I went back around the front again, and that's when you saw people stacked on top of each other, trying to get out of the front door. You see on your left the horseshoe-shaped bar. Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. [12] Kendall, who had co-founded the band with Russell in 1977, had rejoined Russell's version of the group in 2002. [9] Michael Derderian told 48 Hours that it was "Undisputable" that the building's use of flammable packing foam instead of flame retardant sound foam was the cause of the fire's spread, but the brothers claimed that they had ordered sound foam and had received the packing foam instead. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. 2021, shooting at a San Jose rail station. People say they just feel peaceful, Russo told the Globe. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), R.I. State House homeless encampment removed after legal fight, After the 80th anniversary of the tragic fire, a Cocoanut Grove memorial is coming to Boston, This affordable airline says it will bring at least 20 routes to an R.I. airport. Obviously the nightclub was not in compliance, and there never should have been pyrotechnics, but there's no evidence the bouncers blocked people from . It was liquid fire. Vanner has no excuses. It would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. : In 2021, 48 Hours described the total civil payments to the victims and families as $176 million. The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. Am I going to sit here and cry about this? PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. Jeff Derderian, seated right, says, "You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form.". [38] Derderian had begun working for WPRI on February 17, three days before the fire. Its just one of those things thats ingrained in you.. I couldn't hear screaming anymore. Nightclub Fire", "3 indicted in R.I. rock concert fire - UPI Archives", "The Derderians are on a 'white-wash tour' about The Station fire, says father who lost son", "The strange and terrible true story of Great White, and the Station nightclub fire", "3 Men Are Indicted in Fire At Rhode Island Nightclub", "Foam company offers Station nightclub fire plaintiffs $6.3M settlement", "DAN BIECHELE SPEAKS Pre-Sentencing Statement GREAT WHITE TOUR MANAGER Station Nightclub Fire RI", "Fury, Tears and 4-Year Term in Deadly Blaze", "Band manager who ignited deadly Rhode Island nightclub fire freed from prison", "Manager Sentenced for Rhode Island Nightclub Fire", "Many families of Station fire victims supporting parole for band manager", "Band manager who ignited R.I. club fire is freed", "After prison, Biechele rebuilding life in Fla", "Derderians will plead; AG says he opposes sentencing deal", "2 Brothers to Plead No Contest in R.I. Absolutely not. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. You bury nine people in a period of less than two weeks, she said, and yeah, I think it affects you. And people just stood there. For those who lived through it or lost a loved one, healing from the horrific scars, both physical and emotional, takes time. 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. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. Jim Axelrod: There are so many people still to this day angry that the case didn't go to trial. Jody King: I see the horror. [9][10][8] At the time of their performance at the Station, Great White only had two of its original members in its lineup: Lead singer Jack Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. That was his gift. [35], The fire, from its inception, was caught on videotape by cameraman Brian Butler for WPRI-TV of Providence, and the beginning of that tape was released to national news stations. Updated on: October 24, 2021 / 2:07 AM And I knew the window was to my left. Mon, February 20th 2023, 8:29 PM PST. Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see Great White, an 80s band now with some new members lead by singer Jack Russell and known mainly for their hit "Once Bitten, Twice Shy. Like, "get away from the building." He don't know. Inside The Inferno: The Station Nightclub Fire | Thought Catalog It was completely preventable. So, it was not a great decision to use these inside a nightclub that only has 12-foot ceilings. For more information on your department or district joining the SAVE program click here or contact the California Fire Foundation at save@cpf.org or (916) 641-1707. I would forgive them in a heartbeat. Linda Saran was a regular at The Station. [93] In the years following the fire, Great White split into two separate groups, one led by Russell and the other by Kendall. [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. Tracy King worked at The Station as a bouncer. Nightclub Fire", "WHJY, Clear Channel offer $22M Station fire settlement", "Service recalls victims of nightclub fire - Feb. 25, 2003", "Families visit scene of deadly nightclub fire - Feb. 24, 2003", "Concert for nightclub fire survivors nets $25K", "Governor McKee Statement on 20th Anniversary of Station Nightclub Fire | Governor's Office, State of Rhode Island", "Station Nightclub Fire Memorial On Track For 2016 Opening", "Timeline: Station Nightclub Fire, 15 year anniversary", "Station nightclub site will no longer be Pokemon Go destination", "Owner of burned RI club donates land for memorial", "Job Lot customers respond to Station Fire Memorial drive", "Memorial park dedicated to victims of Station Nightclub Fire", "Great White: Performing again is the right thing", "Providence nightclub fire charity rebuffs Great White singer", "After the fire: Great White, survivors live with the horror of Rhode Island tragedy", "Rhode Island Club Fire Tragedy Revisited with Members of Rock Band Great White", "Now There's Two Versions Of Great White | Metal Insider", "After The Fire: Feelings mixed and emotions high as Jack Russell's Great White return to New England", "Great White And Jack Russell Reach Agreement Over Use Of Band Name", "Great White singer's fire memorial concert nixed", "Mohegan Sun postpones Great White concert booked close to Station fire anniversary", "Documentary on youngest Station victim to be aired", "Films by RIC Alum Are Among Station Nightclub Fire Tributes", National Fire Protection Association web page "Nightclubs/assembly occupancies", Guide to the Station Nightclub Victims' Collection from the Rhode Island State Archives, Great Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Station_nightclub_fire&oldid=1142630889, Building and structure fires in the United States, February 2003 events in the United States, Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2013, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. After the investigation ended and prosecutors had no more questions, after reporters stopped calling and the years passed since that deadly night, the man who was the sound technician and stage manager at The Station nightclub was left with his thoughts. Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider, who is featured in a REELZ documentary about the Warwick, Rhode Island Station nightclub fire, which killed some 100 attendees of a Great White concert in 2003, The Station Nightclub Fire - University of Cincinnati pdf To summarize the reports, specifically about how people exited, the vast majority of people attempted to exit the way they came in. It looked like a ladder of those black jelly bracelets from the 80s hanging in rings around my wrists. The Derderians say that in the three years they owned the club, no one ever questioned the safety of the foam. The brothers say they are still haunted by the events of that horrific night. The club was sold. Biechele was released from prison on March 19, 2008. