"There was a man named Joe; they call him 'The Lizard Man,'" Jack said. "Many victims of The Station fire had been seduced by the siren song of rock celebrity. It claimed 100 lives and left some 230 other people injured. ", Elaborating on what he saw that tragic evening, Kendall said: "It was very mild looking [at first], but I felt heat and I never felt heat before with this stuff, and so I knew there was something wrong. I remember during the funeral hundreds of people showed up for Jimmy. M3 Rock Festival 2-Day Pass. "If he wants to help, stay away, shut your mouth.". 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 . The Great White concert, held in West Warwick, Rhode Island, on October 26, 1990, is widely regarded as one of the worst rock shows in American history. When reached by Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Great White wrote, "The band would respectfully decline comment. On February 20th, 2003 in West Warick, Rhode Island, tragedy struck during a Great White headlined concert. Christmas Day is supposed to be happy and pleasant, a time to gather with loved ones for a chill and relaxing celebration. Nobody should be scarred for life, be crippled or have their children orphaned because of their love for rock n roll, Snider adds. "There was a man named Joe; they call him 'The Lizard Man,'" Jack said. Weeks after the fire, a charred handwritten notebook page was recovered from the club's ashes that contained rows of names and above them were the words 'Guest List.' 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. Seen through the human lens of victims, survivors and their families, the fire and milestones of healing physical and emotional scars all come into focus in this poignant television event, shares Steve Cheskin, SVP of Programming at REELZ. Fire broke out during the performance and pyrotechnic display by the '80s band. So [the movie] gave me the opportunity to talk about how I felt and for me to apologize. "Because we've never used it before. The sparks unexpectedly ignited the foam used for soundproofing the ceiling of the club. The Massachusetts native was a celebrated high school athlete when he turned to music as a disc jockey at Nichols College. The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. Jazmine Sullivan, Lil Uzi Vert among 2023 Broccoli City headliners, Lil Nas X, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban among 2023 NCAA March Madness Music Festival performers, What The Hell Happened To Blood, Sweat & Tears? documentary announced, Tim McGraw announces Standing Room Only, Dropkick Murphys announce Okemah Rising, Joe Bonamassa releases Known Unknowns live version. or redistributed. The Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island started when pyrotechnics for the rock band Great White set fire to flammable foam installed as soundproofing. 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.' Panic in the tunnel left 19 dead at the scene. I spent the next 50 weeks in the hospital. Why it happened that night Who knows? The outlet noted the brothers pleaded no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2006. That was the last time I saw him. They even got the chance to interview several major figures from the 70s and 80s. Tragedy At Great White Concert. Kinan was severely burned in the Station nightclub fire. 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. 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. That's cool.' 2023. He will continue to require surgeries for the rest of his life. 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. May 28, 1977 Southgate, KentuckyDeaths at concert: 165. In 2008, the band agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and families of the victims of the fire. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. 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). "During the first few days, we were just in complete shock," he said. Then, it was just me. 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. It was a horrible thing that happened. 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. REELZ has announced the networks original documentary Americas Deadliest Rock Concert: The Guest List premieres Sunday, February 20th at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm 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. But the night of the accident, they actually put 'GREAT WHITE' on the marquee, and I think that's where the confusion came. It remains Americas deadliest rock concert. "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. The crowd rushed to the front of the stage, with people squeezing together so tightly that many couldnt breathe. lawmakers want public vetting of teachers contract, Partially-treated sewage flowing into Blackstone, Petition seeks to change how town defines adult, Warren town manager advocates for coastal communities, Teachers hopeful despite vote to end education collaborative, Olive oil in coffee? But it's really moving. Former Great White frontman Jack Russelllater admitted he was haunted by the events that occurred that night. The ensuing stampede crushed and knocked over many, and people died from suffocation, smoke inhalation, or were claimed by the fire itself including Great Whites lead guitarist, Ty Longley. (David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). Kinan was severely burned in the Station nightclub fire. "America's Deadliest Concert: The Guest List", a documentary about the GREAT WHITE concert fire, received its premiere this past February via Reelz. Great White's tour manager, set off some . Its central characters struggle to cope in the aftermath of tragedy some gracefully, and some less so. June 30, 2000 Roskilde, DenmarkConcert deaths: 9, In 2020, nine men were killed at a Pearl Jam concert when people rushed the stage and those in front collapsed. Find information on all of Great White's upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2023-2024. The fire was started by pyrotechnics going off on stage while the band Great White performed. 