Phil Barr: It was getting harder and harder to breathe I could feel tightness and constriction in my chest. Joe Kinan was badly burned in the deadly Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island that left 100 dead and 230 injured in February 2003 . At the scene, Jody King was desperate for information about his brother, and began to fear the worst. [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. S01:E02 - Joplin Tornado. Linda Saran still places much of it on the Derderian brothers. Michael owned a financial services business; Jeff was a local news reporter. Michael Derderian also spoke via phone to an investigator. Linda Saran and Phil Barr, badly injured, were transported to a local hospital. So that was huge.. But does that mean it's not a crime? The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. According to Lynch, under Rhode Island law, the fire marshal could not be criminally charged unless there was evidence of bad faith or malice. [90] The band initially retired "Desert Moon", the song they were performing when the fire began, from their concert set list. That evening she had a girl's night out with a friend while her young daughter was at a sleepover. I don't even like to talk about it. On the 19th Anniversary of The Station Nightclub Fire, "America'S The fire started shortly after Great White began performing their opening number, "Desert Moon". Petrarca was sitting near the bar that night in 2003, about five feet from a door, when the fire broke out. Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. That night, he allowed a cameraman to shoot footage inside the club for an upcoming story about safety in public venues. Barr was located between the stage and the front door. Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. Do you understand that anger? [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. Flames soon appeared on the walls on either side of the stage and spread quickly along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling, intended to dampen sound. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. [37] The report had been inspired by the E2 nightclub stampede in Chicago that killed 21 people three days earlier. Published on August 10, 2017 09:05 AM. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. In a statement, Rhode Island Gov. Doreen Schechter and Gary Winter are the editors. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the 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. You walk on the property, and it doesnt feel tragic anymore. [104] It was last introduced in the House in 2015 by then-U.S. Reps. James Langevin of Rhode Island and Tom Reed of New York.[104]. Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch opened an investigation and convened a grand jury to determine if anyone should face criminal charges. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. Both the brothers had other jobs. As were going down the stairs to get into the comedy club, in the heart of Times Square, the first thought that goes through my mind: I come back and look and go: Are there two exits down there? she said. [9] Although Warner was called to testify to a grand jury, he was not asked about the fax. Patrick Lynch: Not only was the door up, which it shouldn't have been, opened inward which it shouldn't have It was covered in foam. Joshua Sanders, MS, IAAI-CFI on LinkedIn: ATF_NCETR on Twitter [101], The Derderian brothers conducted their first television interview about the fire in 2021 for 48 Hours. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Jim Axelrod: Were you a fan of the band Great White? There was nothing heroic about what I did.. [49][50], Lynch told 48 Hours that his investigation found that the fire spread quickly due to the foam the Derderians had installed in the Station's walls and ceilings as a response to noise complaints. Nightclub Fire", "Judge Accepts Plea Deal in Rhode Island Fire", "Co-owner of R.I. club where 100 died to be released early", "Band to pay $1M in case over deadly club fire", "Great White offers $1M to settle fatal fire suits", "Derderians reach settlement in nightclub fire", "Governments offer $20 million in RI nightclub fire", "Packaging company settles in R.I. nightclub fire", "McLaughlin & Moran, Anheuser-Busch offer $21M settlement in Station fire case", "Home Depot Settles In R.I. He was the. Jeff Derderian: We tried to get as far as we could. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. I could have missed my daughter's high school graduation, the birth of her children. For the Derderians, the "full story" begins with the issue of permission. The first was her life before Feb. 20, 2003. 48 Hours show makes no mention of Station nightclub's overcrowding WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- Five years . He trusted the owners. [60] As of 2013[update], Biechele lived in Florida with his wife and two children. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. Jody King: As I went by the fire station fire trucks are coming out Now the question in my head is why are all these firetrucks leaving? Why had the fire spread so quickly? Jody King: "Anybody see Tracy?" The result is poignant footage contrasting very different life stories. Patrick Lynch: Looking back on it I would say they ran it as a side business, an attempt to maybe make some extra money with the callous, utter disregard for those that work there and assemble there. It just so happens that we're evacuated due to the CZU complex fire but hey that's how. 