness. (David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). I say, dont wait. "There was a man named Joe; they call him 'The Lizard Man,'" Jack said. 'The Guest List' remains timely, years after the station fire tragedy, as young people will always be attracted to concert events while some bands, promoters, and concert venues remain tempted to cut corners for cheap spectacle. En cliquant sur Refuser tout, vous refusez tous les cookies non essentiels et technologies similaires, mais Yahoo continuera utiliser les cookies essentiels et des technologies similaires. It was equipped with one fire extinguisher for the entire building and inspection papers were forged to keep the club operating. Reels will be looking back at the tragic 2003 Station Nightclub fire that broke out during a Great White concert that claimed the lives of 100 people, including guitarist Ty Longley, in their new . Gahans family helped pass legislation in Massachusetts that would require automatic sprinkler systems in bars and nightclubs with an occupancy of 100 or more people. The gerbs, essentially souped up spark throwers, were set up in a line, with the two in the center pointed straight up and the ones on each end angled diagonally, launching sparks directly into the club's acoustic foam wall panels. The exact cause of the fire was never determined, but what is known is that the fire was well underway when it was discovered by two waitresses. I'd have to read up on the details again, but I seem to recall it was one of two things: -Great White did not disclose the pyro in their rider/tour contract, or -The Station approved of the pyro . Great White frontman Jack . Feb. 20, 2003 Stage pyrotechnics during a Great White concert at the Station nightclub in Warwick, Rhode Island, spark a fire that kills 100 people and injures more than 200 others. The Event Center at Turning Stone Resort Casino - Verona, NY. The band claimed it had permission for the pyrotechnics, but club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian denied the claim. Kane says he and his family miss Nick as much as ever, but theyre not shy to say they feel his presence. "During the first few days, we were just in complete shock," he said. One hundred people were killed and more than 200 injured from a crowd that attended the performance of the band Great White at the Station nightclub. Just seconds after 80s sensation Great White took the stage, pyrotechnics ignited a fire that raced up the walls and across the ceiling of the packed venue. governor unveils proposed $55.5B state budget, Hunter who killed dogs thought they were coyotes, The War on Alzheimers: The Battle Continues, 2022 Rewind: Our favorite stories from last year, From Homeless to Hope: An Educators Journey, Parents threaten lawsuit to block closure of Prov. But what should have been a joyous night ended in tragedy. "He was totally into sports, but he always had this connection to music," James explained. The crowd rushed to the front of the stage, with people squeezing together so tightly that many couldnt breathe. They would be burned alive, identified days later only by dental records or tattoos. Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Jack had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. It lets you know how beautiful music is and how music can heal everything, no matter what people think. View all concerts. apparently he was there from a local news station filming a piece on nightclub safety hazards. The Station nightclub fire occurred on the evening of February 20, 2003 at The Station, a nightclub and hard rock music venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, killing 100 people and injuring 230.During a concert by the rock band Great White, a pyrotechnic display ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. Several had fallen and the crowd pressed on, suffocating those at the bottom of the pile. That is what the other families are doing, we dont need a memorial to remember them, we have them in our hearts always.. All defendants settled. What is the deadliest rock concert in history? "I lost a lot of friends that night a lot of friends. Hidden comments will still appear to the user and to the user's Facebook friends. Musicians United to Benefit the Victims of the Station Nightclub Fire Feb. 25, 2008, in Providence, R.I. Joe Kinan was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital after receiving a hand transplant. Station nightclub fire scene, viewed from above. Jimmy Gahan was a celebrated athlete before he became actively involved with music, his other passion. The outlet reported that the surviving band members were never charged. The fire raced across the ceiling and over the dance floor toward the front doors. The crowds mood inside the Station went from celebration, to curiosity, to concern, to absolute terror within about a 20-second span. