The story of the fire, its causes and its legal and human aftermath is captured in killer show. Psychological sequelae of the station nightclub fire. A true story of friendship, tragedy, and the will to carry on, as told by a station nightclub survivor. Harrowing account of the 2003 station nightclub fire in west warwick, ri. The 4,500squarefoot commercial occupancy was of allwood construction with a. Barylick is a frequent lecturer at medical and legal seminars and is the recipient. Station nightclub fire book event middletown, ri patch. Its as much a story of greed and stupidity as it is about a fire and its aftermath.
There were many factors that fell into place to cause the notorious 2003 fire at the station nightclub in. Read killer show by john barylick for free with a 30 day free trial. No single person bears the blame for the station nightclub fire, but, for relatives of the dead and survivors of the inferno, one name stands out. The cocoanut grove tragedy and its aftermath concentrates largely on the behindthescenes chicanery that set the stage for this disastrous fire in which almost five. Its not an easy read, given the subject matter, but impossible to put down. Barylick gives a gripping account of all of the shocking failures that accumulated into this tragedy. Photos killer show the station nightclub fire, americas.
Pinned under a mound of people, raul michael vargas survived the station fire with endurance, willpower and luck. Mar 31, 2016 in commemoration of the th anniversary of the fire, and to help keep alive the memory of his friend, ricardi, who grew up on grafton hill and graduated in 2001 from st. From the ashes, surviving the station nightclub fire. If you wonder why we need strictly enforced regulations on businesses, read this book. Questions still linger over fire inspectors role the. Ri night club fire victims memorial page home facebook. It discusses the station nightclub fire on pages 1237. The station nightclub fire news newspapers books scholar jstor february 2012.
Killer show is not only an exhaustive book about the tragedy at the station nightclub, but its also essential reading for anyone who wants to learn how people. The only bad thing i can say about this book is that it was too short. Station fire memorial park is a park located in the state of rhode island. Til that during the 2003 station nightclub fire, a reporter filmed the entire fire from the moment before the pyrotechnics went off on the main stage. Second of two parts this story was reported by stephen kurkjian, stephanie ebbert, and thomas farragher of the globe staff. Hardcover, the first comprehensive exploration of the chain events leading up to the fire, the conflagration itself and the painstaking search for evidence to hold the guilty to account and.
My need to write about the station nightclub fire, and its human and legal. The book gets quite technical at times but is written in a way that anyone can follow and never loses sight of the human element in the tragedy. Killer show the station nightclub fire, americas deadliest rock. The blaze was ignited when pyrotechnics set off by great white, a 1980s heavymetal.
West warick ri station nightclub fire 2202003 youtube. Vincent bugliosi, author of helter skelter and divinity of doubt john barylick has bravely waded through the ashes of the station nightclub fire to meticulously chronicle the folly and greed that led to the horror. The station nightclub fire, americas deadliest rock concert by john barylick tells all. The station nightclub fire, americas deadliest rock concert by john barylick. The station nightclub fire, west warwick, rhode island. Station nightclub fire focus of book killer show susan dunne. The publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software. Survivors of nightclub fire that killed 100 share stories. This book was written by gina russo, who survived the station nightclub fire in 2003, although injured and permanently scarred. This fire was the fourthdeadliest nightclub fire in u. When i first heard the news of the station nightclub fire which occurred feb 20, 2003, i distinctly remembering how it could of been me and my friends in a club like that that night.
Learning from the station nightclub fire firefighter nation. The station nightclub fire occurred on thursday, february 20, 2003, in. What was the bouncers name who would not let people out of a. The story of the tragic 2003 station nightclub fire in rhode. A gripping, heartwrenching account of the rhode island night club fire this book systematically explores a series of events that formed the perfect recipe for catastrophe. A band that was performing that night used pyrotechnics that ignited polyurethane foam insulation lining the walls and ceiling of the stage platform. If you are a music lover, this is a hard book to read. It is in equal parts fascinating, horrifying, heartwrenching and inspiring. So many factors led up to this tragedy the worst part is knowing that just one person stepping up to do the right thing would have prevented all of it. Aug 20, 2008 the great white plaintiffs allege that polyethylene foam in the soundproofing was part of the reason the rhode island station nightclub fire spread so fast, killing 100though they have no evidence that sealed air manufactured the foam in the club, not to mention the fact that the packing foam was never intended to be used as building. The station nightclub fire, americas deadliest rock concert. Johns, has been speaking out to tell gahans story and promote his book. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. I would recommend this book to anybody interested in the background of the event.