'We've been trying to move forward': Station nightclub fire survivor on Nine months after the fire, the club's owners, brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian, along with Daniel Biechele, the band's tour manager, were each charged with 200 counts of involuntary. If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. Daniel Biechele, the tour manager for Great White who had ignited the pyrotechnics, plead guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2006 and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison with four to serve. As a human being how do you not feel some sort of responsibility for that ? CBS Boston Rhode Island Gov. Like you feel that kinship that, you know, "God, I really hope this guy makes it." When fireworks ignited the soundproofing foam on the stage wall, he ran for a fire extinguisher. He is now seven years sober from cocaine, although alcohol is a more pestering problem, he says. [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. [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. [9] The lack of usable exits were also a factor, as was the inward door that Larocque had found and asked to be removed. And I remember that statement, because I was, like, this is not great. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. [11] Although the band was officially known as Jack Russell's Great White at the time, and their tour was initially named after Russell's 2002 solo album For You, they were billed by the Station as simply Great White. People say they just feel peaceful, Russo told the Globe. [59], Biechele's parole and probation expired in March 2011. 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.. That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. Club owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian reached a settlement of $813,000 with survivors and victims' families in September 2008. Most people still just stood there. The brothers sent a fax to the foam company specifically asking for sound foam. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. [2], Prior to being converted into a nightclub and concert venue, the Station building had been used as a restaurant and tavern. It seems senseless that something like this could happen. Greatly., Things that bother people you sit there and you shake your head and you go, if this is the worst thing that happens to me today, this month, this year, this decade, I mean, at that point its one of those things. 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. She sees telling the story of the Station fire as a way of preventing others from going through the same thing. As we hold those impacted by this tragedy close in our hearts, we also remember the remarkable and courageous actions of first responders, public safety officials, medical professionals, and Rhode Islanders who sprang into action to save lives on that day and who worked to comfort their communities in the days and weeks following.. these contracts are pretty specific. Season 1. Michael Derderian: The club was sold. True to his words, Barr fought to breathe on his own. The Station was owned by brothers Jeff and Michael Derderian. "[63] He added that the difference in the brothers' sentences reflected their respective involvement with the purchase and installation of the flammable foam. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. Survivors of the Station nightclub fire reflect on tragedy's 20th anniversary One hundred people were killed and many more injured when a pyrotechnic display caused a massive blaze in 2003.. As we mark 20 years since that night, here are those who. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: We never do anything without asking permission first. You know people didn't react instantly. [5] Local bands that had played at the Station prior to the fire had used pyrotechnics during their concerts without incident, including a Kiss tribute band that had set off fireballs during their show in August 2002. Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. View Image Gallery. 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. Scott James: It was a typical kind of roadside dive. It was that fast. [49] In 2013, Kendall told The Providence Journal that he maintained amicable contact with some survivors, victims' families, and the Station Fire Memorial Foundation. You were not approaching that area at all. [2][46] On December 9, 2003, the grand jury announced indictments against Station owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian and Great White road manager Daniel M. Station nightclub fire survivor tells burn victims love can happen amid scars, fears: Joe Kinan has had more than 120 surgeries, not the least of which was a hand transplant. Almost immediately the finger pointing started. [13], In February 2003, Great White was on an eighteen date concert tour, and they had been using a pyrotechnic display during their performances that some club owners had denied them permission to use, citing safety concerns. Linda Saran: It's like a riptide. MICHAEL DERDERIAN: I plead not guilty, your honor. He was the. [94] Kendall's version of Great White was to perform at the Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville, Connecticut alongside Stryper and Steven Adler on March 25, 2023, but the venue indefinitely postponed the concert on March 2, citing its proximity to the twentieth anniversary of the fire. And they're quick to point out the club was inspected by their insurance company, and multiple times by the local Fire Marshal Denis Laroque. But I dont want it to define the rest of my life. Patrick Lynch: The type of foam was equal to gallons of gasoline. He don't know. [78], On the twentieth anniversary of the fire on February 20, 2023, Rhode Island governor Dan McKee ordered flags in Rhode Island lowered to half-staff for the day and the Rhode Island State House to be illuminated in memory of the 100 victims. They want to talk to you." Within weeks, the National Fire Protection Association committee met to regulate code for "assembly occupancies." 