Jack Russell talks about The Station nightclub fire

[@LMSUNSHI]

Seriously you don't need to be a Fire Marshall to know it's dangerous to have any fireworks in a small club. This could've been avoided. RIP to all the victims.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

It's not legal. Jesus Christ. Can't believe I have to even SAY THAT. NOT legal in ANY state.

[@scottbartholomew451]

Exactly! Clearly common sense and reason were severely lacking that night!

[@armyretired28]

Other people who went to that club before swore to a grand jury that it had been done in that club before! Soo maybe that's why Great White had also had them for their show. But the club ower had just put more foam for deading the noise that wasn't fire proof!

[@armyretired28]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Yes it is legal in some states and night clubs if approved by the management and fire marshall. I've been to several bars and night clubs while in the Army and seen Pyro being used on stage across the country.

[@G1NZOU]

If it was indoor rated pyrotechics it would have been absolutely fine, however the band manager set off regular fireworks, because they're cheaper, the venue also had foam that was not properly fire rated and had a legal obligation to have sprinklers due to their building's use case as a nightclub, as well as not having any of their staff trained in fire safety. It was a combination of factors that stacked up to make this fire as deadly as it was, but I put most of the blame on the venue owners, they're responsible for making sure their venue is up to code and within capacity limits, I don't put as much blame on the frontman of the band.

[@dontswin]

I think if I were the tour manager, I see these very low ceilings I immediately think 'hey you know what.... these ceilings are way too low for outdoor fireworks, I think we'll have to pass on that. ' One does not have to be a rocket scientist to tell maybe this is not too cool in such a small confined place, I mean really now.

[@justpunishingvaginassince1923]

dontswin CLEARLY YOUVE NEVER SEEN A VAGINA EVER

[@vexxevxevvex2622]

How about this; Wow, this club is no fucking place for a well known 80's band that has the potential to draw fairly large crowds??? How about performing in an arena, and not some random night club at 400 person max capacity. Of course on top of that, no fireworks in a small ass room.

[@raindrop1006]

It's pretty obvious having stupid pyrotechnics in a tiny club is ridiculous.

[@joecook5689]

Yep, and sadly why do adults want fireworks in a show? Do they have the minds of small children? I liked fireworks as a kid, 4th of July, outdoors.

[@jimfoster7986]

Baloney! This is rock n’ roll. Fire hazard? What fire hazard? “Helloooooo.... Rhode Island...oh shit.”

[@TheJKJunkie]

Woman doing this interview is a terrible reporter.

[@Stevens_Images]

Absolutely

[@chilloutrollercoaster8363]

wtf was she thinking? ?

[@ExtremeMusicPromotion]

Why was there shit in her mouth?

[@mikeskinner7595]

@tinwoods beat your mama

[@kev03103]

Some people are at fault. If Jack pushed pyrotechnics without any precautions he carries responsibility. I've heard the building inspector wasn't fired... outrageous.

[@SuburbanDon]

Everybody is responsible. Pyro in that place was a stupid idea.

[@CRCfail]

The customers, the waitstaff, the bartenders, the band members?

[@SuburbanDon]

@@CRCfail Of course not. But the club manager and band for sure.

[@johncapehart8299]

Wow, whoever is interviewing him needs a lesson in empathy and perspective. Disgraceful.

[@willcartershaves]

yeah she sounds like a bitch for sure

[@EdsterIII]

@Chris Wood Really dude? People DIED and you say that? Mothers and Fathers left kids behind due to ignorance.

[@EdsterIII]

@Chris Wood I'm sorry but given that I was just given a death sentence from a doctor and caring for someone who had the same illness I don't take a lighthearted attituse towards life. Yeah she was annoying. But what happened because of the IGNORANCE of so many people caused unnecessary death. I've seen and had to smell the results of a fire consuming a human being. It is a NIGHTMARE and something you can never forget. I don't mean to be emo about sh*t but when life is taken so lightly it makes those of us who wish we had more of it a bit bummed.

[@raindrop1006]

I'm really uncomfortable listening to her speak and how rude she is.

[@e.l.norton]

@@kelbylee He's.....a SINGER. Not a mass murderer. There are MANY people who share responsibility for what happened. Chief among them the owners. The fire marshal. The people responsible for lax fire codes that set the stage for this to even happen. Many people. Stop looking for a boogeyman to blame. It ain't him.

[@cherylbrown2357]

You can see the sadness in his eyes....

[@maryfigliozzi2117]

The nerve of her to ask such a ridiculous question, especially after he opened up his heart.

[@MVuke84]

It seems like people forget, he had close friends that died also. This was a freak accident, caused by a lack of common sense

[@bestopinion9257]

Common sense is not that common.

[@kevind7308]

I had the opportunity to speak with a survivor of the fire whose life was forever changed. I was watching my son swim at a lake in Carver Ma just before the sun fell behind the trees when he pulled up with his female friend sometime in 2006. My son and I were the only people at the beach when he got out of the car with help from his friend. I could instantly tell he was badly burned and i tried hard not to look at him as he waded slowly into the cool water. When he came out he noticed that i was playing the Stones on the radio and he came over and told me all the horrifying details. Even though he was badly burned he held no ill will towards Great White.

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Kevin D I think the fans know what happened and do not blame a band for it especially when it came out the club was unfit it was not the band who was charged or sued after all

[@b3j8]

Wonder if that was Joe Kinan? He was horrifically burned especially on his head. So damn sad!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@b3j8 Joe was pissed as I could tell, and he's not nearly a tiny degree as furious as I'd be...

[@detroitlionspistonstigersr6735]

Whyd you write your comment like you were writing a novel ..."in the cool water"

[@kevind7308]

@@detroitlionspistonstigersr6735 because he remarked to me the cool water help sooth him. Ok

[@RitaMae711]

That interviewer was rude and insensitive!

[@ronson232]

She sounded like she was hand-picked by Jack. She's definitely not a professional, but she wasn't being rude.

[@chilloutrollercoaster8363]

shaved cat asshole more like it

[@TheIcequeen63]

It's sad to me that people blame him. I understand he's the leader of the band but he's said in interviews before that the band was told at other venues they couldn't have pyrotechnics and they obliged. Other shows they could and they did. The sparklers were outdoor use only, and it wasn't the band that bought them. The entire club was a nightmare waiting to happen when you account in all the shortcuts the owners took before that night. The club should not have been allowed to operate, period. I understand, well this caused fire codes to be better blah blah-No, the chicago fire at the Iroquois was bad and it changed so much, SO MUCH. The fact that people can't follow common sense and simple safety codes bothers the life out of me. And before you get on me about having pyro inside, I know many people who work with pyrotechnics. If you watch the documentaries and read the report that was made after you'll find that it was literally a disaster waiting to happen. The foam underneath the flammable stuff actually didn't catch on fire as quickly during lab tests but it was covered in the club. No sprinkler system in place, limited exits, and limited knowledge of the staff on how to correctly handle the situation. As someone who would love to run a business, I can honestly say I'd never allow it to open under my name let alone let anyone inside that building. I don't think it was Jack's fault. I understand why people are mad, but it's easy to be mad a ta public figure. My upset comes more when I find out that the club owners barely served time at all even though they knew they cut corners and it was unsafe.