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. Barr, who was in his junior year, had dreams of a career on Wall Street and swam competitively for his college swim team. What kind of club was this? Jody King: "Anybody see Tracy?" "Taking responsibility for your actions goes a long way," she says. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "[55] Biechele was released in March 2008. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. I never imagined that anyone ever would be. It was criminal, he says. The tour manager for the rock band Great White pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison. That's all I can keep seeing in my head. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. The third started that day. It looked like it was raining black fire. The club was not equipped with sprinklers, according to the NIST, and crowding at the buildings main entrance made it difficult for people to escape. [97] Russell raised about $180 from the concert, but the Memorial Foundation refused the donation, a decision supported by Kendall. Jeff Derderian: Because in my mind I had nothing to hide. Based upon its work, Tentative Interim Amendments (TIAs) were issued for the national standard "Life Safety Code" (NFPA 101), in July 2003. Purchase and sale had been signed. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. ", "Fire in a nightclub: the band; group persevered by making circuit of smaller clubs", "How tragedy inspired one member of Great White", "Rhode Island Remembers Victims Of Deadly GREAT WHITE Concert Fire", "Club, band dispute permission to use fireworks - Feb. 22, 2003", "Memories sear survivor of fire that killed 100 in 2003", "Parents mourn loss of only child in nightclub fire, but cherish time they had after first near-death experience", "Radio station to remain in fire lawsuits", "Clear Channel agrees to pay $22 million to nightclub fire victims", "Portraits of people who died in the R.I. nightclub fire", "Timeline: What happened the night of the Station nightclub fire? Michael Derderian: Jeffrey was responsible for all the marketing activities. [90] Russell planned to donate the proceeds to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, but the organization asked to be disassociated from the concert, citing the animosity still felt by many of the survivors and surviving families. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. 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. Phil Barr [teary-eyed]: Getting another opportunity to live my life came with enormous responsibility. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. He trusted the owners. I couldn't play an instrument. [47] Larocque was not charged by the grand jury, as Lynch had cited a state law that prevented charges against fire marshals without proof of bad faith. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. In an exclusive interview with "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod, the Derderians said they wanted to set the record straight and reveal new information about that foam and accountability. [52] Speaking to the public for the first time since the fire, Biechele stated: For three years, I've wanted to be able to speak to the people that were affected by this tragedy, but I know that there's nothing that I can say or do that will undo what happened that night. Regardless, Lynch points out the Derderians still chose to take a plea deal instead of going to trial. [48] Larocque had set various capacities for the Station in the years prior to the fire based on whether pool tables and other items could be moved. In December 2003, nine months after the fire, Jeff and Michael Derderian were in court, each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter 100 for criminal negligence, and 100 for misdemeanor manslaughter. More than 460 fans had crowded into the wooden, single-story, 4,480 -square-foot nightclub known as The Station in West Warwick, R.I., to enjoy a Thursday night show on Feb. 20, 2003. Michael Derderian: Correct. Russo said that the memorial serves a valuable purpose today for those who knew victims. And people stood and watched it, and some people backed off. Because so many people that were there don't have that opportunity. if he had done that, then he would have obviously have said to us . They promoted the event. It was there, she said, that she found the best therapists: others who had been in the fire. WEST WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) Gina Russo, who survived The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick in 2003, spoke with NBC 10's Mario Hilario on the morning of the 20th anniversary of the. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. He was granted parole and then released after 22 months. Nine friends didnt. I know how this tragedy has devastated me, but I can only begin to understand what the people who lost loved ones have endured. You take one square inch of the foam, you hold it up with a roach clip and light it on fire with a wooden match. I needed for that day to come, she said. For people to know you can go there now and look at this beautiful park and talk to your person thats what I love about it.. [20], Great White started their performance at 11:07 p.m. on February 20. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. Patrick Lynch: I don't think anybody in anything that they did wanted anybody to die that night or get injured. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. True to his words, Barr fought to breathe on his own. There had to be that period for me. Well, I guess once we all started to turn toward the door, and we got bottle-necked into the front door, people just kept pushing, and eventually everyone popped out of the door, including myself. [83], In June 2003, the Station Fire Memorial Foundation (SFMF) was formed with the purpose of purchasing the property, to build and maintain a memorial. I couldn't hear noise. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. [103], Inspired by the fire, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act has been proposed United States Senate and House of Representatives since 2003. There was nothing heroic about what I did.. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. Eighteen years later, there was no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. Jeff Derderian: I don't know. Jim Axelrod: Did the contract specify the use of pyrotechnics? Phil Barr: A lot of people moved back towards the main entrance it became really clear that we were not going to be able [to] get out the front door. undisputable. A true hero would have gone for it, Vanner said. [21] Twenty seconds after the pyrotechnics ended, the band stopped playing and lead singer Jack Russell calmly remarked into the microphone, "Wow that's not good. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. In February 2006 three years after the station nightclub burned down many in Rhode Island were shocked to learn that instead of a trial, a plea deal had been reached with Daniel Biechele, the tour manager for the band Great White. [63] Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch objected strenuously to the plea bargain, saying that both brothers should have received jail time and that Michael Derderian should have received more time than Biechele. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. He don't know. When I turned around, some people were already trying to leave, and others were just sitting there going, "Yeah, that's great!"