Feb. 20th, 2003.
I was at T.G.I. Fridays with my GF at the time that night, and was making jokes about the show me and my buddies were supposed to go and see that night. See, me and my friends all worked for the same company. and they were working at the mall the week prior generating leads. They were approached by the members of Great White and were asked directions to the nearest strip club. Now, a couple of the guys were younger, so they dont know who the hell Great White is, but since they were quick in providing directions to the Foxy, the band said they would put them all on the list to go to the show.
So, im sitting in Fridays with my girl and her friend joking on how we were gonna get all glammed out and go see the 80's show, and it didnt take long for the "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" jokes to start.
As a side note, The Station, the venue for the show, was about 1/4 mile (no bullshit) from my house, and about 2 miles from Fridays.
Then we overheard people talking about a fire. Then someone else walking through the resturant was talking on his cell saying "the station is on fire". And within 20 minutes, you would have thought Iraq invaded Warwick. Sirens kept wailing down the streets, not stopping for a second. Then details started to spread through the resturant, about hundreds of people being trapped in the night club, while the fire roared though it. The girl I was with, her father called her, who drove past the Station on his way home, and said it was when only 1 or 2 ambulances were on the scene. He said he could here people screaming trying to escape the club.
What started the fire was Great White had a pyrotechnic display, one that the Station had no license to have. The Station was a small club, could prob hold 300 people Id say. My friends bands played shows there once in awhile, but it sucked because they didnt allow Pitting. But they allowed Fire works, which caught the soundproofing foam that ran across the top of the stage...
Feb. 20th, 2003.
I was at T.G.I. Fridays with my GF at the time that night, and was making jokes about the show me and my buddies were supposed to go and see that night. See, me and my friends all worked for the same company. and they were working at the mall the week prior generating leads. They were approached by the members of Great White and were asked directions to the nearest strip club. Now, a couple of the guys were younger, so they dont know who the hell Great White is, but since they were quick in providing directions to the Foxy, the band said they would put them all on the list to go to the show.
So, im sitting in Fridays with my girl and her friend joking on how we were gonna get all glammed out and go see the 80's show, and it didnt take long for the "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" jokes to start.
As a side note, The Station, the venue for the show, was about 1/4 mile (no bullshit) from my house, and about 2 miles from Fridays.
Then we overheard people talking about a fire. Then someone else walking through the resturant was talking on his cell saying "the station is on fire". And within 20 minutes, you would have thought Iraq invaded Warwick. Sirens kept wailing down the streets, not stopping for a second. Then details started to spread through the resturant, about hundreds of people being trapped in the night club, while the fire roared though it. The girl I was with, her father called her, who drove past the Station on his way home, and said it was when only 1 or 2 ambulances were on the scene. He said he could here people screaming trying to escape the club.
What started the fire was Great White had a pyrotechnic display, one that the Station had no license to have. The Station was a small club, could prob hold 300 people Id say. My friends bands played shows there once in awhile, but it sucked because they didnt allow Pitting. But they allowed Fire works, which caught the soundproofing foam that ran across the top of the stage on fire, and it was all over.
100 people died in that fire. And fortunately for me, I didnt go to the show, nor did my friends and I was lucky enough not to lose someone to that fire, but I have handfulls of friends who lost relatives and other people close to them. And an old friend of mine was one of the first firefighters on the scene, and Ill spare the gruesome stories (and theres lots of them) but having to even think about having to watch 30 people burn to death, all in a pile bottlenecked at the front door, were they where all stuck due from trying to escape a burning building at the same time.
Meet the Derderian brothers, owners of the club.
Yesterday, word came down they had pleaded "no contest" to all charges involved. after 3 years of swearing they were innocent and were going to fight the case, they played the No-Lo card, making sure this case never went to trial.
Before I tell you there sentence, if anyone outside of New England reads this, know that RI is a ridiculously corrupt state. The mobbed-up former Mayor of Providence serves jail time for mob related extorion incidents. And a handfull of greedy politicians own the state. The Derderians had friends, and thats all you need in RI.
100 people dead, one brother 4 years, one brother 10 years suspended.
4 years!? number one, I have a good friend that did 5 years for robbing someones house with a handgun, but hes black and has no political friends. How can you only get 4 years. And how the fuck does the other brother get 10 years suspended? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO SIGNED OFF ON THE DEAL AND STATED JUSTICE THIS, JUSTICE THAT BLAH BLAH, SIGNED OFF ON THIS DEAL. DO NOT LIE TO VICTIMS FACES AND SAY YOUR FIGHTING FOR THEM AND THE PEOPLE THEY LOST, THEN FALL INTO THE CORRUPTION. WHEN ASKED, THE A.G. (PATRICK LYNCH) STATES SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF HOW THE JUDGE MADE HIM DO IT. I had to shout that last part, so it stuck out. See, it would be political suicide in this state to go against the brothers' friends. So he backed off, gave a deal, and rumor has it, the Dederians were even allowed to decide who did time. (Michael decide he should go, since Jefferey has 2 kids)
Patrick Lynch has stated he is against this deal. He still is trying to act like a hero, but when it was time to step up, he backed down. End of story. Again, he is the AG. He has to sign off on these deals. He has since released a bullshit letter to the victims family, which is included in the story im posting below.
I know I just wrote a fucking novel, but you cant help but feel pissed off. It was a rock show. You've been to shows. Ever think something like that would happen? Fuck them. Dederian brothers? Burn. Lynch, take your fake letter and shove it up your ass. And try to sleep at night knowing you sold out victims families hopes of justice because it was the path of least resistence.
--Nick
Full Providence Journal article
I was at T.G.I. Fridays with my GF at the time that night, and was making jokes about the show me and my buddies were supposed to go and see that night. See, me and my friends all worked for the same company. and they were working at the mall the week prior generating leads. They were approached by the members of Great White and were asked directions to the nearest strip club. Now, a couple of the guys were younger, so they dont know who the hell Great White is, but since they were quick in providing directions to the Foxy, the band said they would put them all on the list to go to the show.
So, im sitting in Fridays with my girl and her friend joking on how we were gonna get all glammed out and go see the 80's show, and it didnt take long for the "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" jokes to start.
As a side note, The Station, the venue for the show, was about 1/4 mile (no bullshit) from my house, and about 2 miles from Fridays.
Then we overheard people talking about a fire. Then someone else walking through the resturant was talking on his cell saying "the station is on fire". And within 20 minutes, you would have thought Iraq invaded Warwick. Sirens kept wailing down the streets, not stopping for a second. Then details started to spread through the resturant, about hundreds of people being trapped in the night club, while the fire roared though it. The girl I was with, her father called her, who drove past the Station on his way home, and said it was when only 1 or 2 ambulances were on the scene. He said he could here people screaming trying to escape the club.
What started the fire was Great White had a pyrotechnic display, one that the Station had no license to have. The Station was a small club, could prob hold 300 people Id say. My friends bands played shows there once in awhile, but it sucked because they didnt allow Pitting. But they allowed Fire works, which caught the soundproofing foam that ran across the top of the stage...