2 likes. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. Copyright 2013-2023 The Music Universe. In that conversation, they claimed that Great White's contract did not mention the use of pyrotechnics, that the fire marshal had not performed the venue's required tests and that the company who supplied the nightclub with what was supposed to be noise-cancelling foam, had accidentally sent them highly-flammable packing foam instead.While the accuracy of these claims was debated by other parties, there's no doubt a multitude of factors contributed to the tragedy. ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. Infamous Great White Concert Fire. There's a certain thing in music that is very healing, and it's helped a lot of people through the aftermath of the fire.". And, just when it couldn't get worse, they played Rhode Island. It's told from the personal perspectives of those who were there. For many of those fans what appeared to be their lucky day turned out to be their last. 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. disaster non-fiction. '", According to Russell, at least one "really beautiful" thing came out of the tragedy. "Everyone would look at this differently if Jack Russell would stand up and say, Im sorry,'" Gina Russo, a concertgoer who was burned in the fire, explained to the Boston Globe. This was supposed to be a monument to remind state officials, local officials, elected officials what happens when you dont do your job. But it's really moving. Dec. 30, 2004 Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDeaths at concert: 194. A fire claimed 100 lives during a Great White show on Feb. 20, 2003 at the Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I. More than 200 others were also injured in a blaze caused by the band's . "I lost a lot of friends that night a lot of friends. Thats when we started a charitable foundation in honor of Jimmy.". (Courtesy of James Gahan), "I cant even begin to tell you how elated he was," James recalled to Fox News Digital about the 21-year-old. It remains Americas deadliest rock concert. The devastating accident, often referred to as Th. Metallica 80s Rock Band Battle Jacket (almost done) Not for sale or trade. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. To report spam or any abusive, obscene, defamatory, racist, homophobic or threatening comments, or anything that may violate any applicable laws, use the "Report to Facebook" and "Mark as spam" links that appear next to the comments themselves. . The Station nightclub fire remains America's deadliest rock concert. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. 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. I thought maybe they'd have a fire extinguisher. "I've seen so many video tapes of pyro shooting off in that club with the foam bigger stuff than we had and it never happened," Jack told Psycho Babble TV a few years ago." The one-story building burned to the ground in about three minutes. There, an underpass that led to the concert grounds became clogged with people who entered the tunnel despite no one being let into the festival at the time. But I didn't know anyone in [Jack's solo] band; I just met 'em for the first time [on that tour].". When the fire reached the room, the crowd panicked and people were trampled as they tried to escape. On February 20th, 2003, the deadliest rock concert in U.S. history took place at a roadhouse called The Station in West Warwick, Rhode Island. "America's Deadliest Concert: The Guest List", a documentary about the GREAT WHITE concert fire, received its premiere this past February via Reelz. He's actually from that town. GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall spoke to the "Sally Steele Rocks! It was the first procedure of its kind at the Massachusetts General Hospital Hand Transplantation Service. 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. One member, guitarist Ty Longley, was killed in the fire. And he met his wife in the fire and they had a beautiful son. With no fire suppression system in place and the extreme high temperatures generated by the burning foam, in practically no time, the situation reached what's called "flashover," the point in a fire when all flammable materials in an enclosed space hit flashpoint and start releasing flammable gases. In 2021, the Derderians gave an interview to 48 Hours, explaining, for the first time, their side of what happened. 'The Guest List' explores how that same music and culture became sources of healing and comfort, at least for some, in the years thereafter. GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall spoke to the "Sally Steele Rocks! Repblica Croman was about a month overdue for a fire inspection at the time of the incident and had no sprinkler system. He went on to explain his reluctance to discuss the matter further: "I've said everything that I ever want to say about it, I've done a million interviews. The outlet reported that the surviving band members were never charged. or redistributed. The Beverly Hills Supper Club was a sprawling maze of a club in Kentucky, located just across the bridge from Cincinnati, Ohio. Still, he said he understood why some believe he should be held accountable for what happened fifteen years ago. I just remember him smiling and then heading off while he floated on cloud nine. 