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. The pyrotechnics quickly became disastrous as materials caught on fire and the air became thick with toxic smoke. The Gang's All Here Tour: Skid Row, Great White, Kip Winger. The flames spread quickly, engulfing the club, and claiming the lives of many of those trying to escape. They bonded over music. In February 2003, hard rock band Great White was involved in one of the biggest and most infamous concert tragedies in music history, when pyrotechnics set off by their tour manager ignited flammable acoustic foam in the . Just seconds after 80s sensation Great White took the stage, pyrotechnics ignited a fire that . Blaze: Directed by Gloria Muzio. "It wasnt an accident; it was just a situation that was waiting to happen We shouldnt ever take anything for granted. More than 18,000 tickets were sold for The Whos concertat Cincinnati Riverfront Stadium, and there were only 25 police officers allotted for crowd control. Legal Statement. All in all, it took less than five minutes from the point of ignition for the club to be entirely consumed by flames, and panicked concert goers struggled to escape the conflagration, causing a bottleneck at the front entrance. No one who watches 'The Guest List' will enter a concert venue again without first checking for the exits.". Crowds were well past fire capacity the night of the Station Nightclub Fire, and 100 people died while watching the band Great White. May 28, 1977 Southgate, KentuckyDeaths at concert: 165. (WJAR) WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) A Mass of . Here are photos of the . "Many victims of The Station fire had been seduced by the siren song of rock celebrity. The fire was started by pyrotechnics going off on stage while the band Great White performed. Not a guilty apology, but because I just, "I mean, I feel horrible that it happened," he continued. Great White was scheduled to perform later that evening. A fire at a rock concert in a West Warwick, Rhode Island, nightclub kills 100 people and seriously injures almost 200 more on February 20, 2003. . "There was a man named Joe; they call him 'The Lizard Man,'" Jack said. It was the summer of 2011 and Alan Niven sat on the deck at his house in the desert . 'The Guest List' is based in part on John Barylick's narrative non-fiction work, 'Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert'. And after going through injury after injury, thats when the music took over. Nov. 5, 2021 Houston, TexasConcert deaths: 9. It is also a story of the triumph of the human spirit, as seen in a communitys resilience and the recovery and rebirth of Joe Kinan, who was the last survivor pulled from the fire and the most severely burned. Lou Diamond embraces his girlfriend Lisa Sherman as she becomes emotional during the dedication ceremony for the memorial park at the site of the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, May 21, 2017. And his comment was, 'If this wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have met the love of my life. The truth is ugly but should never be forgotten. All rights reserved. View of the front door and parking lot. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He probably wasn't drinking, and was recently aware of the dangers involved in being in a packed club like that. 2023. He died. Among the casualties was Great White guitarist Ty Longley, who reportedly ran back into the burning building in an attempt to rescue his guitar. Combined with the panic of the crowd and the deadly poison in the air, it was practically a miracle that anyone got out at all. Jimmy Gahan was a celebrated athlete before he became actively involved with music, his other passion. We pretty much knew at that point it was just going to be a question of identification.". Chaos erupted when black smoke started billowing throughout the club, limiting visibility. And he met his wife in the fire and they had a beautiful son. Keep telling those in your life how much you love them. The bands tour manager set off some pyrotechnics that set insulation ablaze, and it took a while for the audience to understand that the flames werent part of the show. While it was quasi-reasonably assumed by some people in the crowd that the flames were part of the act, the reality of the matter set in fast when the band stopped playing and, in under a minute, the stage was consumed by fire. America's deadliest rock concert began in West Warwick, Rhode Island, when the band Great White ignited pyrotechnics inside a run-down roadhouse called the station. Jack Russell, lead singer of the band Great White, speaks to reporters after a deadly fire at The Station nightclub Feb. 21, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island. This is an IMPORTANT rock doc that EVERYONE needs to watch. lawmakers want public vetting of teachers contract, Partially-treated sewage flowing into Blackstone, Petition seeks to change how town defines adult, Warren town manager advocates for coastal communities, Teachers hopeful despite vote to end education collaborative, Olive oil in coffee? along the way, we meet other survivors and victims' families who have memorialized their loss through pursuits ranging from an exhibit of commemorative body art to re-immersion in the rock culture that initially brought them and their loved ones to the station nightclub. It was just an awful night. The Story of the Great White Concert Fire Tragedy. '", According to Russell, at least one "really beautiful" thing came out of the tragedy. At an underground electronic music party in Oakland, a fire broke out that trapped and killed 36 people. Slectionnez Grer les paramtres pour grer vos prfrences. But I didn't know anyone in [Jack's solo] band; I just met 'em for the first time [on that tour].". . In 2017, Station Fire Memorial Park was opened on