I skimmed through part 1 of the official nist national institute of standards and technology. The station fire nightclub tragedy memorial site includes obituary profiles and guest books from the providence journal and. Nov 22, 2016 ri station nightclub fire survivor raul mike vargas recounts his harrowing ordeal duration. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager of the evenings headlining band jack russells great white, which ignited plastic foam used as sound insulation in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage.
Killer show chronicles the station nightclub fire in rhode island that. Nfpa investigator robert duval recounts the scene at the station nightclub. Feb 22, 2003 raging fire at rock concert rips through nightclub in west warwick, ri, leaving at least 96 people dead and 187 injured. In the aftermath, west warwick, rhode island tv news reporter jeff derderian wanted to run a story on nightclub safety. Station nightclub fire major american fires libguides at. His work was instrumental in amassing 176 million dollars in settlements from persons and corporations responsible for the fire. Final nist report 2005 on the station nightclub fire. The station nightclub fire an analysis of witness statements. What caused it was a pyrotechnics problem no thanks to the band that was performing that night. Hundreds turned out for the dedication of the memorial park for the nations fourthdeadliest nightclub fire. There are times you have to stop readingthe story of the fatal fire is that horrifying, infuriating, heroic and heartbreaking. A harrowing and horrific account of the station nightclub fire in 2003, the events that lead up to it and its aftermath. Mike vargas, 31, of johnston, estimates he was trapped for more than an hour as the nightclub burned down around him.
On february 17, 2003 someone discharged pepper spray to break up a fistfight in a chicago nightclub. The book, written by john barylick, a veteran providence lawyer who represented families of those who died or were injured in the fire, recounts the story of the tragedy, its causes, and its. In addition,changes made by the states of rhode island and massachusetts as well as an investigation completed by the national institute of standards and technology are also summarized. From the ashes, surviving the station nightclub fire gina russo, paul lonardo on. The fire started by pyrotechnics ignited during a great white concert at the station, a rock club in west warwick, r. After the fire, nfpa enacted tough new code provisions for fire sprinklers and crowd management in nightclubtype venues. Written by a survivor of the station nightclub fire on february 20, 2003, this book is a moving and effective, if not terribly wellwritten, account of a tragedy that should never have occurred. February 17, 2003 a massive crowd crush at chicagos e2 nightclub kills 21 and injures others. The station nightclub fire that killed 100 people and injured hundreds more will never be forgotten by those who were there or lost loved ones. No permits were issued to the nightclub for use of pyrotechnics. To most americans, the station nightclub fire was a blip on the disaster radar of 2003. The book, written by john barylick, a veteran providence lawyer who. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager of the evenings headlining band, great white, which ignited flammable acoustic foam in. The book details his friendship with gahan and how they ended up.
This book is actually an autobiography of one of the victims of rhode islands station nightclub fire. The definitive book on the station nightclub fire on the 10th anniversary of the disaster. One internet search produced 15 million hits for the station nightclub fire, compared to 362,000 for the beverly hills supper club fire. While the nightclub burned around him, mike vargas was trapped by a pile of patrons two feet from the door for more than an hour. This is ginas account of the events of that night, what happened just before and during the fire, her slow and painful recovery and how her life changed forever. Since he coowned the station nightclub with his brother michael derderian, jeff suggested it as a venue for generic nightclub footage. Scarpetti,a promotions executive at radio station whjy, was referring to the station s prestige among thirdrate concert venues, but he could as well have been talking about the clubs potential for actual tragedy. The first of four photos described in chapter 12 showing pyro ignition sequence at the station. It was okay, but i liked benzaquins book much better. The station nightclub fire, americas deadliest rock concert, john barylick is published by university press of new england. At least 24 people were killed in oakland after a massive fire erupted during a dance party friday night in a warehouse and artist. Photos killer show the station nightclub fire, america. Survivors of the station nightclub fire experienced significant psychological sequelae. Join marilyn bellemore music journalist and writer, for a talk on her book, the night the music ended on the history of the station nightclub, the fire, and the aftermath.
The story of the fire, its causes, and its legal and humantragedy aftermath, is one of human lives put at risk by petty economic decisions by a band, club owners, promoters, building inspectors and product manufacturers. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager of the evenings headlining band, great white, which ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. The station nightclub fire occurred on thursday, february 20, 2003, in west warwick, rhode island, united states, killing 100 people including great white guitarist ty longley and injuring 230. A look at the events behind the station night club fire. It was created and dedicated following the station nightclub fire that occurred on february 20, 2003, resulting in 100 deaths and 230 injuries, and is located on the same property that the fire took place. Til that during the 2003 station nightclub fire, a. From the ashes, surviving the station nightclub fire by. Jun 09, 2003 deadly decisions behind the rhode island nightclub fire. The shocking story of the boston cocoanut grove fire by paul benzaquin a book that takes place in my hometown. Cameraman brian butler was at the station on february 23, 2003. The station nightclub fire occurred on thursday, february 20, 2003, in west warwick, rhode island. I hope that these pages are helpful in providing an overview of the book and some. Last summer, ricardi, 32, released his selfpublished memoir just a thought away.
