[21] The Station did not have a sprinkler system installed. [48] The capacity for the Station was either 258 or 404, depending on how the building was being used. [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. Remembering the 100 victims of the Station Nightclub fire 18 years my dad was in the room. Gina Russo, a survivor of The Station nightclub fire. 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. Tweet. You see on your left the horseshoe-shaped bar. The pyrotechnics were gerbs, cylindrical devices that produce a controlled spray of sparks. At the time of The Station fire, older clubs in Rhode Island weren't required to install sprinklers. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. Phil Barr: I remember the smoke descended really quickly. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. [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. That is the furthest exit away from the stage But it's a relatively straight line. Jeff Derderian: Why is it OK that the fire marshal is allowed to miss something or make a mistake and what he did was just an oops, but what we did was criminal? 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 Michael Derderian: They got this fax and it went on to describe the business practices of the foam company. The Derderians bought the club as an investment. The blaze began when the band Jack Russell's Great White took the stage and their tour manager set off four large fireworks. He apologized to the families of the victims and made no attempt to mitigate his guilt," the letter said. [61] Michael Derderian received fifteen years in prison, with four to serve and eleven years suspended, plus three years' probationthe same sentence as Biechele. So many ways this could have been avoided, Matthew Hoffman, an East Greenwich, R.I. resident, told WPRI. I'll be right back." Marc Goldbaum is the development producer. 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. In the other rooms, the smoke hadn't gotten to them, the flame wasn't that bad, they didn't think anything of it. 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. [58], On September 19, 2007, the Rhode Island Parole Board announced that Biechele would be released in March 2008. About a month after the fire Barr went home from the hospital. I'm going to do this. He still remembers that deadly night. It is now mandatory for nightclubs with occupancy over 150 to have them. Jeff Derderian: I remember we were trying to get people away from the building. [88], Russell considered disbanding Great White after the fire, but reconsidered when he decided to embark on a benefit tour. Jeff Derderian: this is flammable you can't have this. It's like a surge of bodies. The Station Nightclub Fire: Who's Responsible? Jody King: Hopped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, grabbed my keys, hopped in the car and took off. [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]. Phil Barr: I loved it. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. 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. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through," explains Scott James. SAN JOSE (BCN) - Three people were injured in a shooting that occurred Saturday morning at San Jose's Aura nightclub. And settled for $1 million. Her father has seven brothers, Pimentel said, and she was especially close to Carlos. The Station nightclub owners Michael, left, and Jeffrey Derderian, right, pleaded no contest to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter and agreed to a deal. 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.. It started as part of the fundraising basketball games she organized at the school. The February 25 concert at the Dunkin' Donuts Center was broadcast Sunday night on VH1 and VH1 Classic. "[23] Within 40 seconds of the ignition, Great White had stopped playing and left the stage and the venue's fire alarm began to sound, but it was not connected to local fire department. Jim Axelrod: The brothers say," wait a minute, we ordered sound foam. Jody King says his brother enjoyed working for the Derderians. Even if he died trying. 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. [86][87] The memorial dedication ceremony took place on May 21, 2017. REELZ announces documentary about Great White club fire Michael Derderian: Zero. Survivor Phil Barr arrived to The Station early the night of the concert. Vanner spoke about how his life derailed after 11:07 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2003. The Derderians say despite their love for the club the business had peaked, and they were in the process of selling it. [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. Its irrelevant.. They should have blamed more. Jody King: I spent the next five or six hours going back and forth in the parking lot talking to firemen, asking firemen, "can you please pull the sheets back for me? He don't know. She sees telling the story of the Station fire as a way of preventing others from going through the same thing. But Saturday night, as . That effort raised about $10,000 over seven years to help pay for the construction of the memorial park. But he didn't know what. This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 14:21. ", "We are now at 65, and that may be higher ", Jeff Derderian: "Can you come in? The state of Rhode Island is small," says author Scott James. And I sent it to her and the best compliment I ever got was oh, his hairs fantastic.. You know people didn't react instantly. [18][19] Gonsalves was the host of the WHJY program The Metal Zone, at the time the longest-running heavy metal radio program in the United States. I went and laid down next to Deb and just waited to die. [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". 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. 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. The Feb. 20, 2003. [54] Darigan remarked, "The greatest sentence that can be imposed on you has been imposed on you by yourself. [30] Longley reportedly died after returning to the building to retrieve his guitar. "Literally laid there and said, 'God please just take care of my family,' because I knew I was going to die,'" survivor Linda Saran recalls. [84] In September 2012, the owner of the land, Ray Villanova, donated the site to the SFMF. [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. Jim Axelrod: Did either of you know anything about running a nightclub? [51], Victims' families have also cited overcrowding in the venue as a cause for the causalities during the fire. I could have missed my daughter's high school graduation, the birth of her children. And a quarter of those people didn't get to go home ever," says survivor Linda Saran, who was severely burned in the fire at The Station nightclub. Am I going to sit here and cry about this? The Foam.". Regardless, Lynch points out the Derderians still chose to take a plea deal instead of going to trial. 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. As the crowd bottlenecked at the clubs entrance, thick black smoke poured out of the building and over their heads. 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. Fifteen years since that terrible night. [12] Russell's relation with some survivors and families has been strained, although he remains close to Longley's family. 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..