Station nightclub hearth: 19 years later, Jimmy Gahan’s father remembers Rhode Island tragedy that killed 100

Jimmy Gahan was ecstatic when he was supplied the chance to interview Jack Russell, the lead singer of Nice White.

However what ought to have been a joyous night time led to tragedy.

On Feb. 20, 2003, The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, burst into flames when pyrotechnics from the rock band landed on flammable foam put in as soundproofing. 100 individuals, together with school pupil Jimmy Gahan, died. Greater than 200 others had been injured.

The horrific night is being explored 19 years later in a brand new Reelz documentary, “America’s Deadliest Rock Live performance: The Visitor Checklist,” airing Sunday. It’s instructed from the non-public views of those that had been there. Gahan’s father, James Gahan, additionally spoke out for the particular.

“I can’t even start to inform you how elated he was,” James recalled to Fox Information Digital in regards to the 21-year-old. “He was on cloud 9. You would simply see the perpetual smile on his face.”

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The Massachusetts native was a celebrated highschool athlete when he turned to music as a disc jockey at Nichols School. He and his pal, Michael Ricardi, had been the hosts of “Jim and Mikey’s Energy Hour” on the faculty radio station WNRC.

“He was completely into sports activities, however he all the time had this connection to music,” James defined. “He would all the time go to concert events, and that’s how he met Mike Ricardi. They bonded over music. And after going by way of harm after harm, that’s when the music took over. They cherished traditional rock, and that’s what they performed each night time. They even bought the possibility to interview a number of main figures from the ‘70s and ‘80s. They had been simply elated.”

On the night time of the live performance, Gahan was gearing as much as interview Russell for his or her present.

“He used to love my cooking. So, proper earlier than he left, I cooked his favourite dinner,” stated James. “It was broccoli with pasta and rooster with shallots. I simply keep in mind him smiling after which heading off whereas he floated on cloud 9. That was the final time I noticed him.”

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Gahan and Ricardi spoke to Russell within the band’s bus, which was parked within the nightclub’s parking zone. Nice White was scheduled to carry out later that night. Gahan and Ricardi determined to stay round for the present.

At round midnight, James stated, certainly one of his son’s roommates headed to the household residence. One thing was unsuitable.

“One among Jimmy’s associates heard about what occurred on the membership,” stated Gahan. “He went to get extra data. I keep in mind I sat at the hours of darkness simply in complete shock, simply ready for something that I might get. No one knew the place Jimmy was. At round 5 o’clock, we then obtained a discover for relations to go to some lodge that was now a command middle arrange by the governor. We just about knew at that time it was simply going to be a query of identification.”

It was reported that the venue was engulfed in flames inside minutes. Amid the chaos, Ricardi couldn’t see his buddy however hoped that Gahan was proper behind him. Ricardi discovered a damaged window and jumped by way of. Whereas he survived, Ricardi spent years affected by survivor’s guilt.

For James, devastation didn’t even start to cowl what the household felt.

“In the course of the first few days, we had been simply in full shock,” he stated. “Then all of it became anger. I keep in mind throughout the funeral a whole bunch of individuals confirmed up for Jimmy. It was then that my wife and I noticed we would have liked a spot the place we might channel our energies, our feelings. That’s after we began a charitable basis in honor of Jimmy.”

James donated his son’s CDs to WNRC. The Jimmy Gahan Charitable Basis, which James established together with his wife, was instrumental within the radio station getting an improve, the Telegram & Gazette reported. 

In line with the outlet, the muse raised greater than $200,000 and labored carefully with the neighborhood to arrange lights for a Little League subject. It additionally offered scholarships for college students to attend Nichols, amongst different schools. James stated the muse gave the household a way of consolation and objective throughout their grief.

In 2008, members of Nice White agreed to pay $1 million to survivors and victims’ relations, Billboard reported. On the time, roughly $175 million had been supplied by dozens of defendants to settle lawsuits over the blaze.

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The outlet famous that the hearth started when Nice White’s tour supervisor, Daniel Biechele, shot off streams of pyrotechnics initially of the live performance. These sparks then ignited low cost packaging foam that was used as soundproofing. As a part of the settlement, the band didn’t admit to any wrongdoing. One member, guitarist Ty Longley, was killed within the hearth.

The outlet reported that the surviving band members had been by no means charged. Biechele pleaded responsible in 2006 to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and was paroled after serving lower than half of his four-year jail sentence.

The band claimed it had permission for the pyrotechnics, however membership house owners Jeffrey and Michael Derderian denied the declare. The outlet famous the brothers pleaded no contest to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2006. Jeffrey was spared jail time and sentenced to neighborhood service and probation. In line with studies, Michael was launched after incomes day off for good conduct. He spent lower than three years behind bars.

When reached by Fox Information Digital, a spokesperson for Nice White wrote, “The band would respectfully decline remark.”

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Gahan’s household helped move laws in Massachusetts that may require automated sprinkler methods in bars and nightclubs with an occupancy of 100 or extra individuals.

“We are going to by no means know what number of lives will likely be saved by this regulation,” the Falmouth Fireplace and Rescue Division introduced in an announcement. “We hope Jim’s household takes consolation that his star will perpetually shine on!”

An identical measure was amongst 10 suggestions for enhancements to fireside codes launched by the Nationwide Institute of Requirements and Expertise.

James identified that shortly earlier than the Station nightclub tragedy, the Fantastic Line membership in Minneapolis skilled the same hearth brought on by pyrotechnics, however its sprinkler system and large exits saved lives.

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At this time, James stated Ricardi has stayed in contact with the household. In 2015, Ricardi wrote a ebook about his friendship with Gahan titled “Only a Thought Away.” As for the muse, James stated its final fundraiser was about 4 years in the past across the time that his wife grew to become sick. Carol Gahan died in 2021.

The location of the hearth is now a memorial.

“This was ultimately going to occur one night time,” James mirrored in regards to the Station nightclub hearth. “It wasn’t an accident; it was only a state of affairs that was ready to occur … We shouldn’t ever take something with no consideration. When one thing like this occurs, you all the time marvel when you instructed the individuals round us when you cherished them sufficient. I say, don’t wait. Preserve telling these in your life how a lot you’re keen on them. Mike’s title rings true. [My son] is only a thought away.”

“America’s Deadliest Rock Live performance: The Visitor Checklist” airs Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. on Reelz. The Related Press contributed to this report.