Mar 20, 2020 this study, which was carried out in response to the station nightclub fire, also includes summaries of and lessons learned from several major nightclub fires. Dec 04, 2016 a look at some of the worst nightclub fires in u. Hardcover, the first comprehensive exploration of the chain events leading up to the fire, the conflagration itself and the painstaking search for evidence to hold the guilty to account and obtain justice for the victims. The station nightclub fire, americas deadliest rock concert, by john barylick, will be released by university press of new england in september, 2012, in advance of the 10year anniversary of the station nightclub fire. Sep 12, 20 read cnn s nightclub fires fast facts and learn about nightclub fires worldwide, including the 2003 fire at the station nightclub in west warwick, rhode island. Station nightclub fire that killed 100 people and injured hundreds more in west warwick, rhode island. This narrative truecrime story chronicles the 100fatality tragedy from human, scientific and legal standpoints. It was at the station nightclub in west warwick, rhode island, and it started when the heavy metal band great. It is the second mostdevastating fire disaster in the history of brazilsurpassed only by the great north american circus fire of december 1961, which killed 503 people in niteroi, and the deadliest nightclub fire since the. It is in equal parts fascinating, horrifying, heartwrenching. Feb 21, 2003 at least 85 people have been killed and approximately 160 injured after fire engulfed a nightclub in the us state of rhode island during a concerts pyrotechnics display. Feb 20, 2003 a fire disaster which began when pyrotechnics used by rock band great white ignited the building, killing 100 patrons and burned the woodframe nightclub to the ground within a few minutes in west warwick, rhode island. Station night club fire 22003 taken by joe cristina at the urging of his friend, matt pickett sleve on left matt died. About the author killer show killer show the station.
Her partner wasnt so lucky and sadly lost his life in this tragedy. John barylick has bravely waded through the ashes of the station nightclub fire to meticulously chronicle the folly and greed that led to the horror. Officially attributed to a short circuit, unconfirmed reports stated that the fire started when lightning struck a nearby transformer. He was at the club doing a piece on nightclub safety. The station nightclub fire was the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in u. Those provisions mark sweeping changes to the codes and standards governing safety in assembly occupancies. Feb 20, 20 a decade later, nightclub fire lives on. As described by many survivors, even as their physical injuries have healed, it is the internal scarring from this traumatic event that remains. Crowley journal staff writer pinned under a mound of people, raul michael vargas survived the station fire with endurance, willpower and luck.
On february 21, 2003, there was a fire at the station nightclub in rhode island. About the book killer show the station nightclub fire. Jason zubee and his wife robin stand together in west warwick, r. A decade later, nightclub fire lives on national news us news. One of the most horrific fires in new england history happened almost a decade ago. The station nightclub disaster unknown2003 find a grave. Use the link below to share a fulltext version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Ri station nightclub fire survivor raul mike vargas recounts his harrowing ordeal duration. That night, in the few minutes it takes to play a hardrock standard, the fate of many of the unsuspecting nightclub patrons was determined with awful certainty.
Seeing live music in venues large and small has been a joy of mine all my adult life. The station was a 1940sera, singlestory, irregularly shaped structure. But the subject matter is so terrible and was so avoidable its difficult to speak positively. Park memorializes fire that killed 100 at station nightclub.
Its wonderfully well written and tells the story of the station nightclub tragedy very well. On february 20, 2003, the deadliest rock concert in u. Dec 29, 2016 thanks to dave lang, for the reference. The station nightclub fire west warwick, rhode island. Killer show the station nightclub fire, americas deadliest. John barylick is an attorney who represented victims in numerous wrongful death and personal injury cases arising from the station nightclub fire. Station nightclub fire victim remembered in new book. It is a tale of love lost, opportunities missed, true grit, triumph of the human spirit, and so much more. Barylick was a lead attorney on the plaintiffs steering committee that investigated and prosecuted wrongful death and personal injury cases on behalf of the station fire victims and their families. Warwick, ri, on february 20, 2003, claimed 100 lives. The station nightclub fire, americas deadliest rock concert university press of new england. The station nightclub fire, americas deadliest rock concert by john barylick epilogue, page 237 its often said that disasters of the scope of the station fire do not occur because just one thing is done wrong, they are usually the result of many mistakes. Gina russo is certainly one of the strongest people ive ever read about.
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