Not for sale or trade. 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. Jan. 1, 2009 Bangkok, ThailandConcert deaths: 100. The outlet reported that the surviving band members were never charged. Sadly, its far from the first time that people have died at a concert or music festival. 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. On the night of February 20, 2003, more than 400 music fans packed into the small Station nightclub. Dave Kane, the father of the youngest victim, Nicholas ONeill, says the tragedy feels like it just happened just yesterday. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. It includes interviews with Russell, Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER),Don Dokken (DOKKEN),Lita Ford and Michael Sweet (STRYPER). Fire broke out during the performance and pyrotechnic display by the '80s band. According to reports, Michael was released after earning time off for good behavior. 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 . 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. The public has a short memory, unfortunately. Why it happened that night Who knows? The band suddenly went from drawing 100 people to a local club to drawing thousands in L.A. concert halls such as Perkins Palace in Pasadena, . The Station nightclub fire occurred 20 years ago on the evening of February 20, 2003 at a Great White concert in West Warwick, RI killing 100 people and injuring 230. GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall spoke to the "Sally Steele Rocks! 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. 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.". He and his pal, Michael Ricardi, were the hosts of "Jim and Mikeys Power Hour" on the college radio station WNRC. Great White toured with Guns N' Roses, hit the charts, and dissolved in a blur of betrayal and substance abuse. Russell said that the flames from the pyrotechnic display spread to foam decorations around the stage. Amid the chaos, Ricardi couldnt see his friend but was hoping that Gahan was right behind him. August 13, 2011 Indianapolis, IndianaConcert deaths: 7. Eight people were ultimately pronounced dead, and dozens more rushed to the hospital in what was officially classified a mass casualty incident. Why it happened that night Who knows? Russell exited GREAT WHITE in December 2011 after he was unable to tour with the group due a series of injuries, including a perforated bowel and a shattered pelvis. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Weather Now: Rainy Start, Mild, Dry Finish to the, Mass. ", DREW CAREY, AMIE HARWICK'S HEARTBREAKING LAST CONVERSATION BEFORE HER TRAGIC MURDER REVEALED. You could just see the perpetual smile on his face. 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. "I look at it like this: if it makes it easier for them to grieve the loss of somebody close to them, then my shoulders are big enough," he explained. Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD. Pour en savoir plus sur notre utilisation de vos informations, veuillez consulter notre Politique relative la vie prive et notre Politique en matire de cookies. Metallica 80s Rock Band Battle Jacket (almost done) Not for sale or trade. On Feb. 20, 2003, The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, burst into flames when pyrotechnics from the rock band landed on flammable foam installed as soundproofing. Weeks later, when I awoke from my coma I immediately understood and accepted what was going on. I thought maybe they'd have a fire extinguisher. The Station Nightclub Fire, America . The Gang's All Here Tour: Skid Row, Great White, Kip Winger. The Station was overcrowded, with 462 people crammed into a room only licensed to hold about 400. Sat 8:00pm. It lets you know how beautiful music is and how music can heal everything, no matter what people think. The morning after the fire, the lead singer of Great White, Jack Russell, claimed the . And he met his wife in the fire and they had a beautiful son. Kane says he and his family miss Nick as much as ever, but theyre not shy to say they feel his presence. In the end, Great White's manager, who set up the pyrotechnics, plead guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter against the advice of his attorney. 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. Join our newsletter for exclusive features, tips, giveaways! 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. People that I didn't even know were even there. In his first book, Barylick, an attorney who investigated the blaze and prosecuted wrongful death and personal injury cases for victims and their families, gives . 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. Americas Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List explores the Station nightclub fire through gripping survivor accounts and family members and friends of victims 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. In less than 90 seconds, most of those who hadnt already made their escape would be trapped inside. (WJAR) WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) A Mass of . Panic in the tunnel left 19 dead at the scene. Russell added that he is "glad" the film was made. View all concerts. "America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List" premiers Feb 20th on @ReelzChannelhttps://t.co/uQPOE13agm, Dee Snider (@deesnider) February 5, 2022. These cookies do not store any personal information. Infamous Great White Concert Fire. 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. The Jimmy Gahan Charitable Foundation, which James established with his wife, was instrumental in the radio station getting an upgrade, the Telegram & Gazette reported. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. 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. They would be burned alive, identified days later only by dental records or tattoos. "During the first few days, we were just in complete shock," he said. In 2008, the band agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and families of the victims of the fire. May 6-7. Other known facts are that the club was never sanctioned as such and never received a fire inspection. 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. What is the deadliest rock concert in history? 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. BLABBERMOUTH.NET reserves the right to "hide" comments that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate and to "ban" users that violate the site's Terms Of Service. 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. And people have said, 'Well, he's not remorseful.' Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed. And it was just horrific, man. Ricardi found a broken window and jumped through. 