[@TheIcequeen63]

...like the official report on what started the fire, the types of changes that were made to the building, the kind of laws that were in effect at the time, the kind of pyrotechnics used, the types of materials that were layered on the walls and floor, the changes the owners made inside the club without safety consideration, which was all covered comprehensively in the official fire report (which I found very easily online, the library around here is pretty crap for actual literature and studies so I have to use online sources, sourced from books and studies that other people with far more knowledge and experience in the matter, have written), and then on top of all that, the tv interviews as well as the footage from the actual night? No no, I'm pretty sure I tried to cover all angles before I started posting about this. It was horrific. The club owners have 100+ counts of manslaughter, negligence, and injury as far as I'm concerned.

[@jjbenz9633]

TheIcequeen63 did they tell the band about it?

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Jj Benz if they told the band it was unsafe do you really think the band would have let it go on he says right here he did not bring the things

[@kimberlyj.sullivan9304]

Jack & his band actually paid for some of the funerals: unlike the disrespectful, remorseless Owners of the club.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@fadingworld5569 "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." In this case, common fucking SENSE would tell you NOT to use fireworks INSIDE. There is NO state this would be legal.

[@romantic340]

The club owner should have run their establishment properly and it would have never happen, rock on Jack.

[@jimfelix3684]

I agree. plus, they over sold tix.

[@kimberlyj.sullivan9304]

Agreed

[@tjfSIM]

@@jimfelix3684 And Jack Russell himself was instrumental in the overselling of tickets, and the overcrowding of the club. He went around Warwick offering free tickets to anyone who recognised him.

[@dime_stealth4203]

Oh yeah and don't have your manager light off fireworks indoors.

[@caulifleur]

tjfSIM yea he’s trying to sell out a venue given an allotted number of tickets to sell, like every one who’s been in a band has. He’s not thinking he’s adding to overcrowd the place. He didn’t make the damn tickets.

[@55Porter]

Jack at 1:40 - "okay, so you go from THAT question to THAT question??!"

[@nibekspeed]

That hit me hard. Weird interview.

[@AskLaura2023]

I literally just said the same thing ….SMH 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@j.m.7545]

the stage area was too small and ceiling too low!!! one look and just a smidge of common sense should have been all it took to decide against ANY pyro crap!!! im sorry but who ever pushed go or what ever on the pyrotech stuff is 100% to blame. plain and simple. just own it, the band had no right to do that in that space, just reckless stupidity

[@fingerbang666]

Jack looks and sounds as though he has lived a little bit too much of the musician life. This and the fact that there are 100 deaths weighing on his conscience. Very defeated man.

[@sherrynelms2049]

You think

[@TR-vr5pz]

he shoule be defeated--him and his band are to blame--youre a failed musician when you need fireworks behind you--he can rot in hell

[@suevosloo2008]

@@TR-vr5pz they are not to blame. the owners of the club are to blame

[@stangoodvibes]

@@suevosloo2008 it's a question of who is *ultimately* to blame. Great White are responsible for setting off the 15x15s in a small room without permission. The Fire Department are responsible for not checking the fire rating on the insulation and giving the owners a licence every year. The insulation company are responsible for not sending the right insulation. All these people paid out millions in settlements. The owners are ULTIMATELY responsible as the owners of the club. But blame can be apportioned to a number of people and companies. Several bad decisions were made by several people. To be fair to the owners, if the band didn't have pyrotechnics in the contract the last thing you'd think is some idiot was going to use them in a small club. For me the blame really lands at the feet of whoever in Great White got the pyrotechnics, because without that there was a really low fire risk.

[@CatsAreNiceMeow]

@@stangoodvibes Fhis is how I feel. So many people dropped the ball.

[@RumbleFish69]

"The Gauntlet​!" Man, this guy cannot catch a break!

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Poor baby. Go look up Kiney, they guy he severely burned. Email him. Ask him about poor JR.

[@padraiggillon]

Well, Jack, you could have not ordered your employee to shoot off pyro without getting proper permits. Yep, you could have done that.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

(Face palm) there ARE NO PERMITS. This is 9,876,823 % illegal in ANY state!

[@cuznred]

The last thing Jack Russell wanted to happen was the station fire. His job was not fire inspector or club owner and it wasn't his job to inspect the club for safety, That falls on the fire inspector and the owners of the club. Both failed miserably which caused the event we are all talking about. If there was no flammable soundproofing this story would not exist...... Period. I also believe the band had permission to use the sparklers, if they were told no they would not have used them, Great White isn't a gimmick band that needs things like that in their show. Let it go, leave the poor guy alone, I am sure he has enough guilt for the rest of his life.

[@Mezaph]

@@cuznred plus no sprinklers. I've seen plenty of reports, including from fire safety experts, that said it wouldn't have happened if there were no toxic flammable foam AND there were sprinklers.

[@carlmarks8170]

@@cuznred Of course, nobody "wanted" the fire happen... But that doesn't mean people aren't blameless. What an idiotic comment. There are always myriad reasons for catastrophic tragedies like The Station fire. It's never all one person's fault, but a collision of factors which line up. Each one contributing to the horrific conclusion. For instance... If people hadn't panicked and pushed and if someone hadn't tripped over and caused the pile up of bodies which blocked the front doorway, then maybe 90% of the victims would've made it out alive. Those 2 club owners were assholes for renovating a small restaurant bar into a death trap of a night club and cutting corners every step of the way. Let's not even talk about that moron of a bouncer who blocked one of the exits... Asshole! So was the fire marshall who allowed them to increase the capacity beyond a safe limit with such poor fire-exits and no sprinkler system. He also overlooked the flammable foam cladding which covered the roof and walls around the stage. All of them should've been jailed. The foam manufacturers also wear some of the blame for their faulty product. Fancy selling foam soundproofing tiles which combust so readily and produce such a lethal toxic smoke.. One of the club owners fully knew of the fire danger of polyurethane foam, but somehow didn't realise they had used that material to soundproof The Station. Idiot... Part-blame also lies with the pyro-manufacturer who sold Dan Biechele those fireworks even though he wasn't licensed. Again, greedy people cutting corners and ignoring safety regulations. However, it was Jack Russell's choice to use pyro in that tinderbox of a club. It was his band, his show... He was the boss. The tour manager set 'em up & set 'em off. He had no license to do so and was rightfully jailed. But he was working for Russell, so that makes him Russell's responsibility. It wasn't the first time they used pyro on that tour either. It was idiotic to use pyro in that small club. Never mind whether or not they got the club owner's permission. It was their choice. Earlier in the day, while they were sound checking and setting up, how come nobody stopped to think "Hey, where are the sprinklers? Hmmm... Maybe we shouldn't use the pyro..." Fuckin' dumbasses. Russell was probably already half-drunk and never noticed. Bottom line: they started the fire. It wasn't fairies who started it. Hindsight vision is 20/20. It's easy to point fingers. But that doesn't mean those responsible should escape being blamed for what occurred.

