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[12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. [21] Thick smoke began to fill the station one minute after the ignition and the crowd began to escape the building. We couldn't make it. [9] In 2005, the Rhode Island Attorney General office received a fax from Barry Warner, a former employee of American Foam who lived nearby the Station, who claimed the company had known about the dangers of polyurethane foam but did not warn their employees about it. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. [26] The Cowesett Inn restaurant across the street from the Station acted as an ad-hoc burn triage and command center for first responders. As soon as the pyrotechnics stopped, the flame had started on the egg-crate backing behind the stage, and it just went up the ceiling. "We went out on a Thursday night to listen to music, drink some beers and have a good time. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. [100], Gonsalves was inducted into the Rhode Island Radio and Television Hall of Fame in 2013. In September 2008, The Jack Russell Tour Group Inc. offered $1 million in a settlement to survivors and victims' relatives. and I tripped over what I assume was a bar stool. Jody King: I see the horror. into the main barroom. Within six minutes, the entire building was engulfed in flames. [2] The final tally by The Providence Journal of people inside the Station during the fire totaled 462. The second was the time from that night until the dedication of the memorial last spring. [85] By April 2016, $1.65 million of the $2 million fundraising goal had been achieved and construction of the Station Fire Memorial Park had commenced. Both the brothers had other jobs. [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. Linda Saran: Yes. And he's like he don't know. Tracy King worked at The Station as a bouncer. It had to be two minutes tops before the whole place was black smoke. Brandon Fravale, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire, speaks with NBC 10 on how he copes with survivor's guilt. 9. Patrick Lynch: Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. JEFF DERDERIAN [crying]: Many people didn't make it out and that is a horror that will haunt my family and I for the rest of our lives. Michael Derderian also spoke via phone to an investigator. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. The following day the brothers responded at a press conference: JEFF DERDERIAN: No permission was ever requested by the band or any of its agents to use pyrotechnics at The Station, and no permission was ever given. Today Phil Barr is married and a father of two little girls. [76] The Rhode Island state fire code was changed after the fire to require every nightclub in the state with a capacity of over 150 people to have a sprinkler system installed.[3]. To the right is this much larger space in front of a stage. Patrick Lynch: Did he do his job perfectly? Linda Saran: I think a lot of people miss out on the moments. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. Linda Saran: The foam was raining down and the flames are dripping from the ceiling. There had to be that period for me. That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. [51], Victims' families have also cited overcrowding in the venue as a cause for the causalities during the fire. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. He sees his actions as a verdict on his own humanity. The Station nightclub in West Warwick burned down on Feb. 20, 2003, during a concert by rock band Great White, leaving 100 people dead and more than 200 injured. Isn't that an important fact in determining who's at fault? [22] During the performance, pyrotechnics set off by tour manager Daniel Biechele ignited the flammable acoustic foam on both sides and the top center of the drummer's alcove at the back of the stage. Linda Saran: It's like a riptide. It didn't have a lock on it. But never once do they say, "we screwed up." Station Fire Memorial Park, a permanent memorial to the victims of the fire, was opened in May 2017 at the site where the Station once stood. And Paul Vanner didnt like what he saw. Scott James: It should not have happened. According to author Scott James, Great White had reportedly used a large pyro display without permission at other clubs, including just days before the fire at a show in New Jersey. 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. [95][49], Neither version of Great White performed in any of the six New England states for over a decade following the fire. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. I refused to accept that as the outcome. And people just stood there. If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. This is solid gasoline. I miss Tina a lot. Tracy King died saving many others the night of the fire. [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. Since he co-owned The Station nightclub with his brother Michael Derderian, Jeff suggested it as a venue for generic nightclub footage. How did you meet him? Like you feel that kinship that, you know, "God, I really hope this guy makes it." First of all, I don't know you would, how would you how would you accomplish the detail and the amount of new information in a news conference or, you know, a commercial or something that we would try and do on our own. It was already in contract. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. It was liquid fire. It couldnt continue another 10, 15 years, it couldnt. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. He arrived early around 8:30 p.m. Phil Barr: There really weren't that many people around early in the night. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. Taking her students to the memorial park and telling them what it means were ways of building that memory, she said. And I knew the window was to my left. Scott James: They are what they call 15x15. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. This trial was scheduled to start May 1, 2006, but Biechele, against his lawyers' advice,[52] pleaded guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter on February 7, 2006, in what he said was an effort to "bring peace, I want this to be over with."