great white update

[smopo24]

i couldn't think of a better place to post this other than here; not that anyone else wants to set a dive bar on fire or anything:

According to the Feb issue of PLSN, Great White tour manager Daniel Biechele has agreed to plead guilty to 100 (yes, 100!) counts of involuntary manslaughter, but will serve no more than 10 years in state prision. It is believed he will cooperate with prosecutors in their case against "The Station" club owners Jeffrey & Michael Derderian, who are each charged with 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter for alledgedly installing the flammable foam on the walls and ceiling of the club in violation of state fire code.
All 3 defendants were originally charged with 2 counts for each of the 100 people killed. 1 count per death alleged criminal negligence; the other accused the defendants of commiting underlying offenses that led to the deaths. The pyro device was a 20 ft. gerb used in a room with a 15 ft. ceiling. Biechele set off the pyro device, but is apparently not a licensed pyro specialist. He has said through his lawyer that he had permission from the club to light the pyrotechnics during the show, a claim the club owners dispute.

[Nubus]

idiots

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by Nubus

idiots

totally.....couldn't they tell that a 20 foot flame in a room with a 15 foot celing would be trouble? i guess it's worth the hassle now of fire inspectors coming around venues now to check if everything is up to code; but it's not often enough.

[Nubus]

I used to have to practically hold the hands of bands. "Look here- this is a fire exit. Do NOT block this door. See this? This is where all the mic stands and cables are. Don't put you gear in front of the door, please." Idiots still would do it every show because they can't read and they think they are important.
Safety starts in the hands of the bands.

[smopo24]

Originally Posted by Nubus

I used to have to practically hold the hands of bands. "Look here- this is a fire exit. Do NOT block this door. See this? This is where all the mic stands and cables are. Don't put you gear in front of the door, please." Idiots still would do it every show because they can't read and they think they are important.
Safety starts in the hands of the bands.

well, i'd say (not in your case of course) that safety starts with venues making sure they are up to code for fire safety......then bands. but not often enough do we talk about those that make situations worse: panicing victims that flee with no reguard for other people. i had heard of cases where people get trampled, and shoved; this usually causes more injuries than the fire itself. didn't we learn anything from all the firedrills we had in school since we were about 4???? don't panic, don't push, single file, and know where the exits are; all the exits.

[dolivas]

That incident reminded me of the crackdown on clubs who didn't follow fire codes after this. Went to go see a show at Schubas and way too many people showed up and coupled with the fact that both of the EXIT signs had dead bulbs forced some fire marshall nearby to show up and delay the start of the headline for like an hour or so because they were literally making the club kick people out of the club (they oversold tickets apparently more than the capacity would allow) and making them get some bar lackey to fix and change the lights on the EXIT sign.

All the while we were in front with the band next to stage talking about how some stupid headlining band had invited way too many people over and above the guest list to show up which caused this first broohaha. It did seem kinda weird the M's quickly skeedadled after playing their set and literally sneaked out of the side door of the club with all their gear after they played. All in all stupidity prolonged an otherwise good night into a tiresome bad night. I blame the M's, the club and clueless yuppies who drank too much for this outcome.

[smopo24]

from livedaily.com:


A Providence, RI, judge sentenced former Great White (music) tour manager Daniel Biechele to serve four years in prison for his part in a 2003 nightclub fire in which 100 people died.

Biechele pleaded guilty in February to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in the case; he admitted to lighting the pyrotechnics that started the fire during a Great White concert.

The two owners of The Station nightclub, which burned to the ground, have pleaded not guilty to 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter (two counts for each person killed). They are accused of illegally installing a highly flammable soundproofing foam at the club.