Scott James: I decided I would start asking some questions. The brothers say they are still haunted by the events of that horrific night. Before being built out into a nightclub, the building that housed Pulsations was formerly home to a family-style steakhouse, as well as an upscale supper club. Salman is expected back in court Wednesday. After prison, Biechele rebuilding life in Fla.: How tragedy inspired one member of Great White. [tearing up] "What a great brother you have. It's like a surge of bodies. For annual late-night Station remembrance, memorial a peaceful, meaningful addition: On the 15th anniversary of the deadly nightclub fire, a peaceful memorial opened for the victims, family members and survivors and so that all of Rhode Island would remember. Linda Saran: Second- and-third-degree burns, over 34 percent of my body from the heat. w0rcu5uu Jan 13, 2022. The Derderians have always maintained that they never gave the band permission to use pyrotechnics. The Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station . Pulsations, of course, had something of a wild run, beginning with the accidental death of a Media woman due to a falling light fixture on opening night in 1983. He don't know. 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. He decorated his office with renderings of the suites and even . Scott James: They only have about 60 seconds to get out of the building if they're going to live. 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? As it turns out, the foam they used was highly flammable. How many people died in the station nightclub fire? It is the fourth-deadliest nightclub . Linda Saran: That's when you make a decision. A fire occurred on the night of Feb. 20, 2003, in The Station nightclub at 211 Cowesett Avenue, West Warwick, Rhode Island. Lego 41027 - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. Back in 1983, Bar Rescue host Jon Taffer helped start the beloved Glen Mills hangout, Pulsations Nightclub a period that he today appears to recall fondly. You were not approaching that area at all. The brother's plea deal stated only one of them would go to prison. What kind of club was this? These are videos of prior performances taken inside the club. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. ", Scott James: They had their moments. 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. Jeff called his brother Michael who was in Florida. 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. Tracy King worked at The Station as a bouncer. The Station was just an accident waiting to happen, an overcrowded firetrap--stuffing people in there, no sprinklers, no exits with rapid egress, flammable foam on the walls, allowing pyrotechnics inside the venue (violating state law). She and her fianc, Alfred "Freddy" Crisostomi, had gone out on Feb. 20, 2003, to hear music at the . And I'm like, "OK.". The evacuation of the building turned to chaos as patrons surged toward the exits. And I knew the window was to my left. I am proud. If they stood up and said, small business owners, we were inexperienced. Michael Derderian: I don't know about that. One near the bar. Jody King: When he walked into a room, if there wasn't a smile he'd start balancing stuff to get you uplifted and smiling. Now, he carries the fallout of that suggestion with him everywhere. Jim Axelrod: And that's when the despair sinks in. And then the main exit that hallway where everyone came through. The company paid a hefty settlement and they weren't the only ones. Station fire: He lost his brother but didnt blame the Derderians: The Derderian brothers became pariahs after the fire, ostracized and blamed for the tragedy. He spent 33 months in prison, while Jeff had to do 500 hours of community service. 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. So, I actually got a really good sense of the layout of the venue.". Some bars close for failing to control violent crime on the premises. Michael Derderian: Correct. Station Fire Memorial Foundation rejects donation from Great White singer: The lead singer of the band whose fireworks touched off the Station nightclub fire that killed 100 people was forced to search for a new charity to be the recipient of money to be raised at a benefit concert in California. Two decades after 100 people . 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. It had a spaceship that flew into the room and deposited a robot on the dance floor. But many, including the brothers, feel strongly Laroque should also have been charged. Jim Axelrod: Describe The Station nightclub for me. I would forgive them in a heartbeat. Jim Axelrod: Over the course of the investigation, what did you learn about the way the brothers ran their business? A fire occurred on the night of Feb. 20, 2003, in The Station nightclub at 211 Cowesett Avenue, West Warwick, Rhode Island. I could have missed my daughter's high school graduation, the birth of her children. It requires sprinklers in every nightclub serving more than 150 people. When just brushing against it an overheard reference, a roadside glimpse can rekindle the searing pain? Super Highly Visible corner location, rare undeveloped find . 