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 . Exits had been welded shut to prevent patrons from skipping out on their bills, which meant that marked exits were non-existent. He probably wasn't drinking, and was recently aware of the dangers involved in being in a packed club like that. Pyrotechnics caused a fire, which resulted in 100 deaths and many injuries, America's deadliest rock concert to date. Not a guilty apology, but because I just, "I mean, I feel horrible that it happened," he continued. "I lost a lot of friends that night a lot of friends. Many of the worlds deadliest concert disasters have one thing in common: massive crowds. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. Dee Snider of Twisted Sister performs during Phoenix Rising! Its important for people to remember today though not just because the loved ones who have passed or were injured. Blaze: Directed by Gloria Muzio. In all, over two hundred injuries were reported, and a hundred people lost their lives. James donated his sons CDs to WNRC. Some suffered cardiac arrest. Chapters 6-18 deal with the events immediately leading up to the Great White concert of February 20, 2003 and the fire itself. But 15 years later, she said, it's time for her to move out of its . The local pride and fortitude of the community shine through as interviewees recount the fire and reflect upon both their duty both to remember and to move forward toward healing. Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed. Partially in return for this openness and admission of responsibility, many of those same families publicly supported his early parole, which was granted about halfway through his sentence. "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. Right as the show started around 11 p.m., the band set off some pyrotechnics that lit the overhead sound foam . It was the first procedure of its kind at the Massachusetts General Hospital Hand Transplantation Service. Just moments after 11:00 p.m., At the time of the fire, the group that was on the road was called JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. 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. 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. Man, it was the most horrific thing. 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. A similar measure was among 10 recommendations for improvements to fire codes released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Feb 20, 2023. James said the foundation gave the family a sense of comfort and purpose during their grief. "Because we've never used it before. The devastating accident, often referred to as The Station nightclub fire, killed 100 people and injured hundreds more. 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. Show". Great White Announce Andrew Freeman as New Singer. [And they told me], 'But you can't say it. 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). They were just elated. This documentary not only serves as a reminder of this incredible tragedy, but it shines a light on an amazing group of people who overcame unfathomable loss, and survived, even thrived in the aftermath.. The Station nightclub fire happened more than 14 years ago, and on Sunday, a memorial park was dedicated to the victims of the fire. But I didn't know anyone in [Jack's solo] band; I just met 'em for the first time [on that tour].". Viewers will also see rare and jarring footage from the first news crews on the scene tasked with reporting the horrific event as victims families eagerly awaited news. 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 resulting conflagration killed 100 persons and grievously injured many others. They loved classic rock, and thats what they played every night. "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." And the main reason is we're not a spectacle kind of band. I remember during the funeral hundreds of people showed up for Jimmy. In January of 2010, the clubs owners, the foam manufacturers of the hazardous and toxic building insulation, Anheuser-Busch, Clear Channel Broadcasting, and the town of West Warwick settled for $176 million to be distributed among the survivors of the fire and the children and families of those who perished. 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. At an underground electronic music party in Oakland, a fire broke out that trapped and killed 36 people. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. 'The Guest List' explores how that same music and culture became sources of healing and comfort, at least for some, in the years thereafter. In February 2003, hard rock band Great White was involved in one of the . 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. And he met his wife in the fire and they had a beautiful son. "There was a man named Joe; they call him 'The Lizard Man,'" Jack said. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. It remains Americas deadliest rock concert. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. All rights reserved. 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). "He used to like my cooking. It could fairly be said that music and rock culture drew one hundred innocent people to their deaths in The Station fire. The Great White Nightclub Fire Explained. Jimmy Gahan was ecstatic when he was offered the opportunity to interview Jack Russell, the lead singer of Great White. Great White is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. . Audiences had been waiting for an outdoor performance by Sugarland when 70 mile-per-hour wind blew through the fairground and caused the stage to collapse. Nobody should be scarred for life, be crippled or have their children orphaned because of their love for rock n roll, Snider adds. Strong winds upended the metal scaffolding and stage equipment at the 2011 Indiana State Fair while a crowd was packed into the concert venue. Many of the surviving victims and the families of those killed felt Russell had not done enough to apologize or atone for his part in the tragedy. Market data provided by Factset. Kendall later said he was asked to join Russell and his solo band on the tour to help boost attendance. The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell now performing as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE. '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'. Two survivors later died in the hospital as a result of their injuries. The leader of a rock band is accused of tampering with a flamethrower at a concert, which caused the deaths of 23 people. Great White- "Face the Day (Blues Mix)". '", According to Russell, at least one "really beautiful" thing came out of the tragedy. 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 . At least one relative of a Station fire victim was angered by Russell's plan to make a documentary about the incident and discuss it in the upcoming book. 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. the guest list is a strikingly visual film. For many of those fans what appeared to be their lucky day turned out to be their last. 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