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 . To do so, click the downward arrow on the top-right corner of the Facebook comment (the arrow is invisible until you roll over it) and select the appropriate action. Gahan and Ricardi spoke to Russell in the bands bus, which was parked in the nightclubs parking lot. People that I didn't even know were even there. Road managerDaniel Biechele set off the pyrotechnics during the opening number, as planned. Market data provided by Factset. Crowds were well past fire capacity the night of the Station Nightclub Fire, and 100 people died while watching the band Great White. To comment on a BLABBERMOUTH.NET story or review, you must be logged in to an active personal account on Facebook. A similar measure was among 10 recommendations for improvements to fire codes released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The Great White Nightclub Fire Explained. 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. We don't go blow stuff up and whatnot. "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. A trailer for the film is available below. Russell also said that he wanted the tragedy to serve as a reminder to remain alert about public safety. "He used to like my cooking. So I went out through the back door to get out of everybody's way so they could put it out. The fire was started by pyrotechnics going off on stage while the band Great White performed. In 2017, Station Fire Memorial Park was opened on the site where the nightclub once stood. Sat-Sun. 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.' This was a tragedy of a magnitude not seen before in Rhode Island. The building was mistakenly thought to be exempt from fire codes requiring sprinkler systems. There, an underpass that led to the concert grounds became clogged with people who entered the tunnel despite no one being let into the festival at the time. 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. (CNN) -- Pressed between blinding black smoke above her and bodies beneath her, Lisa Shea felt certain she would die in the West Warwick, Rhode Island, nightclub fire. It was reported that the venue was engulfed in flames within minutes. 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. I just prefer not to talk about it. Todd King, a fire survivor who helped found the fund, said while some victims' relatives were upset with Great White's fundraising role, the band raised about $100,000 for the fund. That is what the other families are doing, we dont need a memorial to remember them, we have them in our hearts always.. At the time, roughly $175 million had been offered by dozens of defendants to settle lawsuits over the blaze. As part of the settlement, the band didnt admit to any wrongdoing. 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. Feb. 20, 2003 West Warwick, Rhode IslandConcert deaths: 100. On the final night as the festival came to an end, after a set by Moroccan singer Abdelaziz Stati, 11 people were crushed to death. Throughout this journey we discover what many feel was legal injustice within local and state government. (Bill Greene/The Boston Globe via Getty Images). But what should have been a joyous night ended in tragedy. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Lunar time zone push begins, Hate your signature? Once you're logged in, you will be able to comment. 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.". Dee Snider of Twisted Sister performs during Phoenix Rising! A memorial park now occupies the space on Cowesett Avenue where the club once stood, a place where friends and families of the victims, along with survivors, go to remember those lost. GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall founded the band with Russell in 1982. It could fairly be said that music and rock culture drew one hundred innocent people to their deaths in The Station fire. May 23, 2009 Rabat, MoroccoDeaths at concert: 11. ", SLIPKNOT MEMBER COREY TAYLOR TALKS 'RUCKER' FILM, ASTROWORLD TRAGEDY: IT 'SCARES YOU AS A PERFORMER'. Jan. 1, 2009 Bangkok, ThailandConcert deaths: 100. In 2008, the band agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and families of the victims of the fire. An apparent crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival in Houston Friday night where rapper Travis Scott performed has left at least eight people dead and many injured. See Tickets. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Great Whites own Jack Russell emerged from the experience a changed man carrying with him the burden of accusation for what transpired that night and in a series of highly revealing interviews he shares his post-fire search for peace after a near two-decade journey of crippling heartbreak and depression as a result of surviving the tragedy. Croman was a rock club in Barrio Once in Buenos Aires. On the night of the concert, Gahan was gearing up to interview Russell for their show. "It wasnt an accident; it was just a situation that was waiting to happen We shouldnt ever take anything for granted. . By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of all cookies. James pointed out that shortly before the Station nightclub tragedy, the Fine Line club in Minneapolis experienced a similar fire caused by pyrotechnics, but its sprinkler system and wide exits saved lives. The tunnel left 19 dead at the scene for me to apologize man. The first few days, we were just in complete shock, '' he said ended in tragedy what have! The aftermath of tragedy some gracefully, and 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock in! May affect your browsing experience for their show at concert: 165 rock club in Barrio once in Aires! Logged in to an active personal account on Facebook, set off the pyrotechnics during first... They could put it out deaths: 100 everybody 's way so they could it! Rhode IslandConcert deaths: 100 was opened on the site where the nightclub once stood zone push,! Performer ' result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories 20th 2003! 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