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. At 15,000 square feet, Pulsations itself featured 10 levels, 11 bars, and 12 VIP hotel rooms. Foam the Derderians had installed along the club's walls and ceilings to conceal noise was highly flammable and "was equal to gallons of gasoline. They said a critical piece of evidence was never presented to the grand jury. The fire at the Mountain B nightclub, about 111 miles southeast of the capital Bangkok, started at about 1:00 a.m. local time, Wuttipong Somjai, a superintendent at a local police station, told . Barr was now outside, but he felt like his lungs were on fire. He was this anti-establishment guy and he wanted to build the greatest nightclub in the world, and I believe we did it. 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 burned remnants of The Station nightclub, after a fire killed 100 people in February 2003. you could not see your hand in front of your face. WEST WARWICK, R.I. . The 1980s rock Great White and its lead singer Jack Russell (playing as Jack Russell's Great White) for putting together the show as part of a tour of roadhouses seeking to rekindle past glory. After prison, Biechele rebuilding life in Fla.: Former tour manager who lit the pyrotechnics has left music industry behind, his lawyer says. But their plans for the future would suddenly change. As the California band Great White took the stage that February night in 2003, pyrotechnics ignited soundproofing foam insulation which resulted in a massive blaze. Now he has a message for others struggling to come to terms with their disfiguring scars and fears of rejection: Take me as I am or keep walking., Son of Great White guitarist cheers sick children to honor his dad: His father would be proud; Beat goes on through son of Great White guitarist killed in fire. that door being up, there is no question that that increased the likelihood that many, many more would perish. Jim Axelrod: I want to ask you about Phil Barr. . then as it heals, the scarring tightens up. Michael Derderian: It would have been horrific to have people go through this. Jun 14, 2018 - Here is a 1992 simulation of a one of a kind nightclub called Pulsations that was located in Glen Mills, PA. At midnight the spaceship would make its way fro. He wrote: "This is a company that is well aware of the dangers of polyurethane foam. 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. some bleeding I could notice in my throat. This week marks 20 years since the horrific Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, Rhode Island, which killed 100 people and left 230 injured. Members of the band start to become aware of the fire. Biechele pleaded guilty to 100 counts of misdemeanor manslaughter, and Michael and Jeff Derderian pleaded no contest. 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. Michael Derderian: We say that they we're sorry for all of it. Like, "get away from the building." A staggering 100 lives were lost. there are other people who should be responsible. She knew he was going to conduct the attack, federal prosecutor Roger Handberg said. While 94 of them have remained afloat, 84 have shut their doors. Linda Saran: My hospital roommate, he and I took turns driving the respiratory therapist crazy in some ways it's almost like being in war together. I was asked to work the merch table for the band, so I was getting 40 bucks and two T-shirts. The Station fire:A Timeline of the tragedy, More:Should PTSD qualify for injured-on-duty status? The brothers, however, find that hard to believe considering the foam covered the walls, ceiling and even the inward swinging door he cited as a violation. Linda Saran: The foam was raining down and the flames are dripping from the ceiling. he was very kind about it, but he said, "I don't ever see you competitively swimming again." Watch Live: Closing arguments begin in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Watch Live: Garland testifies amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. He had an unlikely friend rooting for him. Taffer recently sat down with Rolling Stone to discuss bars and his history with them. MICHAEL DERDERIAN [at sentencing hearing]: There is so much pain and heartache that happened on our doorstep. That history necessarily includes his role in starting up Pulsations, which Rolling Stone describes as "the monster dance club that brought Studio 54 vibes to West Philadelphia.". It wasnt about forgiveness for the death of his brother, because he never blamed them. In an exclusive interview with "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod, the Derderians said they wanted to set the record straight and reveal new information about that foam and accountability. Linda Saran: I could have missed it all. The brothers say there was evidence that the grand jury never heard. 