[52]. I just don't find him as guilty of anything. For those who lived through it or lost a loved one, healing from the horrific scars, both physical and emotional, takes time. A West Warwick police officer who was already at the scene also reported the fire to police dispatch. if I had nothing to hide, then why wouldn't you why wouldn't you talk to them and tell them what you knew or what you didn't know? Patrick Lynch: I can't remember, honestly. Patrick Lynch: You're telling me it wasn't, and I don't know that it wasn't. I could have missed that My friends that didn't survive that night have missed that. Jim Axelrod: Were you a fan of the band Great White? They all came so every single one of those hundred students held up a white rose and they represented one of the 100 [who died]. [93] After a 2013 legal settlement between the two parties, Kendall's band retained the Great White name, while Russell's band was allowed to use the name Jack Russell's Great White. Its surreal. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. Robin Petrarca was in New York City three weeks ago, looking for some laughs in a comedy club. That exit door would soon be engulfed in flames. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. [98], 41, a documentary about Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the fire, was screened at Rhode Island theaters in 2008. Patrick Lynch: Again, any reference in this conversation about what the brothers say, I I take a step back and think I don't really trust it. It was completely preventable. [48] Some victims' families criticized the 48 Hours segment and the Derderians' involvement. Jim Axelrod: If you have a message that you want the people of Rhode Island to hear, there were plenty of ways to get it out long before now. American Foam Corporation, who sold the insulation to The Station nightclub, agreed in 2008 to pay $6.3 million to settle lawsuits relating to the fire. [17][16], The concert was emceed by Michael Gonsalves, a disk jockey for Providence rock radio station WHJY who was also known as "Doctor Metal". Scott James: It smelled like spilled beer and stale cigarettes and everything was just a little bit frayed at the edge. Jim Axelrod: The fire spread so quickly because rather than fire-retardant sound foam, on the wall of the club was highly flammable packing foam. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. That evening she had a girl's night out with a friend while her young daughter was at a sleepover. 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. He still remembers that deadly night. Flames were seen breaking through a part of the roof in less than five minutes. 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. But when Warner was called before the grand jury, he was not asked about the allegations he made in the fax. I come down every year and play the [bagpipes], he told WCVB. [25] Fire departments in Warwick, Coventry, and Cranston rendered mutual aid to the fire site. As numerous violations of existing codes contributed to the severity of the fire, there was immediate effort to strengthen fire code protections. Jim Axelrod: When you come to, you're in a hospital room. I have to find him. Dan McKee honored the victims, their families, and the first responders who saved many lives. Michael Derderian: The club was sold. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. The Guest List is a strikingly visual film. It was criminal, he says. once you could no longer see, it was total pandemonium. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? And I never expected it to take off as fast as it did. Linda Saran: When I first went out the window, I landed on the stairs. In 2017 a memorial was opened to honor the100 innocent lives that were tragically lost in The Station fire, including Tracy King, who died saving so many others. But she refuses to live in the past. He sees a court-ordered therapist, who has told him he has depression and PTSD. Stay up to date with everything Boston. Eighteen years later, there was no consensus among survivors when it comes to blame. Survivors and friends of survivors active in the effort to turn the nightclub site in West Warwick into a memorial park recount the emotional journeys that brought them from 2003 to 2018.. Linda Saran: The night of the fire I got in for free. Jeff Derderian: We feel a sense of guilt about what happened in the sense that you carry the guilt of knowing that these people aren't here anymore, and these people are hurt for the rest of their life. 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. PATRICK LYNCH [press conference]: We have an investigation on going and we need help, we need answers and I'm trying to get them. Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. A California woman who had been injured in an accident and hadnt left her house in five years wrote her, she said. Jeffrey and Michael Derderian, the owners of the Station, pleaded no contest and avoided a trial: Michael received the same sentence as Biechele and was released from prison in 2009, while Jeffrey received a sentence of 500 hours of community service. 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. He says he managed to escape through the front door before a stampede of people got stuck in the narrow hallway and blocked the exit. [43][45], An investigation of the fire by a Rhode Island state grand jury was started by then-Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch on February 26, 2003. American Foam said Warner's claims about the company are false. He was the. Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. [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. 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. Phil Barr: We kind of crouched down behind some of the people in front of us. Season 1. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. The fire began as rock band Great White played to the crowd. View Image Gallery. In fact, they did the opposite.". In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. However, fire professionals have few choices about what training should be provided and training programs are continually updated to incorporate new technologies as well as lessons learned from actual fire experiences. But with last springs dedication of the memorial on the old nightclub site, Del Sesto said she thinks she has found a way not to forget, but to live with the memories. And it was ugly. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. At the scene, Jody King was desperate for information about his brother, and began to fear the worst. Dont take life for granted and I miss her every day She was my world and now shes my angel.. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. I couldn't understand him or understand the magnitude of what was going on there. But 15 years later, she said, its time for her to move out of its shadow. In 2008, the band agreed to pay $1. I don't even like to talk about it. Jeff Derderian: You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form. my dad was in the room. The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". People recall the events of the fourth deadliest night club fire in U.S. history. The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? But she said she also wants to keep the people she has met from that night, who she sees as friends and not sharers of a horrible experience. Legal action against several parties, including Great White, were resolved with monetary settlements by 2008. Scott James: The fire alarm you hear it kick in. The answer is no. I thought how terrible it was that my daughter was going to grow up without her mom. The tragedy, she said, heightened her appreciation of the life she was allowed, for whatever reason, to continue. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. [9] Two gerbs were at 45-degree angles, with the middle two pointing straight up. "There really weren't that many people around early in the night. You see on your left the horseshoe-shaped bar. Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. [24] Hundreds of firefighters responded to the fire, including every available West Warwick firefighter. Almost immediately the finger pointing started. This is the time to leave. On February 20, 2003, in West Warwick, Rhode Island, the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in United States history occurred in The Station nightclub. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. Patrick Lynch: First of all, I think it's pathetic, disgusting and unsettling to think that they're even speaking now The foam that they put up had a direct impact on the survivability of the bulk of the people that were assembled that night. Jody King: He ran in and came out nine times in 90 seconds. [96] By 2013, Russell's group had resumed playing "Desert Moon". Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. ", Scott James: They had their moments. He trusted in his friends. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. The night of the fire, hundreds of people gathered at The Station to see the band Great White. [4] No occupants were in the building during the 1972 fire, but the interior was significantly damaged. MICHAEL DERDERIAN: I plead not guilty, your honor. So many ways this could have been avoided, Matthew Hoffman, an East Greenwich, R.I. resident, told WPRI. [94] Russell's group made its first New England appearance in twelve years at a harvest festival in Mechanic Falls, Maine, in August 2015. America's 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 Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. I look at my scars every day. As of September 2008, at least $115 million in settlement agreements had been paid, or offered, to the victims or their families by various defendants. Today, we mourn the 100 lives lost in the Station nightclub fire and the hundreds more whose lives will never be the same. Absolutely not. [77], A benefit memorial concert was held in February 2008 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence and featured performances by Tesla, Twisted Sister, Winger, Gretchen Wilson, and John Rich. Fifteen years from now, she hopes, her students will go by the park, and have a memory, a connection, with the 100 people whose names and faces are etched into black granite squares arrayed throughout the park. And I stood up. [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. He owned his own construction company, and he was often in the backyard with his sons, improving the landscape or building two ponds that he filled with koi fish. that door being up, there is no question that that increased the likelihood that many, many more would perish. Jody King: We never knew the whole story because the trial never happened, so everything really never came out. 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. Jim Axelrod: Do you feel, "Oh my goodness, we're in trouble?". 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. But even more than walking, Phil wanted to return to swimming. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. ", "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? Christina Pimentel wasnt at the Station 15 years ago but she remembers the fire that killed 100 people because one of them was her uncle, Carlos Pimentel Sr. Stephen Sweet, a Quincy firefighter who lost his cousin Shawn Sweet in the fire, came to play the bagpipes at a memorial ceremony Monday, WCVB reported. Phil Barr awoke after three weeks in a medically induced coma and was told his lungs had been badly damaged. [7][8] They were best known for their 1989 cover of Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy", which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. 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.". It just so happens that we're . Barr was located between the stage and the front door. Patrick Lynch: The type of foam was equal to gallons of gasoline. Inspection records showed that just three months before the fire, the Derderians had been cited by the local fire marshal for having a secondary, interior door by the stage that opened inward, which violated regulations. Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. Monday marked the 20th anniversary of the Station nightclub fire, one of the deadliest blazes to ever occur at a nightclub in the United States. According to Bostonherald.com, a memorial fund that raises money for survivors of The Station nightclub fire received at least $25,000 in donations after a benefit concert aired on television, organizers said today.. Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. [tearing up] "What a great brother you have. One of them is never say die, never give up. "48 Hours" is not showing any of that footage. Michael Derderian: And I'm saying to him "Did everybody get out Did anyone die?" Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. Since The Station fire, many states have adopted stricter fire prevention codes. It's not just about hitting the next goal but doing something really meaningful.