Rock band sent pyrotechnics into ceiling of Bangor club - two nights before RI fire

wmtw ^

[chance33_98]

Rock band sent pyrotechnics into ceiling of Bangor club

Tuesday,February25,2003,6:44 AM

BANGOR (AP) -- The rock band Great White sent pyrotechnics into the ceiling of a Bangor nightclub two nights before that deadly fire in Rhode Island.

That's according to Sgt. Stu Jacobs, a state fire investigator in Bangor.

Jacobs says discarded canisters from the band's Bangor show indicate that the pyrotechnics required a minimum ceiling height of 15 feet. But the ceiling at Russell's nightclub was only 10 feet, and a 30-inch-high stage reduced the clearance further.

Jacobs says pyrotechnics were shot into the ceiling but there was no fire at the Maine concert because the club's ceiling tiles were flame resistant.

Three of the pyrotechnics canisters used in Bangor have been turned over to fire investigators.

Maine has placed an indefinite moratorium on pyrotechnics displays while state regulations are reviewed.

[Wolfie]

Some other band did the same thing in Minnesota a week ago today. Small fire, nobody hurt.

[mewzilla]

So why didn't any of the clubs, where the band shot off these things without permits and permission, call the fire marshalls and/or the cops after the fact?

[chachacha]

MONEY

[kjam22]

As everyone noticed... the "roman candles" didn't start the fire.... it was the flame throwers blowing against the ceiling.

In my mind the club has a legal obligation and will be found guilty. But the guy ultimately responsible is the guy that burned the place down with his pyrotechnics. Just because the club told him it was okay to have pyrotechnics is not a valid excuse for burning the place down.

One would expect that the club owner okayed the SAFE USE of pyrotechnics. It would be interesting to know what sort of training the pyro guy had... and how much controlled substance he smoked on that day.

[mewzilla]

Yeah, I know. But if these clubs were supposed to report these incidents and didn't, those clubs ought to be prosecuted.

[PJ-Comix]

Maine has placed an indefinite moratorium on pyrotechnics displays while state regulations are reviewed.

I would say that is a pretty good move. And what is it about rock bands and pyrotechics? You mean the audience will feel something is missing if they don't have fireworks going off? All this tells me is that the bands don't think their music is enough to entertain the audiences. Funny, I never heard of Roy Orbison or Patsy Cline having to resort to pyrotechnics to keep up the interest of the audiences.

[tallhappy]

Great White need to be in prison for a long long time.

[kjam22]

Great White need to be in prison for a long long time.

I agree.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Looks to me like the owners and the band are going to fry. Verbal "okays" or "see no evil", no permits (if the club said yes, why didn't the band verify that the proper permits were obtained?), combustable sound-proofing (how did that stuff pass inspection in December, or was it a recent addition? Were the owners hoping for an insurance "accident" with this stuff?), etc. etc.

This "Vee know nuthing, nuthing" Schultz act isn't going to fly on either side.

[Petronski]

The manufacturer of those foam tiles is going to get hosed on strict product liability.

[sox_the_cat]

I'm going to have to wait for Law and Order's version of events before I decide who to send up the river. Jack McCoy will straighten it out.

[mr.pink]

And what is it about rock bands and pyrotechics? You mean the audience will feel something is missing if they don't have fireworks going off?

I agree completely. Nothing says "we're washed up" or "we flat out suck" like a rock group that has to resort to pyros in a small club.

I've seen lots of shows in small venues, and never once have I left one thinking to myself "geez, that would've been a great show if they used fireworks".

[js1138]

The owner is responsible for the safety of the patrons. Anyone in the music business would know about the increasing use of fireworks and should have had a stage manager checking out the act.

[Chi-townChief]

"Jacobs says pyrotechnics were shot into the ceiling but there was no fire at the Maine concert because the club's ceiling tiles were flame resistant."

Saved by asbestos??

[Mr. Bird]

I'm not so sure that I agree with putting the band behind bars for a long time. Obviously, much will rely on who knew and did what when. If the band asked permission and received it, I give them leniency and crush the owner. If the band did not ask permission, I come down harder on them, and equally hard on the owner. I believe the owner is ultimately responsible for the safety of the patrons.

The problem is this is truly a tragic accident. Does it serve society to lock up these people for 20 years or more, or would society be better served with smaller incarceration times and some significant restitution to the victims and their families? I honestly feel sympathy for the band and the owners here; what a horrible thing to have on one's conscience for eternity.

[Charles Martel]

Funny, I never heard of Roy Orbison or Patsy Cline having to resort to pyrotechnics to keep up the interest of the audiences.

True enough. However, Chuck Berry used to have a small pyrotechnic device attached to one of the loudspeakers or amps up on stage. At the end of the show, he triggered the device using a switch on his guitar. The idea was to make the audience think he'd overloaded the equipment with his guitar work.

If Chuck is still performing, I'll bet that trick will be discarded. Of course, we're not talking about a fountain of sparks over ten feet high, either...

[shadowman99]

I have never heard anywhere that Great White used flame-throwers. It appeared that the fountains were aimed at the back wall, and the fires started in two places where sparks caught the eggcrate.

In no way do I excuse Great White. Nearly 100 people died, and it looks like there is plenty of blame to go around. If member of the band are responsible for illegal use of pyrotechnics, I say send them to jail. Changes that appear to fit would be manslaughter, negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, assault, illegal detonation of ordinance,

[Charles Martel]

The manufacturer of those foam tiles is going to get hosed on strict product liability.

Is that stuff actually intended or marketed as wall covering material?

[par4]

How much do you want to bet that some of the clubs had no smoking policies? Can't light up my cigar, but some idiot can burn off a few ounces of pyrotechnics.

Black powder makes for some dense clouds, and without adequate ventilation, the air would be pretty ripe for quite awhile afterwards.