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. there was nothing that would make it so you couldn't get out of it. It got so popular that they had a clone built for Rocky IV. The answer is no. For everyone who was involved, the memories still haunt them. Linda Saran and her friend Deb were in the atrium, huddled together under a table. Jeff Derderian: That door was meant to block the noise from the neighbors. The former salesman for the company where the Derderians bought the deadly insulating foam says the fire destroyed his life: Barry Warner a foam salesman and neighbor of The Station nightclub suggested to the Derderians that they look into spray foam as an option to muffle the noise of the club. Jody King kneels at his brother Tracy's memorial. Warner lived next to The Station and had met the brothers. The brothers decided that because Jeff had young kids, Michael would go. Since I had been there earlier in the night, I knew that there was at least an exit in the back barroom. Michael Derderian: No. 35 seconds: The . We took shortcuts. Patrick Lynch: while troubling, concerning, maddening it doesn't mean that somebody should be charged or can be. That night, about a thousand revelers gathered to . The West Warwick, Rhode Island club The Station was purchased by brothers Michael A. and Jeffrey A. Derderian in 2000 and three years later became a scene of tragedy that would haunt Rhode Island forever. This 4.84 AC Land is for sale on LoopNet.com. You can even expect an appearance from the club's famous robot. Jim Axelrod: To people who feel that the two of you have never said we own this what do you say? 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. Biechele and Great White, the Derderian brother, Larocque and the town of West Warwick plus a host of others figured into lawsuits that led to a payout of $176 million to those who were injured and the families of those who died. Husband of woman murdered with an ax convicted 40 years after her death, How a tragic boating crash is connected to the family of Alex Murdaugh, Five deaths with a connection to Alex Murdaugh's family investigated, Never-before-seen photos and details about accused Idaho killer. On February 20th, at 11:07 p.m. 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. I went over, put my hands against the glass, and I started kicking at that window and it wouldn't break. Not exactly. Anniversaries, he says, renew the ties and allow him to reflect and recount his version of events that fateful February 20th night. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. Catch the episode Wednesday night at 8 p.m. on 6abc! Pulsations was THE spot in the Delaware Valley in the '80s, and tonight "The Goldbergs" recreate the legendary nightclub for Barry's bachelor party. Linda Saran: Yes. He was out there, and he just loved being in the center. Also outside was club owner Jeff Derderian. The fire was started by. Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills, PA, United States . But has prevention actually improved? Seconds later, flames appeared on the back wall. Band road manager Daniel Biechele, for triggering the pyrotechnics that sparked the fire. It would become one of the deadliest fires in a club in U.S. history. The Station Nightclub Fire, Rhode Island, 2003. Phil Barr: You know just have a beer, see a concert. When others turned away from the Derderians, King remained. Many involve pyrotechnic failures. He trusted the owners. Negligent nightclub bar security can be the cause of the Death of a Nightclub. Jim Axelrod: There are so many people still to this day angry that the case didn't go to trial. Final . JACK RUSSELL [news interview]: We never do anything without asking permission first. Phil Barr: I couldn't hear alarms. The blaze began when members of a band performing at the . Almost twenty years after one of the deadliest building fires in history, the owners of West Warwick, Rhode Island's The Station nightclub are speaking out. They should have blamed more. which was located in Glen Mills, PA in Delaware County from 1982 to 1994? Jody King: He trusted the club. In urban areas, high turnover means that fire marshals rarely stick around long enough to learn all the nuances of the code. This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 21:26. Search Bands Concerts Venues Locations Bucket Lists Users Linda Saran: Most of the crowd thought it was part of the show and didn't move. Station nightclub fire scene, viewed from above. More on the fire:The Station fire: 100 victims in photos. Jim Axelrod is the chief investigative correspondent and senior national correspondent for CBS News, reporting for "CBS This Morning," "CBS Evening News," "CBS Sunday Morning" and other CBS News broadcasts. The Derderians are on a 'white-wash tour' in 2021 about The Station fire, says father who lost son: Over the yearsDave Kanehas had to find a place to storehisoutrage overlosing his18-year-oldson, Nicholas, in The Station nightclub firein 2003. Absolutely not. WEST WARWICK, R.I. . 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