[@Prismatic_Truth]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 False. The use of pyrotechnics was permitted in entertainment spots especially nightclubs under model codes subject to prequalification of conditions and approval of authorities having jurisdiction (AHJ). Under the NFPA Life Safety Code 101, a pyrotechnical operator is expected to submit a written plan that includes the date, time, and location of an event, and the qualifications of the director within 24 hours of the event (NFPA, 2003). Although the nightclub was not under a model code, there were some protocols that should have been followed while using the pyrotechnics. After the incident, fire personnel from West Warwick confirmed that apparently, neither the band nor the club had obtained the necessary state permissions to use pyrotechnics.

[@Vanasse1]

It's interesting to read all the comments about 'who' is to blame for this horrible tragedy. To me, a lot of people were to blame... the owners, who put that toxic foam up, didn't install sprinklers and padlocked exits so people wouldn't sneak in..... the fire marshall, who should have shut that place down immediately for 'not' having sprinklers... (payoff, maybe?).... the tour manager, who lit the fire.... the band, who obviously wanted pyro in their show in the first place.... the idiot bouncer (or bouncers) who were preventing people from exiting the stage door... this was a perfect storm of greed, stupidity and apathy, by many people, which led to the deaths of innocent people...

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Karen Starks I was with you til you said the band and tour manager who puts foam in a club or anything flammable on walls ? and padlocks on doors? the band did not supply the pyro also someone else did the bouncer was a jerk wad

[@vexxevxevvex2622]

Yeah I agree with April. Don't blame the band. I hate Great White's music, but blaming them for this tragedy, and even blaming the manager who set off the pyro is dumb. Blame is definitely distributed to many people, but NOT in equal amounts. Personally, here's how I'd rank who is to blame the most (1 being the most responsible for the incident) 1. The Inspector who let the club get away with the toxic foam and lack of sprinklers (and apparently a host of other things, but those are the two big ones). If sprinklers were installed and that shit foam that caused "black rain" to occur was torn out, most, if not all people in that club would have made it out alive, and the fire might have even been put out completely before it spread 2. The Derderian Bros., who, after getting the green light from the Inspector, gave the thumbs up to the band for using pyro in this relatively small, dense, and old club, chock full of the toxic foam and tons of wood on both the inside and the outside of the building. Even giving them the benefit of not knowing the foam was toxic, they still should have known better with the small space and wooden frames. They also allowed the club to exceed max capacity 3. The band manager, who did set the pyro off, BUT!!! He got the okay from the bros., and they in turn got the OK from the Inspector. So really, blame moves up the chain Nowhere on this list though can you put the band. They were just doing their damn jobs, performing.

[@timothymarquez3275]

@@aprildannettegosa5381 reread the comments above. I read something differently than you did.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Let's clarify. The building was made in the mid-50s. There WERE modern sprinklers (since late 1890s, btw). R.I. law says EVERY time you change use or capacity, you MUST install them. This POS building miraculously changed both at least 3-4x EACH and no sprinklers. HTF do you imagine the capacity doubling and tripling a few times and this looks right?? No friggin way this building should have had like 400 people crammed in.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

@@aprildannettegosa5381 there wasn't ONE locked door. Get your damn story STRAIGHT with actual facts from the prosecuting lawyers (Killer Show, John Barrylick) or people who were there: Gina Russo. It's nothing to find them and ASK. Go do that, please. Makes me mad when you see WRONG info, then argue like you researched it in any way.

[@joshuabrooks4907]

You can tell Jack is still traumatized by the events of the station nightclub fire here.

[@bobbuilds1403]

The band should have always checked the safety of a venue...

[@ryanjacobson2508]

The building owners are the only ones who know 100% what a building is like. If they aren't honest and safety officials look the other way, it's not really the band's fault. And other bands had used pyro at this club, it was only a matter of time before a disaster happened, it just happened to be Great White who were playing when it burnt down.

[@johnmartinez4943]

This guy was the singer, not the fire marshal. He's not even the slightest to blame. Why not blame the guitarist or drummer? It is idiotic to have fireworks indoors. If nothing went wrong that night would there have been news stories and arrests? Now yes, attitudes change for a reason.

[@JustinBlazzzee]

Not in Rhode Island. You held a gathering in which safety codes weren’t adhered to? Well, you can either be shut down for 6 months or you can leave an envelope with $10,000 on my office table. Of course that part won’t be spoken, but it is widely understood in RI that that’s the way things run. Most corrupt state in the US.

[@jimtoms7591]

@@JustinBlazzzee As a lifelong Illinoisan, I think we could give you a run for your money.

[@Prismatic_Truth]

Jack Russell controlled the show. He wanted pyrotechnics, & he allowed a non-professional to set them up & deploy them. How is he not to blame?

[@5969696966]

He's really not to blame here. Yes he was trying to use pyrotechnics in a small venue. But he was told it was safe. And he's clearly scarred by this incident. Still receives therapy over it and claims to often cry about it. 14 years later he's still majorly affected by survivors guilt. He claims to have lost many friends because of the fire. Also what the fuck is up with this interview? This woman randomly changes the subject from a tragedy to a new album name suddenly. What the fuck

[@timothymarquez3275]

Not to take the reporters side, cuz non of the blame is on the singer, but usually reporters ask questions like that to set others minds at rest due to rumors. Although sometime (or now it seems as most times) these questions are asked for ratings.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

It's not his responsibility to determine SAFE! It's the law's. And it says NO, in EVERY fucking state. He's ABSOLUTELY to blame! He set off FIREWORKS INSIDE!! Why not go find the victims and see if THEY'RE not still in a great deal of physical and emotional pain still...? You don't escape a fire. Therapy, my ass! He was out almost IMMEDIATELY scamming people for money for "Station fire victims" and meanwhile, Gina Russo says he NEVER gave them ONE DAMN DIME! He's a bullshit artist. Don't buy a word of it.

[@pollyanna147]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 I was with GWAR at this same club a few months earlier and the club let them shoot pyro. It was in the contract and the promoter gave the OK to the tour manager and the agent when they advanced the show. This could have happened multiple times before this night. To blame it on Jack specifically is such bullshit, he probably didn't leave the bus until the band went on stage. They probably loaded in and set this up at 2pm, why didn't the promoter say something then? Many people are to blame that night and 100 payed the price.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

@@pollyanna147 when you play with fire, there's a always a level of risk. Great White were in the wrong place at the wrong time. There has been pyro at thousands of rock concerts. You don't expect to burn a place down.

[@Prismatic_Truth]

It doesn't matter if he was told it was safe. _It was still illegal._

[@boataxe4605]

The only mistake he made was saying “ Oh that’s not good “ instead of saying “Fire get out !’That’s not good could be a broken guitar string.