the site where the nightclub once stood. And the main reason is we're not a spectacle kind of band. Dave Kane, the father of the youngest victim, Nicholas ONeill, says the tragedy feels like it just happened just yesterday. The fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick began in an overcrowded club when pyrotechnics from Russell's GREAT WHITE ignited illegal soundproofing foam lining the club's walls. The sparks unexpectedly ignited the foam used for soundproofing the ceiling of the club. According to witness testimony corroborated by video from the night of the fire, Great White had just started playing their opening number, "Desert Moon," when a series of four pyrotechnics called "gerbs" were set off behind them. It all started around 11 p.m. when the rock band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and the group's tour manager, Daniel Biechele, set off four large fireworks called gerbs. Re: 20th anniversary of the Great White concert fire : 290: Andrew 02/21/2023 12:15PM Re: 20th anniversary of the Great White concert fire : 217: Troy 02/21/2023 12:28PM Re: 20th anniversary of the Great White concert fire : 167: Irwin m fletcher 02/21/2023 07:17PM Re: 20th anniversary of the Great White concert fire : 154: Peter M. Bietenholz . I remember I sat in the dark just in total shock, just waiting for anything that I could get. On the two-year anniversary of the fire, Jack Russell and Mark Kendall, along with Jack Russell's attorney, . He was released from prison in March of 2008 after being deemed highly unlikely to reoffend. One of the most horrific tragedies ever in rock happened 20 years ago today, when the pyrotechnics fired during the first song of a Great White club show in West Warwick, Rhode island, set fire to the foam over and around the stage, setting the club ablaze, killing 100, and injuring 200 more. Lunar time zone push begins, Hate your signature? I said to myself, If I have a choice in this Im not going out this way. I heard the voice of a firefighter yell, Weve got one over here. I was placed on a stretcher and rushed to the nearest hospital. February 22, 2003. Try plastic surgery for autographs, Fan brings Olympian Mary Lou Retton to tears, RISPCA has nearly 30 guinea pigs up for adoption, February vacation events around Southern New England, How you can help those affected by Station fire, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Great White Announce Andrew Freeman as New Singer. Croman was a rock club in Barrio Once in Buenos Aires. Its central characters struggle to cope in the aftermath of tragedy some gracefully, and some less so. America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List: Directed by David S. Bellino. Great White- "Face the Day (Blues Mix)". August 13, 2011 Indianapolis, IndianaConcert deaths: 7. They said that the building was 1,000 degrees inside. 100 people died and more than 200 others were injured. Many international stars played the event, including Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue, and Ennio Morricone. Snider, who was instrumental in bringing together fellow recording artists for a fundraising concert for survivors and victims families, can be heard performing a new song, Stand., Nobody should have to die because they want to see a band and listen to the music they love. Dec. 30, 2004 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDeaths at concert: 194. For James, devastation didnt even begin to cover what the family felt. Right as the show started around 11 p.m., the band set off some pyrotechnics that lit the overhead sound foam . Road managerDaniel Biechele set off the pyrotechnics during the opening number, as planned. Exits had been welded shut to prevent patrons from skipping out on their bills, which meant that marked exits were non-existent. The band's only constant member has been Mark Kendall (guitar . Russell's bandmate Ty Longley (guitar) was one of the people who perished in The Station blaze, which became the fourth deadliest fire in U.S. history. The Station fire, one of the deadliest nightclub blazes in U.S. history, was started by pyrotechnics during a concert for the band Great White. Show". "The film contrasts Jack Russell's post-fire journey, in a search for redemption, with survivor Joe Kinan's rebirth, courage and inspiration. The night of the fire, Repblica Croman was packed with an estimated 3,000 revelers there to see the band Callejeros nearly three times the crowd size that the club was zoned for. Biechele pleaded guilty in 2006 to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and was paroled after serving less than half of his four-year prison sentence. 0:38. Great White Announce Andrew Freeman as New Singer. And I'm, like, 'But I am sorry.' Weeks later, when I awoke from my coma I immediately understood and accepted what was going on. I mean, it was a long time. or redistributed. According to the BBC, attendees blamed the tragedy on the police who closed several exits, ushering the crowds through others that were not destined for the purpose. The official line was that fans, too eager to leave, climbed fences, and one of them collapsed, causing the 11 deaths. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. So [the movie] gave me the opportunity to talk about how I felt and for me to apologize. 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