Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. Jimmy Gahan was ecstatic when he was offered the opportunity to interview Jack Russell, the lead singer of Great White. 2023. Panic in the tunnel left 19 dead at the scene. Chaos erupted when black smoke started billowing throughout the club, limiting visibility. Jimmy Gahan was a celebrated athlete before he became actively involved with music, his other passion. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Their stories embody courage and deliver inspiration while others depict a much darker aftermath. "He was totally into sports, but he always had this connection to music," James explained. At the time of the fire, the group that was on the road was called JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE. 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. Blaze: Directed by Gloria Muzio. Weeks after the fire a charred handwritten notebook page was recovered from the Station nightclub ashes that contained rows of names and above them were the words Guest List., Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. Copyright 2013-2023 The Music Universe. Why it happened that night Who knows? So when they opened doors, the backdraft or whatever made it just go up. 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. But I didn't know anyone in [Jack's solo] band; I just met 'em for the first time [on that tour].". By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of all cookies. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, May 28, 1977 Southgate, KentuckyDeaths at concert: 165. '", The singer said that the documentary, which he hopes will help bring him some closure, is "really well done. '", According to Russell, at least one "really beautiful" thing came out of the tragedy. 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. He then corrected himself: "I wouldn't say a lot, but they're very vocal." "We hope Jims family takes comfort that his star will forever shine on!". A version of this article was previously published in 2011, and was updated on Nov. 8, 2021. And I'm, like, 'But I am sorry.' And his comment was, 'If this wouldn't have happened, I wouldn't have met the love of my life.'". This was supposed to be a monument to remind state officials, local officials, elected officials what happens when you dont do your job. His book is regarded as the first and most comprehensive exploration of the chain of events leading up to the fire, as well as its legal and human aftermath. That said, it's also the sort of thing that needs to be examined in the hope of preventing similar calamities in the future. He was 21. The film is based in part on John Barylick's narrative non-fiction work "Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America's Deadliest Rock Concert". See Tickets. The crowd rushed to the front of the stage, with people squeezing together so tightly that many couldnt breathe. The comments reside on Facebook servers and are not stored on BLABBERMOUTH.NET. On February 20th, 2003 in West Warick, Rhode Island, tragedy struck during a Great White headlined concert. "America's Deadliest Concert: The Guest List", a documentary about the infamous GREAT WHITE concert fire nearly two decades ago that killed a hundred people and injured hundreds more, will receive its premiere on Reelz on February 20. It also provided scholarships for students to attend Nichols, among other colleges. Great White is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 5 concerts across 1 country in 2023-2024. The Guest List is based in part on John Barylick's narrative non-fiction work, killer show . And it was just horrific, man. or redistributed. The event was also canceled in 2009 in Bochum due to the inability to host so many spectators. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The nightclub was known for heavy metal music, and that evening the headliner was metal band Great White. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The Beverly Hills Supper Club was a sprawling maze of a club in Kentucky, located just across the bridge from Cincinnati, Ohio. Dee Snider of Twisted Sister performs during Phoenix Rising! Check out what clicked this week in entertainment. Biechele pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the tragedy. When reached by Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Great White wrote, "The band would respectfully decline comment. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Great White Announce Andrew Freeman as New Singer. Nov. 5, 2021 Houston, TexasConcert deaths: 9. Merriweather Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD. The crowds mood inside the Station went from celebration, to curiosity, to concern, to absolute terror within about a 20-second span. This nine-day festival, according to Al Jazeera, was meant to promote the reputation of Morocco as a modern nation. Surges of people can make events dangerous, as seen during the Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2021. The devastating accident, often referred to as The Station nightclub fire, killed 100 people and injured hundreds more. "He used to like my cooking. 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. One member, guitarist Ty Longley, was killed in the fire. Great White dropped a bombshell on us Monday . 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. People die, Kane said. (Courtesy of James Gahan). M3 Rock Festival 2-Day Pass. ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER. ", DREW CAREY, AMIE HARWICK'S HEARTBREAKING LAST CONVERSATION BEFORE HER TRAGIC MURDER REVEALED. In 2021, the Derderians gave an interview to 48 Hours, explaining, for the first time, their side of what happened. View of the front door and parking lot. I spent the next 50 weeks in the hospital. Russell also said that he wanted the tragedy to serve as a reminder to remain alert about public safety. 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 died. The Gang's All Here Tour: Skid Row, Great White, Kip Winger. "It's been a long, long time. Its central characters struggle to cope in the aftermath of tragedy some gracefully, and some less so. Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. More than 200 others were injured. It lets you know how beautiful music is and how music can heal everything, no matter what people think. July 25, 2010 Duisburg, GermanyDeaths at concert: 21. The Story of the Great White Concert Fire Tragedy. It was the first procedure of its kind at the Massachusetts General Hospital Hand Transplantation Service. Strong winds upended the metal scaffolding and stage equipment at the 2011 Indiana State Fair while a crowd was packed into the concert venue. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. ", The brothers who owned the nightclub, Jeff and Michael Derderian, were found guilty of one hundred counts of involuntary manslaughter, and have used varying charitable methods to atone for the disaster. "He would always go to concerts, and thats how he met Mike Ricardi. 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. Chapters 6-18 deal with the events immediately leading up to the Great White concert of February 20, 2003 and the fire itself. It is an object lesson in the tragic potential of poor decisions. the band playing at a Rhode Island nightclub where 100 people perished in a fire was NOT Great White. It was a Thursday, and 80s band Great White was set to be playing to a packed crowd. 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. A formal ceremony is in the works for the 20th anniversary of the fire. At around five oclock, we then received a notice for family members to go to some hotel that was now a command center set up by the governor. Nous, Yahoo, faisons partie de la famille de marques Yahoo. GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall founded the band with Russell in 1982. Just seconds after 80s sensation Great White took the stage, pyrotechnics ignited a fire that . The Great White Concert Fire: Deadliest Rock Concert In American History. No one who watches 'The Guest List' will enter a concert venue again without first checking for the exits.". Great White's Jack Russell Discusses the Station Nightclub Fire, When asked if he felt horrible about the tragedy in a 2013 interview with Rover Radio, Russell answered, "Of course I do." All rights reserved. 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 . The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. 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.' 2022. In 2017, Station Fire Memorial Park was opened on the site where the nightclub once stood. 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. 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. 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. In less than 90 seconds, most of those who hadnt already made their escape would be trapped inside. One hundred people, including college student Jimmy Gahan, died. 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 mean, it was a long time. People that I didn't even know were even there. 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. 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. The incident took place in a former warehouse-turned-artist-collective venue called the Ghost Ship, which had no smoke detectors or sprinklers, and contained a significant amount of flammable material. October 7, 2022. Fire broke out during the performance and pyrotechnic display by the '80s band. You can also send an e-mail to blabbermouthinbox(@)gmail.com with pertinent details. The Station nightclub fire remains America's deadliest rock concert. The fire was started by pyrotechnics going off on stage while the band Great White performed. "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. Then corrected himself: `` I would n't say a lot, but they 're very.!, guitarist Ty Longley, was killed in the works for the first time, their side of happened. 2006 to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and was updated on Nov. 8, 2021,... 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