[@MichaelGeorge161]

I understand your comment is half a decade old, but massive disagreement here, that would have just made people panic even more

[@boataxe4605]

@@MichaelGeorge161 Listen to how Frank Zappa handled it when there was a fire at a Mother’s of invention concert (it’s on KZbin) he announced the fire, but did so calmly and everyone got out. That of course was the fire that lead to Deep Purple writing Smoke on the water. BTW, I have edited my comment from “yelling” to “Saying” which is what I should have written in the first place.

[@MichaelGeorge161]

@@boataxe4605 I think pointing out the band exit nearer to the stage could have possibly saved lives (I understand a bouncer said it was only for band members). But tough game being him, where everything was happening behind him.

[@Firefighter6228]

Mr. Jack Russell, if you ever find this comment...I am sorry for your loss. Your intentions were good, and there were other factors contributing to the loss of life...illegal spray foam, illegal exit egress, occupant load was over max capacity, non sprinklered bldg., non rated corridors, no real emergency lighting, no access for fire dept personell..etc. I'm a building plans examiner...a building dept. Deputy Fire Marshal, and ex Marine Corps Firefighter. I've made it my lifes purpose to make sure that never happens again if I have anything to do with it. Keep your head up sir. Fire codes and building codes were created because of fires like this..and many others. God forgives you...forgive yourself.

[@b3j8]

Honestly if it's as personal as he lets on, you'd think he wouldn't be able to even think about singing Desert Moon! I sure couldn't.

[@helencoe7839]

He's a selfish narcissist he doesn't care about the people he killed

[@Mysterywhiteboy78]

@@helencoe7839 I would never sing that song again if I were him..so weird.

[@margomazzeo1680]

@@Mysterywhiteboy78 He promised he never would..hes a liar.

[@MM-ig1iv]

Exactly. He loses my respect. He's spitting on them people for doing that. It's about money. That's why he's playing it. It truly brings out the WORST in people. Always will always has.

[@MM-ig1iv]

Who the hell would want to listen to it. After seeing that video and knowing what happens. He's bringing the pain on himself.

[@joepedroza4707]

You can tell it still haunts him even today. This lady interviewing him is annoying.

[@eddieg6436]

She sounds like a Millennial………VERY annoying

[@RodneyFreeman]

The owners of many, if not most establishments, have one thing on their minds and that's money. Not the safety of their patrons. Sad, but true. Jack said it, we all need to be aware of our surroundings when we're out. Know where the exits are and if you don't feel safe, leave. It could be a matter of life and death. So many of these smaller bars and even nightclubs across the country are not safe for one reason or another and over capacity on any given night. Jack Russell and his band didn't do this terrible thing at the Station. The owners did. They were responsible for a safe atmosphere. It was their jobs to know what if any pyrotechnics would be used and whether or not the building could withstand that use. They were also responsible for keeping the nightclubs capacity in check. They failed on both counts and people were maimed and others needlessly lost their lives. Greed over health & safety. Cut and dry.

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Rod Freeman Exactly the owners are at fault for not following safety rules

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Um, what particular dumbass set off fireworks inside, again?? Lots of buildings just like this all over the US. Most don't burn and kill anyone. Let's say you ARE a supreme dumbass as pictured...don't you AT LEAST bring your OWN fire extinguishers?? I do, even when it's not my bar, just my band. And I'm not starting any fires inside, either. Fires start by the stage or by the kitchen. Sometimes, it's wiring. To not have them RIGHT THERE is STUPID. I've been in places you couldn't even SEE the fire extinguishers! They were behind the bar! In a dump that FLOODS, and they failed to tell us, walking around on wet carpet with live wires everywhere. Took out two components before we figured it out. Burnt speaker smell is something you don't forget.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

The fire marshall and the fire inspectors are the biggest culprits here. It's literally there job to insure that fire prevention and fire emergency measures are in place. They knew about pyrotechnics being used in the club and they gave the club owners their blessing. There were no sprinklers, the ceiling was low and highly flammable, yet they let fireworks be set off. As far as I know, the fire officials never once asked for changes at the club.

[@caseyrichardsonable]

What was the interviewer implying about the name of the album?

[@JesusChrist-xk9ee]

I lost a friend from Coventry High School, rest in peace Jason Sylvester....

[@trteeerryfse-wy2ww]

I knew slyvester we use to call him stinkypuss. From the cartoon.... I miss him everyday. He actually taught me to play pool. Really cool guy

[@curtisclark13]

You have to let it go, Jack. I know that’s almost impossible but you gotta try. Lots of “fault” to go around but it doesn’t change anything. A terrible terrible accident happened....but accidents happen, they just do. In a weird and twisted way, that fire has probably saved many lives and always will. How many people will now walk into a venue and immediately check their exits and pathways back outside? I know I do. There is a venue here in Atlanta that I won’t even go to anymore because I just don’t feel safe there. I owe my heightened sense of safety awareness to the Station fire...so thank you. 🤟😊❤️

[@spiralrose]

If we can save other people and ourselves through awareness gained from the fire at the Station, then maybe the deaths and sufferings won’t be in vain.

[@JoeNocella]

Jack is right. Isn't it up to the club owner & fire marshall to know the club? They should know that the foam is flammable and under no circumstances should sparks or fire be allowed near the stage. How is the tour mgr responsible? Unless they disobeyed orders, the club is responsible. Makes no sense to blame the singer.

[@m.elizabeth3211]

The tour manager is responsible because he had no license or permit to set off pyrotechnics. You can't just go in a building a set off fireworks. he was operating illegally. He is not without culpability here.

[@JoeNocella]

I realize you just can't go into a club and set off pyro/fireworks. The band said they had permission. The club said they did not give permission. It sounds like a he said-she said. It turns out the band tour mgr and two brothers who owned the club all received jail time and fines. Bottom line is the club mgr/owner should be aware of a band setting up. Once they saw the band setting that stuff up, they should have demanded they get rid of it. Or if they missed it and the band snuck it in w/o permission, they should have halted the music as soon as the sparks started to fly. If they had sprinklers, the people would have made it out alive. How do they NOT have a sprinkler system? I think the club owners are 100% responsible.

[@ronwilliams1094]

I could ALMOST guarantee you that pyro was used at The Station prior to this tragedy. Many hard rock and heavy metal bands used pyro as part of their show, up until the Station fire. After the news got around about the horrific loss of life, due to a rock band's pyrotechnics, just about every rock club in existence ceased to allow bands to use pyro. I'm not saying ALL CLUBS but I'll bet you MOST have stopped as did the bands. With more affordable, programmable, intelligent lighting available, people don't even miss it. Just watch any KISS Kruise concert footage. No pyro allowed on those cruise ships and it looks just as exciting with intelligent lighting and imagery. Ultimately, all blame should have been placed upon the owners/managers of The Station, not the contracted band. It is up to the establishment to make sure their patrons are safe and their employees are educated in cases of emergency. No sprinklers? Bouncers blocking exits (well, the main exit)?!?! Just poor management that lead to 100 senseless deaths.