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. He had an unlikely friend rooting for him. Last year, he was charged with striking a woman for whom he was a caretaker. Lynch also points out that the exits were a safety issue. The second was the time from that night until the dedication of the memorial last spring. It justit was so fast. [11] Dominic Santana, the owner of The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey, told reporters that Great White had used pyrotechnics during their February 14, 2003 performance at the venue without his permission, and their contract and rider did not mention pyrotechnics displays. I would forgive them in a heartbeat. And I'm like, "OK.". After the fire, multiple civil and criminal cases were filed. They were told to take it down. Station nightclub fire survivor tells burn victims love can happen amid scars, fears: Joe Kinan has had more than 120 surgeries, not the least of which was a hand transplant. Linda Saran and her friend Deb were in the atrium, huddled together under a table. into the main barroom. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. How is it our responsibility if they gave us the wrong foam?". And settled for $1 million. Jim Axelrod: And then it just got engulfed in flames? [95], Russell performed a benefit show in February 2013 in Hermosa Beach, California in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the fire. Jack Russell declined "48 Hours"' request for an interview. And I said my hands won't work. And then, ever so slowly, he learned to walk again. I needed for that day to come, she said. Like, "get away from the building." [95][49], Neither version of Great White performed in any of the six New England states for over a decade following the fire. As Great White started their first song, their tour manager Daniel Biechele set off four large fireworks called gerbs. [9] In 2008, American Foam agreed to pay $6.3 million to the families of the victims of the fire. Twisted Sister's Dee Snider Honors 2003 Station Nightclub Fire Victims Linda Saran: I said, "you know what? But what they received was highly flammable packing foam. [3] A fire had previously occurred at the building in 1972 while it was used as a restaurant called Julio's. The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., was on fire . [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. 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. 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. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. "Barn Find" Harley Davidson Shovelhead Custom Survivor Found - YouTube Phil Barr: I went around the people trying to push to the front door. [20], Great White started their performance at 11:07 p.m. on February 20. The Station Nightclub Fire: Revisiting the Lessons Those who were trapped inside The Station when the flames started knew they needed to get out fast. I don't care what I'm going to see.". He arrived early around 8:30 p.m. Phil Barr: There really weren't that many people around early in the night. (WATCH) The Station Nightclub Fire is Remembered in the Documentary The fire was the fourth-deadliest at a nightclub in U.S. history, and the second-deadliest in New England, behind the 1942 Cocoanut Grove fire, which resulted in 492 deaths. To satisfy noise complaints from neighbors, the brothers had installed foam along the club's walls and ceilings. These TIAs were subsequently incorporated into the 2006 edition of NFPA 101, along with additional exit requirements for new nightclub occupancies. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. This is solid gasoline. Jeff Derderian: You know a day doesn't go by that we don't think about it in some way, shape or form. I would see the burn survivors, whom Im lucky enough to call friends, Del Sesto said. Her father wont visit the memorial, and it took her years to be able to drive down Cowesett Avenue, she said. It was really everything to me at that time. I look at my scars every day. [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. Phil Barr awoke after three weeks in a medically induced coma and was told his lungs had been badly damaged. Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. There had to be that period for me. Three days after the station fire, Jody King finally got the news that his brother Tracy's body had been found. That night is not a coherent memory for her, she said, but a sequence of moments when she was hyper-focused on finding her friends or helping those around her. Dan McKee honored the victims, their families, and the first responders who saved many lives. After 15 years of it being a dominant part of her everyday life, she said she is ready for it to be a part of her past. This is the time to leave. Jody King: I'm so proud to say he's my brother. 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. Jeffrey Derderian received 500 hours of community service. He wasnt charged with a crime, but his thoughts punish him. I try to say it in the lightest way possible, she said. [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. Linda Saran: The bar got quiet because people were dying literally and all you could hear was the roar of the fire and liquor bottles exploding. Jim Axelrod: If the brothers are relying on the fire marshal to tell them whether or not they can continue to do business. I have to find him. This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. 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 They go for 15 seconds and they go 15 feet into the air. In 2003, 100 people died and over 200 were injured at a rock concert in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers. my dad was in the room. [4] The nightclub was purchased by brothers Michael and Jeffrey Derderian in March 2000. Hundreds of people ran to the only exit many of them knew the way they came in. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. Flames can be seen on the back wall. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. How did you meet him? Scott James: They are what they call 15x15. She said she went into the club that night a naive, fun-loving 27-year-old and came out angry and feeling guilty. [48] The grand jury also did not return charges against Russell. It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history. And so, when the fire inspector came in and said that that door had to come down the door, the door did come down. / CBS News. You should be proud." Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Parole board chairwoman Lisa Holley told journalists of her surprise at the forgiving attitude of the families, saying, "I think the most overwhelming part of it for me was the depth of forgiveness of many of these families that have sustained such a loss. Am I going to sit here and cry about this? The Station nightclub fire would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. PATRICK LYNCH [news interview]: Certainly, there are people we are looking at, ultimately, we may target. [2] The three were each charged with 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter with criminal negligence and 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in violation of a misdemeanor. Patrick Lynch: Jeffrey and Michael Derderian. I cant do it for the rest of my life, she said. Tracy King liked to entertain people with his unique talent. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In the stampede, 21 people were killed. [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. In the days after the fire, victims' families and survivors faced a harsh new reality. On February 20, 2003 at about 11:10 p.m., Jody King got a call that something was going on at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The fire quickly spread over the dance floor, along the ceiling. 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. At the opening of the park I had 100 students from my school come, and I had to explain it all so I gave them their learning experience, she said of last Mays dedication of the park on the site of the Station nightclub. But that night, leading the cameraman around was bouncer Tracy King, a dedicated husband and father of three young boys. NFPA on LinkedIn: Station Nightclub Fire Survivor Returns to the Scene Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. Its just one of those things thats ingrained in you.. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. I never thought it would get so bad., He told bartender Julie Mellini that they had to leave, and she and several patrons followed Vanner out the kitchen door. The pyrotechnics ignited the walls on either side of the stage and within seconds flames spread along the foam that lined the walls and ceiling of the club intended to dampen sound. Like Barr, Linda Saran had also spent three weeks in a medically induced coma. "It feels like somebody knew somebody who was in that fire or knew somebody who did, so the pain is very personal.". 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. Today she is president of the Station Fire Memorial Foundation, the group that oversaw the construction of the memorial park. Two years after the fire at The Station nightclub, the Derderians learned about a piece of evidence they say is important that was never presented to the grand jury: an eight-page fax sent to the Attorney General's Office anonymously just months after the fire entitled "The Fire. My parents taught us a lot, a lot of things. That happened in 2001. [12] The rest of the lineup included guitarist Ty Longley, who died in the fire, bass guitarist Dave Felice, and drummer Eric Powers. [80], A permanent memorial at the site of the fire has been erected and named the Station Fire Memorial Park. [21], Among those who died in the fire were Great White guitarist Ty Longley, and the show's emcee, WHJY DJ Mike "The Doctor" Gonsalves. Tweet. Jeff called his brother Michael who was in Florida. [89] "I don't think I could ever sing that song again," said Russell. Nine friends didnt. It was the fourth deadliest fire in a nightclub in US history. Cold air washing over me. Access remains open to the public, and memorial services are held each February 20. The fire seemed to burn quickly, she added. [61], In January 2008, the Parole Board decided to grant Michael Derderian an early release; he was scheduled to be released from prison in September 2009, but was granted his release in June 2009 for good behavior.[64]. And I was paying staff pricing for beer because I knew a guy. [4] Another restaurant opened in the building in 1974. 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. And he says you can. That's how thick the smoke was. "[91], Two years to the day after the fire, band members Russell and Kendall, along with Great White's attorney, Ed McPherson, appeared on CNN's Larry King Live with three survivors of the fire and the father of Longley, to discuss how their lives had changed since the incident. The charge is pending. ", "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? [2], Prior to the fire, the Station often hosted concerts by 1980s hard rock groups and tribute bands. He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said. As a result of this and other similar incidents, fire chiefs, fire marshals and inspectors require trained crowd managers to comply with the International Fire Code, NFPA-101 Life Safety Code, NFPA-1 Fire Code and many local ordinances that address safety in public-assembly occupancies.
