At least 96 dead in nightclub fire

CNN | 2/21/03

[alisasny]

More troubling to me from the footage I saw is a group of about 20 men getting out into the fresh air with no women. Did they just bolt and not help anyone? I am sorry, this footage is sick!

[ET(end tyranny)]

I'm not sure how this sort of thing works, but since the owner DIDN'T have the required license for pyrotechnics, would his insurance cover this???? I'm thinking the insurance company may not pay a dime.

[John W]

No,no one blaming him.Just someone "pro" him getting the old walking apostle of Hope's name spewed out one more time for old times sake.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

I see they have internet access under bridges now.

[TontoKowalski]

Welcome, and thanks for that incredible inside-information post! Please keep us up to date on how that particular station reports on this tragedy as time goes by.

What a significant first post!

[twyn1]

I just saw this guy re-interviewd -- the film where you saw the poeple struggling to get out was after this guy already went out the door, there was a scene where he was backing out with people crowded all around him, that was in the beginning -- he got out the door with a bunch of people, went around the back but saw that door was engulfed in fire, then kicked out a window and got a guy out from there...after that he went back around to the front door and that was where the people were stacking up -- he said they were trying to push people back and then pull others out from the pile but the smoke just got really bad

Is it a possiblilty that he was using the camera to light the scene for the people pulling others out ? I know that some of the survivors said the lights went out after a minute or so...

[ET(end tyranny)]

FOX has reported on the owner, mentioning his name, and that he is a reporter for channel 12 who would normally be cover this except for his involvement in the story.

What I haven't hear is if anyone has spoken to him or not. I would think yes, but just that he is keeping his mouth shut at the time. And probably wisely so, since he didn't have the required permit to allow for pyrotechnics in his establishment.

[cajungirl]

I saw that and wondered to why he didn't help rather than film. Reminded me of that woman who ran over hubby three times while the camera was rolling,,why didn't that guy stop filming and run screaming toward the scene and attempt to get the husband out of danger. Sometimes I don't understand people.

[twyn1]

..the club is owned or co-owned by a news-reporter from WPRI-TV 12, hence the name "The Station"...

Fox reporter (Alison Camerato ??) mentioned this a little while ago -- she knows the guy personally -- haven't heard anything more -- now they're on the refinery/barge fire in NJ

[Chad Fairbanks]

No kidding... the standard recording contract involved 'up front' money from the label, who will then nickel and dime the artist to death for 'services' before any 'royalties' are paid...

Even Jimmy Buffet finally decided to record on his own label... he sells a lot fewer albums, but makes FAR more money than he did on a major...

[Dansong]

Several friends saw the WPRI-12 video last night as the tragedy was unfolding and said it was VERY graphic: bodies piled like cordwood at the exit. This was as the cameraman was leaving.

What you now see on all the outlets is very heavily-edited video - I doubt you'll see the raw stuff again, as I'm told it only aired once or twice, then pulled/edited.

[MadelineZapeezda]

I think it was Brian Kimeade on F&F that mentioned this fact about the owner being a reporter.

[FreeTally]

Great White likely may have fewer assets per member than many of the posters on this thread.

I was about to make similar comments as in your post until I read yours. You are correct. They have no money. I still follow these 80's bands, site like metal-sludge.com are packed full of information. Guys in bands like Great White who sold a few million records and had minor hits spent all their money years ago, and now tour and make little money. Heck, like you said, many didn't even make money considering touring expenses and paying back labels for upfront cash.

I read that the band Quiet Riot was touring a few years back and making less than $500 per show. Even more popular bands from the era like Ratt, Warrant or Dokken make about $30,000 per tour(each member gets about that). Rotalty checks are very minor these days as well for them. And publishing and merchandise money is almost non-existent.

[FreeTally]

Assuming that Great White fans have brains is giving them a lot of credit. This is natural selection in action.

That's very uncalled for, jerk. People are dead here due to a tragic mistake/accident.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Was just going to respond to that post, but you saved me the trouble. Thanks.

[Aquinasfan]

We were mad at the time but we may have dodged a bullet.

Makes you think, doesn't it?

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

You're absolutely right. You have to ask yourself what they were doing playing in front of 300 people in a funky little shack of a club in Rhode Island. If they were rolling in dough, they wouldn't have been there in the first place.

This is the natural progression of the music business for a lot of people.

[GovernmentShrinker]

No, the audiences aren't satisfied just to hear them. Our culture is increasingly dominated by extreme sensation-seeking, which can actually be physically addicting. The music is louder, the light shows wilder, the rides faster, and those who frequently engage in these forms of entertainment build up an addiction, wherein ever increasing extremes are required to get the same sense of pleasure. Nearly all of these people find it necessary to enhance these experiences with alcohol and/or drugs, leaving them with poor judgement and slow reaction times when an emergency arises.