[@46singledad46]

Joe Nocella they did know read my comments

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

why even flammable things in a club its stupid blame the club owners and the other people not the band they did not know that club top to bottom

[@thekingsservant1104]

....just goes to show that if you have enough money you can pay your way out of anything.

[@ThirstyEye]

Your comment lacks logic.

[@thekingsservant1104]

@@ThirstyEye your comment is............

[@thesundog8833]

this interviewer ought to be ashamed of her agenda. putting the poor guy through this.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Poor baby. Let's go talk to Joe Kinan. Go have a Google. Read what he went through. See if you don't puke...it's BAD. He's still on physical pain 17 years later. Go talk to him. He's pretty easy to find.

[@andygreen7218]

I have to ask the question, why would the band have used pyrotechnics in this club if they had been told not to use pyrotechnics in other clubs that would have been basically the same type of clubs due to safety issues? What was different about the Station then any of those other clubs? The manager and the band have eyes, Im sure that they could see that it was no different than any of the other clubs in which they were told not to use pyro due to the fire hazard. I think in the end it came down to a case of "they said its ok, so lets go for it". Clearly the buildings owner was at fault here, but a little common sense could have made for a fun night, and not a tragedy.

[@saucyjk6453]

Dude, band members aren't light technicians. Trust me, its not on their radar

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Andy Green not every club said no including this one some said it was ok this one said nothing

[@mountainous_port]

Band wanted to maximize entertainment. Sure they can tell how similar it is to other clubs that said no to fireworks, but station club said yes. They trust too much the club.

[@heidimelendez5623]

I get he did not know that the building had safety issues however anyone with half a brain can see how low the ceiling in that place were and can reasonably access the risk. Too many people died for this many people saying it's not my fault.

[@TomTobin67]

The band was not Kiss or the Stones playing the Enormo-dome, its Great White playing a bar; a band that was past its sell by date in 2003. They didn't need any pyro.

[@isabellebeluch8298]

I agree

[@billdavis6900]

I see all of the comments defending this guy but people defending him are missing the larger point, why do you need pyrotechnics as part of your show, especially at a small venue such as this? If you are worth a shit as a band and you play good music why would you need some ridiculous visual effect like pyro? This guy using pyro in a small club is just a sad attempt to relive his hair-band glory days in the 1980's when he played in stadiums and coliseums. Great White was a third rate band at best who's biggest hit was a cover song. This guy killed 100 people and severely burned at least 100 more for a pathetic attempt to feel like a rock star. You have no business using pyrotechnics unless you're as big as Kiss or Metallica and can afford all of the proper safety measures to facilitate it, like having it operated by certified and licensed professionals with proper permits and fire safety measures.

[@14714623]

0:23 or you could just not use pyro. It pisses me off the way he just shifts blame.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

The fire marshall is literally paid to stop fire hazards, and the local marshall never stopped the club or the bands from setting off pyro. Ultimately the building owners were put on trial, but there has never been accountability from the local fire officials who never told the club to make the venue safer.

[@trishajohnson4011]

Serves him right that jack Russell lost friends that night. I wouldn’t be his friend ether.

[@Kk-fc5jw]

It wasn't his fault foolio

[@robbyers7614]

I also read and heard the owner had side doors locked and secured so folks couldn't sneak in freely.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Bullshit. No account of that. And I think he as well as both owners should have been hanged. Go read Killer Show or Gina Russo's book. Not some clueless dumbass making stuff up online.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Nope, it was the rapid spread of heat, smoke, toxic gas, and flaming debris, as well as club overcrowding, that doomed 100 people. Some people did exit using the emergency exits or broken windows, but in the confusion and panic most rushed for the main entrance since they used that entrance earlier, which quickly got jammed up with trampled bodies. Those that remained conscious often ended up crawling along the floor looking for a way out.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Also, the emergency exit at the end of the bathroom hallway did not exist at the time of the fire. The door was removed and the wall was remodeled due to neighbors complaining about the noise that was heard when the door was opened.

[@italianstallion9148]

I literally cannot believe that they were talking about this horrible tragedy that happened and you can see he's already sad and then she goes on and asks about the album. I am fucking baffled right now.

[@ginger1738]

Even he looks surprised he was like >>r u seriously wanting to talk about this now?

[@ginger1738]

Even he looks surprised he was like >>r u seriously wanting to talk about this now?

[@user-pd5pw4xv9w]

As a club owner of 22 years, bands will occasionally still ask to use these so called “cold pyrotechnics” to this day. Saying “no” isn’t enough to deter them, you get all this pseudoscience marketing nonsense about how safe these are and how every other venue allows it (bullshit). After have one band set them off regardless, we’ve started confiscating these units, locking them away, and returning them after the show is over. I seem to recall that these venue owners later claimed that they withheld permission.

[@KevMac58]

Jack is so right!!I was going to that show at the station an my ride canceled thank God probably saved my life!!but it was the fire Marshal's fault for that whole thing!!!! no sprinkler system wtf!!!! that would have saved so many people.!!!

[@jamesmccracken9323]

I hear you, i feel bad for this tragedy -i was suppose to be at this show too. It was a calling by 3 times of not going through --1 rst attempt-i said i'll get tickets a few days before the show , 2nd attempt, >i said that i ll get them the night of the show while i was going to buy them right then at a music store again , then 3rd attempt-i was feeling ill and said, oh i'll catch them next time around --a devastating loss and tragedy and it was all the fault of the station club manager as well as a few others but its a tragic loss no matter how we look at it !!!!!!!

[@joecook5689]

Good point. Illegal unsafe place of business from day one.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

@@jamesmccracken9323 They over sold/overbooked the venue anyway. Be grateful that you dodged the lethal greed of the owners.

[@Wigslay]

The people to blame are 1. The person who had the idea for the pyro 2. The person who set it up and lit it 3. The club owners for not having proper safety protocol The person setting up the pyro saw the foam and it being in the path of the sparks and should have known it wasn’t safe

[@tinasmith1651]

I love this channel very I interesting information and I love reading the stories love it

[@BigLebowski2000]

Everyone with a little intelligence could've seen this would be trouble.

[@chrismoyers4382]

How about helping the crowd get out?

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Many people were too shocked, too in pain, or had breathed in too much smoke to be of much help. And keep in mind that the band's guitarist went back in to rescue someone and ended up dying. Also keep in mind that thick smoke, toxic gas, and 900 degree heat made any rescue attempts very difficult.

[@chrismoyers4382]

@@ryanjacobson2508 He was able to film it and walk around the building. Not buying it..

[@freakspeely]

Did he really change the album title because of this interview? The reporter came off like she couldn’t wait to tell him about the girl on the ride.

[@genivievegambino1435]

I've met Jack a few times and I think seriously he is not all there. He kind of runs around and does his own thing and listens to no one. Maybe its age, maybe it post Station fire trauma, who knows. I seen him a few weeks ago at Biketober fest in Daytona and he rocked on. Their third or fourth song was Desert Moon and instantly I turned sour during that song. All I could hear in my head was the woman screaming " Where's my husband". It was almost like a flash back even though I was not there. I think he should have just let the song die and not played it again.

