(John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). But what should have been a joyous night ended in tragedy. People embrace at a Mass of Remembrance to honor the 20th anniversary of The Station nightclub fire at St. Kevin Church in Warwick, Feb. 19, 2023. No one who watches 'The Guest List' will enter a concert venue again without first checking for the exits.". I mean, it's like a plane crash it takes all these little things to fall in line for that one big thing to happen. 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. 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). Dee Snider of Twisted Sister performs during Phoenix Rising! TMU participates in various affiliate and advertising programs, including, but not limited to, Amazon, Ticketmaster, and others, and earns from qualifying purchases. Pearl Jam later referenced the incident in the song Love Boat Captain with the line Lost nine friends well never know., Dec. 3, 1979 Cincinnati, OhioDeaths at concert: 11. Why it happened that night Who knows? The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. In 2008, members of Great White agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and victims relatives, Billboard reported. "The documentary addresses timeless themes of personal responsibility, acceptance forgiveness and redemption. Great White Concert History. While he survived, Ricardi spent years suffering from survivors guilt. May 28, 1977 Southgate, KentuckyDeaths at concert: 165. And people have said, 'Well, he's not remorseful.' I go, 'Whatever. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. . It could fairly be said that music and rock culture drew one hundred innocent people to their deaths in The Station fire. Many of the worlds deadliest concert disasters have one thing in common: massive crowds. The reminders are constant, involving a certain number, 41, Nicks favorite and lucky number. Official "America's Deadliest Concert: The Guest List" description: "Fates of the innocent and guilty collide in a small New England town when pyrotechnics from an 80's rock band spark America's deadliest rock concert. So, right before he left, I cooked his favorite dinner," said James. apparently he was there from a local news station filming a piece on nightclub safety hazards. We pretty much knew at that point it was just going to be a question of identification.". 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. "He used to like my cooking. He spent less than three years behind bars. And they've gotta understand, when all this went down, my legal team, they said, 'You cannot ever say you're sorry, because it implies guilt.' He added that everyone affected by the tragedy has their way of remembering the victims each year. Surging crowds at Travis Scotts Astroworld music festival led to pandemonium that turned fatal. Feb. 20, 2003 West Warwick, Rhode IslandConcert deaths: 100. 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 . ", DREW CAREY, AMIE HARWICK'S HEARTBREAKING LAST CONVERSATION BEFORE HER TRAGIC MURDER REVEALED. Croman was a rock club in Barrio Once in Buenos Aires. 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. 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. '", According to Russell, at least one "really beautiful" thing came out of the tragedy. PAUL STANLEY Blasts MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE After She Complains Of Harassment, DAVE LOMBARDO To Tour U.K. With 'Progressive Grindcore' Band EMPIRE STATE BASTARD, MIKKEY DEE Is Open To Playing With KING DIAMOND Again: 'That'd Be Great Fun For Me'. "My heart aches for all the families and friends of the victims whose lives will forever be changed by this terrible tragedy," he was quoted as saying on the 10th anniversary of the tragedy. The foam used in the club's walls wasn't just remarkably flammable. "There was a man named Joe; they call him 'The Lizard Man,'" Jack said. Christmas Day is supposed to be happy and pleasant, a time to gather with loved ones for a chill and relaxing celebration. 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. So it was kind of strange. "He was the worst, most badly burned of all the people. General admission seating made up 80 percent of tickets sold, which was said to be a contributing factor to the rush for entry as fans clamored for a good view of the show. "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. As part of the settlement, the band didnt admit to any wrongdoing. GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall spoke to the "Sally Steele Rocks! A formal ceremony is in the works for the 20th anniversary of the fire. The event was also canceled in 2009 in Bochum due to the inability to host so many spectators. When the fire reached the room, the crowd panicked and people were trampled as they tried to escape. ", 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 chaos started when Scott, the festivals founder and headliner, took the stage. 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. 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. 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. He was 21. On the night of February 20, 2003, more than 400 music fans packed into the small Station nightclub. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. Some mention sparklers, some say there may have been an electrical problem, others say it started as a result of pyrotechnics in the club. And, just when it couldn't get worse, they played Rhode Island. The fire starts during the band's opening number, "Desert Moon," when pyrotechnics ignite the soundproof insulation at the . That's pretty much the end of GREAT WHITE. It was then that my wife and I realized we needed a place where we could channel our energies, our emotions. The strange and terrible true story of Great White, and the Station nightclub fire. 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. Russell added that he is "glad" the film was made. Blaze: Directed by Gloria Muzio. It was difficult to comprehend the whole scope of this and what missteps could give rise to such an extreme and deadly fire. On February 20th, 2003 in West Warick, Rhode Island, tragedy struck during a Great White headlined concert. Several people made their way toward the exits hed pointed out while others didnt take the threat seriously. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! It is an abject lesson in the tragic potential of poor decisions, adds documentary director David Bellino. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. (Bill Greene/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). But 15 years later, she said, it's time for her to move out of its . Its central characters struggle to cope in the aftermath of tragedy some gracefully, and some less so. 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. . Legal Statement. In the afternoon before the concert Russell met many Great White fans in the West Warwick area and graciously added their names to the guest list for the show that night. 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. It was a horrible thing that happened. The one-story building burned to the ground in about three minutes. A short time later, Russell was countersued by Kendall, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). He died. America's Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List: Directed by David S. Bellino. Weeks after the fire, the actual charred, handwritten guest list was recovered from the club's ashes. "He was totally into sports, but he always had this connection to music," James explained. I don't like to think about it.". He then corrected himself: "I wouldn't say a lot, but they're very vocal." It also provided scholarships for students to attend Nichols, among other colleges. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. The Event Center at Turning Stone Resort Casino - Verona, NY. (David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). 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. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Their stories embody courage and deliver inspiration while others depict a much darker aftermath. I spent the next 50 weeks in the hospital. "During the first few days, we were just in complete shock," he said. 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. Feb 20 2003, 400 music fans of Great White packed into the small Station nightclub. "And I even called the manager, I go, 'You're calling it 'Jack Russell's GREAT WHITE'?' Lunar time zone push begins, Hate your signature? According to the BBC, the band was told to stop playing, and once aware of the problem they asked fans to back away, but it was too late. Ty Longley, the guitarist for Great White, was among 100 people who died when the band lit fireworks inside a small . "America's Deadliest Concert: The Guest List", a documentary about the GREAT WHITE concert fire, received its premiere this past February via Reelz. Source: The Patriot Ledger. It was the deadliest mass casualty event in Oakland since the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. Feb 20, 2023. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Representing the families of the deceased, lawyer John Barylick negotiated a $176 million civil settlement from, as he put it, "the persons and corporations responsible for the fire.". #woodstock99 #roskildefestival #livemusic #musicfestival #pearljam #metallica Great White Nightclub Fire, Pearl Jam 2000 Roskilde Festival, GNR concert, #axlrose". You could just see the perpetual smile on his face. According to ABC News, though, several hundred people in the Chinese city of Luoyang decided to cut loose on Christmas night 2000 by heading to a nightclub housed on the fourth floor of a multi-use industrial building.A fire broke out in the basement of the structure . 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