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. It could fairly be said that music and rock culture drew one hundred innocent people to their deaths in The Station fire. "It was broccoli with pasta and chicken with shallots. At the time of the fire, the group that was on the road was called JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE. "He was the worst, most badly burned of all the people. Twisted Sister star Dee Snider recalled the deadly Great White concert fire while mentioning his involvement in America's Deadliest Concert: The Guest List, an upcoming documentary that reveals the unfortunate Great White concert fire that killed a hundred people.. Dee Snider achieved international fame as the lead singer and frontman of the 1972-formed heavy metal band Twisted Sister. February 22, 2003. May 6-7. Former Great White frontman Jack Russelllater admitted he was haunted by the events that occurred that night. He was 21. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. 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. The sum total of all settlements was slightly . Station nightclub fire scene, viewed from above. A memorial park now occupies the space on Cowesett Avenue where the club once stood, a place where friends and families of the victims, along with survivors, go to remember those lost. They said that the building was 1,000 degrees inside. User comments or postings do not reflect the viewpoint of BLABBERMOUTH.NET and BLABBERMOUTH.NET does not endorse, or guarantee the accuracy of, any user comment. BLABBERMOUTH.NET uses the Facebook Comments plugin to let people comment on content on the site using their Facebook account. The set was to begin at 8 PM, but the doors were still closed at 7:45 when an anxious crowd, hearing The Whos warmup and mistaking it for the opening number, surged toward the doors. All the merchandise he had was all Jack Russell Jack Russell CD, Jack Russell t-shirt, picture behind us", According to Kendall, the tour was initially billed just "the Jack Russell 'For You' tour," named after Jack's second solo album, which came out in 2002. It was the deadliest mass casualty event in Oakland since the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. At around midnight, James said, one of his sons roommates headed to the family home. In all, over two hundred injuries were reported, and a hundred people lost their lives. Not including the 2017 terror attacks at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester Arena and the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas, crushing crowds and fires have caused some of the most dangerous and deadly concert tragedies. "He went to get more information. This past December, former GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell, whose pyrotechnics ignited the deadly blaze on February 20, 2003 in Rhode Island, told Tulsa Music Stream about the documentary: "We took three years shooting this thing. They bonded over music. Great White's tour manager, set off some . Its central characters struggle to cope in the aftermath of tragedy some gracefully, and some less so. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. He sent a handwritten letter of apology to each of the families affected by the fire. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I spent the next 50 weeks in the hospital. Lawsuits were filed against several defendants including American Foam Corporation, Anheuser-Busch Inc. (which had advertised the concert as well as supplied beer), the Town of West Warwick (which had inspected The Station and not found it a fire hazard), and Great White. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. "I lost a lot of friends that night a lot of friends. Great White dropped a bombshell on us Monday . A fire enveloped netting near the ceiling and quickly spread. "America's Deadliest Concert: The Guest List" includes interviews with Russell, Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER),Don Dokken (DOKKEN),Lita Ford and Michael Sweet (STRYPER). Kane says he and his family miss Nick as much as ever, but theyre not shy to say they feel his presence. Great White Still Love Jack Russell, Says . Panic in the tunnel left 19 dead at the scene. 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. 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. And it was just horrific, man. Gina Russo has no clear memory of how, with her hair on fire, she got out of the Station nightclub the night of Feb. 20, 2003. One-hundred people were killed and 230 were injured. Surging crowds at Travis Scotts Astroworld music festival led to pandemonium that turned fatal. To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. If a new comment is published from a "banned" user or contains a blacklisted word, this comment will automatically have limited visibility (the "banned" user's comments will only be visible to the user and the user's Facebook friends). It was difficult to comprehend the whole scope of this and what missteps could give rise to such an extreme and deadly fire. Next: Worst Concert Mishaps and Tragedies, Great White Announce Andrew Freeman as New Singer, Great White Still Love Jack Russell, Says Mark Kendall, Great White Singer Will Never Apologize for Controversial Show, Great White Apologize for Concert With No Masks or Distancing, Jack Russell Calls New Great White Documentary Cathartic, Great White Come Full Circle With New Album: Exclusive Interview, Great White Singer Terry Ilous Teases New Solo LP With Cover of Led Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love': Exclusive Premiere, Memorial Park Dedicated to the Victims of the Great White Concert Fire to Open, Jack Russell Still in Therapy Over Great White Club Fire. Fire broke out during the performance and pyrotechnic display by the '80s band. PLAYBOY STAFF TRIED TO WARN HUGH HEFNER THAT PLAYMATE DOROTHY STRATTEN WAS IN DANGER BEFORE MURDER: DOC, Joe Kinan was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital after receiving a hand transplant. It lets you know how beautiful music is and how music can heal everything, no matter what people think. REELZ original documentary America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List premieres Sunday, February 20 at 8pm ET/5pm PT presenting the deeply personal stories of lives forever altered by the tragic Station nightclub fire that left 100 people dead, more than 200 injured, and devastated the tight-knit community of West Warwick, Rhode Island.It is also a story of the triumph of the human . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! This nine-day festival, according to Al Jazeera, was meant to promote the reputation of Morocco as a modern nation. 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. "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. In February 2003, hard rock band Great White was involved in one of the . The Great White Concert Fire: Deadliest Rock Concert In American History. Great White- "Face the Day (Blues Mix)". We just want Give us a lot of lights, maybe a little fog on the ballad and girls backstage. What is the deadliest rock concert in history? 401-462-7111. '", According to Russell, at least one "really beautiful" thing came out of the tragedy. Once they did, there was a mass exodus, but most tried to leave the way theyd entered. The band's guitarist Ty Longly was missing at the time. "The documentary addresses timeless themes of personal responsibility, acceptance forgiveness and redemption. "America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List" airs Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. on Reelz. July 25, 2010 Duisburg, GermanyDeaths at concert: 21. "America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List" premiers Feb 20th on @ReelzChannelhttps://t.co/uQPOE13agm, Dee Snider (@deesnider) February 5, 2022. Most of the nearly 200 casualties were the result of inhaling smoke and toxic fumes rather than being crushed or burned. 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. Great White was scheduled to perform later that evening. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "The film contrasts Jack Russell's post-fire journey, in a search for redemption, with survivor Joe Kinan's rebirth, courage and inspiration. During a recent appearance on the New Orleans radio station Bayou 95.7, Twisted Sister's Dee Snider reflected on the Great White concert fire tragedy and said that the band's frontman, Jack Russell, is utterly devastated and sorry for what happened.. As you might know, the Great White concert fire happened on February 20, 2003, just seconds after Great White took the stage to perform. 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. June 30, 2000 Roskilde, DenmarkConcert deaths: 9, In 2020, nine men were killed at a Pearl Jam concert when people rushed the stage and those in front collapsed. He then corrected himself: "I wouldn't say a lot, but they're very vocal." The Station nightclub owners Michael (center) and Jeffrey Derderian (right) listen to victim impact statements with attorney Richard Egbert Sept. 29, 2006, during their sentencing trial at the Kent County Courthouse in Warwick, Rhode Island. "He was the worst, most badly burned of all the people. It was something that I hoped that people would remember, just because of the nature of it and the fact that we need to take care of ourselves when we're out at places; we need to be conscious of our safety. We use cookies for analytics tracking and advertising from our partners. Those sparks then ignited cheap packaging foam that was used as soundproofing. It also provided scholarships for students to attend Nichols, among other colleges. To this day, it is one of the most comfortable and relaxing places for me, says Joe Kinan, who to date has undergone 136 surgeries, including a hand transplant. So it was kind of strange. "If he wants to help, stay away, shut your mouth.". Great White Announce Andrew Freeman as New Singer. Great White toured with Guns N' Roses, hit the charts, and dissolved in a blur of betrayal and substance abuse. That's pretty much the end of GREAT WHITE. That is what the other families are doing, we dont need a memorial to remember them, we have them in our hearts always.. James pointed out that shortly before the Station nightclub tragedy, the Fine Line club in Minneapolis experienced a similar fire caused by pyrotechnics, but its sprinkler system and wide exits saved lives. The Great White concert, held in West Warwick, Rhode Island, on October 26, 1990, is widely regarded as one of the worst rock shows in American history. May 23, 2009 Rabat, MoroccoDeaths at concert: 11. GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall founded the band with Russell in 1982. 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. 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 building was mistakenly thought to be exempt from fire codes requiring sprinkler systems. View of the front door and parking lot. Kendall, who founded the band with Russell in 1982, later said he was asked to join Russell and his solo band on the tour to help boost attendance. Several people made their way toward the exits hed pointed out while others didnt take the threat seriously. Something was wrong. But 15 years later, she said, it's time for her to move out of its . "It was just an awful experience," Mark said. On February 20th, 2003 in West Warick, Rhode Island, tragedy struck during a Great White headlined concert. So, right before he left, I cooked his favorite dinner," said James. Seen through the human lens of victims, survivors and their families, the fire and milestones of healing physical and emotional scars all come into focus in this poignant television event, shares Steve Cheskin, SVP of Programming at REELZ. In less than 90 seconds, most of those who hadn't already made their escape would be . It was equipped with one fire extinguisher for the entire building and inspection papers were forged to keep the club operating. 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. 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