[@strtngfrsh]

But it's such a good song and it's not the songs fault.

[@JIF882]

I agree with you. That's probably one of the reasons that he's not in the Great White anymore.

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

genivieve gambino would you be all there after going through that and seeing that?

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

plus he got back sick in the years afterwards

[@kimberlyj.sullivan9304]

What's his Wife's name? How many Grandchildren does he have? Their ages? What's the name of the County he was born in? What's his nickname? What's his Mother's maiden name????? No, you might have 'met' him.....but don't know him. Big freaking difference.

[@josh3458]

He will forever be telling this story. Maybe if you took some responsibility you might be able to find some closure.

[@kevinbautsch]

It wasn't this guys fault that there was flammable foam all over the fucking place.

[@tonyvildosola7364]

Leave this man alone it wasn't his fault

[@oth5secs]

This guy's also a victim. Obviously he didn't expect what happened to happen

[@michael-johnbrown2881]

Man Jack Russell could never get a break just alot of bad luck in his life poor guy

[@fanoflakespeed9460]

Why would you use fire works in a building especially next to curtains and over packed. Simple question can anyone answer it.

[@bradcarr2444]

While I was never a big fan of Great White.Im tired of people blaming him and the band for what happed.Like Jack said they had no control over it,it was the manager and bar owners period to blame.Read the book killer show it explains a lot of what happened that night as well as leading up to the night it happened and after as well as the investigation. This man has to live with this tragity for the rest of his life.The bouncer is also to blame why he wasn't charged who knows.He should have been as he told patrons this exit is band only you must use the main entrance.Only thing Jack did wrong was say into the Mic oh that's not good instead of saying everyone calmly exit the building now.

[@KellAdk76]

I love Great White.. from the moment i heard them when i was a teenager, all the way till this very moment, Great White is one of my all-time favorite rock bands! That will never change! One of these days, I'll get to hear y'all live!

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

Jack is no longer in the band Keli as far as i know due to serious health issues after this

[@giotrapani7852]

@@aprildannettegosa5381yeah he was in a coma for a little bit in 2010 I can’t remember what for but they moved on with Terry ilous, than they had Mitch Malloy, than Andrew freeman for like 4 months I think the new singer’s name is Brett Carlisle he’s this young early to late 40s guy & he fits the band right he has the white hair he just fits the great white persona, I do know former bassist Tony Montana is the rhythm guitarist in jacks version of great white, but he started as the bassist than when the rhythm guitarist left he took on the role of that gig.

[@FIDEL_CASHFLOW_]

The venue told their manager they could use pyrotechnics. The club wasn't equipped with sprinklers because they believed they were exempt due to being grandfathered in under an old law. They weren't exempt after all and the fire marshal who inspected the club somehow missed this and passed the club. The club was over capacity by almost 50 people when the fire broke out. The club manager is primarily at fault here.

[@daisymaefrench4041]

The Dederians were new to owning this type of venue. If the building inspector (who was getting paid to do his job) had told them flat out "no you cannot use that insulation" then they wouldn't have. God only knows why he wasn't charged. Everyone is trying to blame everyone else. This guy didn't know what the heck was flammable and what wasn't. He's a rock singer. This was a terrible tragedy for everyone involved, more so for the victims and their families. It brings tears to my eyes just listening to how horrible it was. May they rest in peace.

[@LS-ys8nr]

Should be common sense to not set off fireworks in a small building. He should have put down the drugs smh

[@waynekennedy2096]

For 1. Jack Russell has alway's been my favorite of rock singers out there for HEAVY-METAL and BLUES. for the 80s. For the stuff said about them and that they didn't care is messed up now. They care about their fans deeply. Without them there would be no GREAT WHITE. As you can see with Jack he is very up-set at the end where they had to cut it and go back cause it was hurting him to talk about it. He ALSO Lost a member from his band cause of the fire. Blame the OWNER if anybody is gonna bame somebody.

[@Angela68.]

It wasn't his fault It's the owner of the club And yes, this female reporter is Horrible

[@tiediegymnasts920]

He's just a singer not a fire inspector not his fault poor dude

[@kateelizabeth4278]

Who's bright idea was it to put pyrotechnics indoors?

[@appointedone9574]

Keep rockin Jack, you are awesome

[@SpaceAce1993]

Is the bouncer dead yet?

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Unfortunately, not that I know of. Too bad he didn't give himself cirrhosis yet.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

A bouncer who did actually help people get out did die in the fire. The others are still alive.

[@SpaceAce1993]

@@ryanjacobson2508 I hate celebrities they’re all pieces of shit, you literally let people who lay your bills by buying your merch and going to your shows die in the fire

[@flashy5150]

It was the Fire Marshall's fault for letting this place stay opened without sprinklers. If it wasn't this pyro stuff that lit the place on fire, it could have been a bad electrical outlet during another band's performance, or several other things that could have started the fire on a different night.

[@flashy5150]

***** Ha, I just wiki'd him. He sounded like a real " good fellow" lol. I can tell that corruption was alive and well there, and a lot of things, including fire inspectors reports got swept under the carpet. The sad thing is, is that the White House has been corrupt since before JFK was assassinated, so it's easy to see that the lower parts of the government were and are corrupt too. I wouldn't doubt that this Buddy Cianci was a good friend to President Lyndon Johnson and the the mafia that he was outed with for killing JFK. This corruption has got to go -- now we see a criminal like Donald Trump running for President. I would bet my bottom-dollar that he screwed many people around to get his money. How can you go from filing for bankruptcy one year, back to being one of the world's most wealthiest men the next a short time after without ripping someone off. The Station fire, to me, was the product of someone's greed.

[@flashy5150]

***** Yeah, I understand. It's pretty bad when they have to take innocent people's lives like this to make money and scam insurance. What better way to do an insurance scam, over-fill the bar with people, sell all that admission, get a big band to play there, sell all those drinks leading up to the concert, Then burn the place down and make it look like an accident, and make it look like it was the band's fault at the same time. I think this was mastered by the owner, in combination with the paid-off authorities, so that this owner clown could get rid of his bar, and make a lot of money from the insurance. I wonder how good "The Station" was doing before this night ? I bet, not good enough.

[@HappyQuailsLC]

Waaaaaiiiiittttt a minute here.... are you on crack? You think a bad outlet could have lit that fire? Why? Because you don't know what caused it? So... it could have been anything? There are several versions of a video filmed that night on KZbin as I write this which have been available here for a decade which shows anyone exactly how the pyrotechnics lit the foam insulated walls and ceiling on fire because the actual start of the fire was filmed by a news crew at the concert that night. This was also the finding of the court case and the account of the band manager who lit them off and witnessed first hand what happened and subsequently served jail time for it! To say that anything could have lit that fire is ludicrous. And it obfuscates what should be discussed in response to this video which is Jack Russell 's comments on the subject of the past when he still, after all these years, can't own up to what he did do to directly contribute to.. no, I'll say it! What he did do to directly cause what happened to take place! It was his band, he hired the band manager and he had the ability and the role and responsibility to ensure that his band buy the correct type and size of pyro for an indoor venue and follow the laws about having a properly trained person to light it off with a fire department firefighter present and fire extinguishing equipment close at hand and only use the pyro after getting a legal permit to use it, regardless of whether anyone else was doing it legally before them or not. For him to act like the only way he could have stopped that fire was to have had " a magic dream" ahead of time shows a complete lack of accountability on his part. And it shows no respect for the friends who he lost.

[@HappyQuailsLC]

Waaaaaiiiiittttt a minute here.... are you on crack? You think a bad outlet could have lit that fire? Why? Because you don't know what caused it? So... it could have been anything? There are several versions of a video filmed that night on KZbin as I write this which have been available here for a decade which shows anyone exactly how the pyrotechnics lit the foam insulated walls and ceiling on fire because the actual start of the fire was filmed by a news crew at the concert that night. This was also the finding of the court case and the account of the band manager who lit them off and witnessed first hand what happened and subsequently served jail time for it! To say that anything could have lit that fire is ludicrous. And it obfuscates what should be discussed in response to this video which is Jack Russell 's comments on the subject of the past when he still, after all these years, can't own up to what he did do to directly contribute to.. no, I'll say it! What he did do to directly cause what happened to take place! It was his band, he hired the band manager and he had the ability and the role and responsibility to ensure that his band buy the correct type and size of pyro for an indoor venue and follow the laws about having a properly trained person to light it off with a fire department firefighter present and fire extinguishing equipment close at hand and only use the pyro after getting a legal permit to use it, regardless of whether anyone else was doing it legally before them or not. For him to act like the only way he could have stopped that fire was to have had " a magic dream" ahead of time shows a complete lack of accountability on his part. And it shows no respect for the friends who he lost.

[@flashy5150]

HappyQuails If you read and "understood" what I said, I said "if it wasn't the pyro that lit it up, it could have been something else, like a faulty outlet". Nowhere in my statement "said" that "it was a faulty outlet". I'm just saying that, the highly flammable packing foam that they used "could" have ignited from several other sources, and on a different night. Someone could have been smoking in there and threw their butt against that packing foam and lit it up, same thing would have happened. It was more the bar owners fault for not "saying no" to the pyro. Great White's tour manager knew "The Station's" construction like I would have known it -- I wouldn't know it at all because I've never been there. It was up to the bar owners "who knew" that the foam they bought and used was highly flammable, and painted with spray paint, which made it even more flammable. Please tell me, if you were the manager of Great White, you walk into the bar, you ask "is it okay to use pyro in here ?", then the bar owner says "sure, it's safe to use", just so he can make more money and have a concert in his nightclub that everyone will cherish forever, don't you think you would do it ??? The manager of Great White was going by the info that "the owners" gave him. Bands like Great White play all over North America, at bars, stadiums and festivals. It is up to the owners of those venues to know their limitations. I t was "completely" the bar owners fault, as they knew the history and the construction of their nightclub. I rest my case.

[@Tonykayemusic]

What a shitty thing to ask about the gauntlet

[@onetimer13541]

And up till 2 yrs ago I worked at a venue that commonly was double capacity set by the fire chief. The system to disable the Hvac in the event of a fire was not working and bypassed because it wouldn't let the Hvac work. No sprinklers because of fire retardants in the paint used on the steel trusses was deemed sufficient. Sound dampening panels throughout but using fire retardant materials but they are covered in cigarette smoke dust bunnies on the tops so still a fire hazard. Overall it has safety measures but I wouldn't want to be there with 400 people in a 275 cap venue. This is all on the fire chief for not consistently checking all aspects.

[@deanfowles3707]

Do something about it for Christ sake. There’s gotta be someone you can report this to

[@onetimer13541]

@@deanfowles3707 fire dept inspects every year. I have left long ago and know they use LEDs now and no pyro fire of any kind. But when it comes to capacity I think a lot of pd and fire dept look the other way on some shows

[@jerryroberts9732]

Common sense would tell you not to do pyro in that venue

[@kerrmann]

God bless you Mr. Russell. People are going to blame everyone they can in tragic times. The fact is noone would of ever thought of the horror that was about to happen or nobody would of showed up. The owner of the nightclub should of had all the responsibilities put on him. He knows the capacity of the club and if you can have pyrotechnics or not. Too many damn people in the club wanting to have a good time. They all knew it and that's just a part of life. Keep rocking!

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Yeah, greedy promoters in both music and sports can't resist over packing a venue to make more money. That's led to a lot of disasters. I bet if you took 60 people out of the crowd at The Station, that would've made escape much easier.

[@andykaufmansgirl1974]

I have never blamed you Jack Russell for the horrific fire. It’s not your fault & I’m still a Great White fan. To be honest because of that fire I saw on the news ever since then I too always look for exits in unfamiliar buildings like restaurants or concerts or sporting events when before I used to find where the nearest bathroom was to where I was sitting. I pray to God that nothing like this will ever happen again or mass shootings is another thing I never want to see again which is another reason why I look for exits or at least a safe place to hide in that case.

[@michaelwiley5889]

just a terrible tragedy on all levels. I don't know who to blame, who could've predicted one of the fastest moving fires of all time on that night? just a terrible tragedy and top 5 worst nights in music history

[@dbrand831]

Ya you're all fkn pyro or building experts now hey? Jack seems so broken and rightly so. How do you live with that kind of trauma? All I know is I met Great White many times in 90s and 2000s in Edm Ab Can. and they were a great bunch of guys and a lot of fun! Thanx for the awesome memories Great White!! You still Rock Me!!!

[@frankiemae1302]

This poor guy. You can see it in his eyes how broken he still is over it.

[@gobillz6895]

some people get thru life by batting their eyes at people

[@evanflynn9987]

Thank you for saying "I'm Sorry."

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

About FUCKING TIME. Only took...17 years.

[@margomazzeo1680]

@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 Right..hes a total douchebag..

[@zackmccrea7611]

What is the gauntlet

[@zaragardner]

I agree there were many at fault. But it just seemed that J.R. has a problem expressing,, if he truly is sorry(sorry that it happened..sorry they felt the need to have pyrotechnics & was horrified by it all) ..its very hard to see it in him & I BELIEVE he could've done A LOT MORE to SHOW he did care. With his ' J.R.s. Great White' band, or with sales of original Great White's music, he could donate. A certain percentage should've been decided on to help with Memorial, & victims. And I'm sorry but if if I go in2 a club to perform KNOWING pyrotechnics are going 2B used ..seeing the small area..low ceiling..I'd be saying "86 the pyro! For OBVIOUS reasons! DUH!!" Its his band. He had power to say it. It just seems he had very little to no compassion about it. He seems sad bc many have blamed him..he should be sad bc he KNOWS he SHOULD HAVE & COULD HAVE said "NO,NO Pyro here tonight" Maybe he is..but I don't see much if any of it being expressed..only him saying,"nothing I say will make it better,maybe even worse"..but if he had expressed how awful he felt about it all from Beginning, then maybe it would've been recognized.

[@aprildannettegosa5381]

we forget he lost a friend too it was due to neglience of the owners that flammable stuff never should have been there or the band should have been told like they were on previous occasions in other places that it was not safe he is not an expert he is a singer

[@adambenedict6536]

It's not Jack Russell's fault!!!!

[@jasonvickrey3923]

Seriously youtube? You're going to put an Oscar Mayer ad on this?

[@guymerritt4860]

I watched a documentary and the pyro stuff they used were referred to as "15 15's" - they shot 15' up, and, out. This was a tiny stage with a really low ceiling. So using pyro in this place was nutty. At the same time, but for the foam there probably would have not been a fire. And the place had passed fire inspections for three straight years and they were never cited for the foam. So there's plenty of blame to go around.

[@Jhihmoac]

I'm sorry...I have no sympathy....Russell knew better, and so did club owners Jeff and Michael Derderian...They (Derderians) knew how The Station was laid out, and that they might be taking a chance in using outdoor pyrotechnics in a place with no sprinklers which probably was going to wind up being filled over capacity, which is exactly what transpired...Russell also very much knew the differences between large and small venues simply because he had played in both types over the years...The true justice to me is that then WPRI cameraman Brian Butler was there to film a piece on (ironically) nightclub safety (spurned by the E2 Nightclub stampede in Chicago which killed 21 just three days before) as part of an overall documentary on the subject conducted by none other than WPRI TV reporter Jeff Derderian himself! The initial raw footage is forever burned into our minds and history... Derderian got more than he bargained for, but unfortunately, at the cost of 100 lives...This is also why I no longer listen to GW, nor post links to any related music videos on any of my social networking pages...

[@MikeMayors]

And what about the fire marshall who performed inspections multiple times in the years prior? The one who failed to point out the highly flammable foam that should have never allowed the place to pass a fire inspection? The one government official who is paid to ensure these types of disasters are avoided and amazingly the one person who was never charged. If you think the lead singer deserves more flack than the man tasked with keeping the building up to code then you got some serious issues you need to work out.

[@tjfSIM]

I agree that it's very strange the Fire Marshall, or at least the Fire Department, didn't face some sort of legal action. Even Anheuser Busch (for Budweiser) ended up paying damages, when people much closer to the cause got away scot-free. I think Russell has attracted a lot of hostility because he's never really accepted any real responsibility for his role in what happened - his band manager, Dan Biechele, honourably stood up and took the brunt of the anger towards Great White, but he was acting under strict instructions from Russell. And if Barylick's book 'Killer Show' is to be believed, Russell aggressively pushed for Pyro to be allowed at each venue on the tour - he pressurised Biechele to get approval, and actively advertised it as a major feature of the gigs. Every time I see him speak about the event, he talks about his pain but never shows any empathy for what happened to others. I don't have any sympathy for him whatsoever.

[@tjfSIM]

***** Yeh it may just be his way - I think there is a sense in which he's never really come to terms with what happened, and has sort of distanced himself from it. I'm not suggesting he's an intrinsically bad person, more of a coward really. I think people would have much more sympathy with him if he had the courage that Biechele had and accepted his part in what happened, instead of painting himself to be the victim all the time.

[@fFringeE]

Shaved Cat - he is haunted.

[@colegabeats]

How did he even get out? The band was literally the furthest from the exit door right?….

[@piscesempress1978]

the bouncer helped them get through an exit.

[@justsaying7979]

When I watch the footage I still don't understand how the band even got out of there alive... So crazy.

[@dancollins8296]

They ran out of the rear entrance literally right next to the stage. One of the bouncers was blocking the exit once the band ran out. The guitar player for the band went back in to try and retrieve his equipment but he was killed.

[@WideyedCamoflage13]

There were faults on both ends. Yes, the club shouldn’t have been layered with that foam but Pyrotechnics shouldn’t have been in that closed location anyway, they’re illegal for a reason. I’m not saying that there wasn’t any malicious attempt, of course there wasn’t, but there definitely was a lack of awareness from both ends. I can’t imagine the indescribable pain and hurt both the victims had in their last moments of their life, and the families for the rest of their lives. But I hope the best for all the other parties too.

[@quinny6920]

Feel bad for him. He did nothing wrong but show up and try to play. I mean seriously, he had NOTHING to do with it in the blame department!

[@planetnoodles]

Jack Russell and Dan Beichiele are not to blame for this tragedy. They trusted the building was safe, they had permission to use the gerbs. Yes, it is a bad idea letting off fireworks indoors but ultimately it was down to the owners and the fire inspector.

[@Prismatic_Truth]

They had permission from the _club,_ but that's not all they needed. They were still operating without either a licensed pyro technician or a permit from the state.

[@landisentertainmentnetwork481]

Who did this interview?

[@judyb1539]

Is he on something or does he normally sound that sluggish?

[@tracibragdon6282]

Sorry, but I don't feel bad for him. This is the first time I've ever heard him say he was sorry for what happened. He is a fake, you can tell he knew about the gauntlet name beforehand. 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@vmackey11]

How would he know? He was just performing. All the people that DID know went to prison.

[@dawnpatrol700]

I saw them a bunch in the 90s at clubs the size of the station. They didn't do any pyro. It just makes sense that should be for huge places only, but I don't blame the band. Maybe they were missing their glory days when they did pyro in the huge places. The whole thing stained the band for sure, and it's probably the reason there are 2 Great Whites now

[@cathykristensen4440]

It's the club owner fault!!!

[@smedleybutler8787]

The camera man at the station knew that place was going up in flames.💀

[@fudgicle1086]

Something as horrible as that fire is never one guy's fault. A lot of people/systems are to blame.

[@cryinginthechapel9240]

Instead of saying, "oh, that's not good" and then sprinting out the back door. Maybe the moron on the mic should have said, "there are 4 fire exits...please remain calm and make your way to the nearest exit!" How many lives would have been saved??? 🤔

[@vanessahenry7238]

I feel bad for him, he was walking around the town passing out tickets and he lost people just like those that were in the venue!

[@Easystreet208]

What people do not realize is that previous shows before the station fire had warnings about the power Techni tics being used. Disputes between management and the bands management with the concern of fire! For Jack to play innocents here bugs me!

[@johnnyf8227]

Wasn’t the foam that was illegal bro.

[@garywdeffenbaugh9829]

To Blame Jack Russell for someone else stupidity that killed a hundred innocent people is crazy. Just like he said why would he put his friends and fans at risk. If anyone is the blame it would be the bar owners and the band manager being their the ones that knew what they were doing and the risk you take on a old wooden building with no sprinkler systems and you'sing flammable foam to drown out the noises. Plus they didn't even have enough fire exits for that type of crowd. It's all about packing the crowd in as much as you can so you can make that dollar. It shouldn't of happen Period!!! as those people would of been alive today.