Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire (54 page)

19
On June 9, 2000, Mike Derderian wrote to Barry Warner
Letter from Michael Derderian to American Foam Corp., dated June 9, 2000.

19
Three weeks later
American Foam Corp. invoice to The Station, dated June 27, 2000.

19
Over the following week
Witness statement of Timothy J. Arnold, February 24, 2003.

19
3M Super 77
Grand jury testimony of David M. Stone, April 4, 2003.

20
Jeff Derderian was known at WHDH
Witness statement of Michael Boudo, June 13, 2003; WHDH Channel 7 “Burning Beds” video, AG’s First Disclosure 03–582-PR.

4.
ONLY ROCK ’N’ ROLL

21–22
Erin Pucino worked the 6 a.m. shift
Pietra Pucino, in discussion with the author, July 7, 2011. (After the fire, Erin Pucino legally changed her name to Pietra Pucino.) 22-23
Mike Iannone was not what could be called
Witness statement of Michael Iannone, October 27, 2003.

23
Nightclub safety was the farthest thing from Gina Gauvin’s mind
Felice J. Freyer, “Against the Odds,”
Providence Journal
, October 26, 2003; Felice J. Freyer, “Saving the Patient,”
Providence Journal
, October 27, 2003; Felice J. Freyer, “Road to Recovery,”
Providence Journal
, October 28, 2003; Felice J. Freyer, “Going Home,”
Providence Journal
, October 29, 2003.

23–24
Thirty-three-year-old Pam Gruttadauria
Lydia Polgreen, “Months Past Club Fire, a Struggle to Go On,”
New York Times
, May 4, 2003; Mark Patinkin, “At the End, Her Lips Moved, and It Seemed Her Head Nodded,”
Providence Journal
, May 11, 2003.

24
Joe Kinan had even less interest in Great White
Joe Kinan, in discussion with the author, January 24, 2008; Angie Cannon, “Looking for Answers in the Ashes,”
U.S. News and World Report
, February 8, 2004.

24
Three hundred miles north of Rhode Island
Ben Ratliff, “Fire in a Nightclub: The Band; Group Persevered by Making Circuit of Smaller Clubs,”
New York Times
, February 22, 2003.

5.
THAT AIN’T NO WAY TO HAVE FUN, SON

25
To the right of the aisle
Bus interior photos CPD (Coventry Police Department) 15, 19, and 21; AG’s Fourth Disclosure; Jack Russell’s Great White session musician contract for 2002–3 tour (indexed under witness statement of Eric Powers in AG materials).

25–26
Great White, originally called Dante Fox
Jack Russell publicity bio, November 3, 2002, in AG materials, indexed under Stone Pony Contract; Wikipedia, “Great White.”

26
By March 2002 he was hopelessly in arrears
Voluntary Petition of Jack P. Russell, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, August 21, 2002.

26
Nevertheless, his promotional bio still waxed optimistic
Jack Russell publicity bio, November 3, 2002.

26–27
It is a music industry convention
Grand jury testimony of Mark Kendall, May 21, 2003, Tape 59, side A.

27
When “Jack Russell’s Great White” set off
Ibid.

27
Powers was still owed
Grand jury testimony of Eric Powers, n.d., Tapes 3–5.

27
Session musicians were definitely second-class citizens
Jack Russell’s Great White session musician contract, in AG materials.

27
This tour of Jack Russell’s Great White
Wikipedia, “Great White.”

27
Starting off in Honolulu, Hawaii
Grand jury testimony of Eric Powers, Tapes 3–5.

27–28
At 9:43 on the morning of January 20
Stephen Kurkjian, Stephanie Ebbert, and Thomas Farragher, “Series of Errors Sealed Crowd’s Fate,”
Boston Globe
, June 9, 2003; witness statement of Terry Barr, February 21, 2003; FedEx shipping invoice 9–351–33505 for delivery January 20, 2003.

28
The tour moved on to Hewitt, Minnesota
Grand jury testimony of Eric Powers, Tapes 3–5; Witness statement of Dan Biechele, February 21, 2003, 7:13 a.m.

28–29
Moving northward
Witness statement of Chris Rush, February 26, 2003.

29
The Great White tour bus
Witness statement of John Kubus, March 4, 2003, p. 10.

29
Biechele, the tour manager, would print
Mark Arsenault, Paul Edward Parker, and Tom Mooney, “Extra: The Station Fire—Filling in Some Blanks,”
Providence Journal
, November 9, 2007; Tour Day Sheet for Great White appearance at The Station, February 20, 2003.

29
Great White’s contract with The Station
Great White / Station appearance contract, February 20, 2003, Exhibit 147 in evidence warehouse.

29
The hospitality rider for Jack Russell’s Great White
Jack Russell’s Great White Catering Rider 2002/2003. All such riders referenced in this chapter in AG’s materials.

29–30
Warrant’s hospitality rider
Warrant Hospitality Rider for Station appearance.

30
The first clue that you’re getting to be
Dokken Hospitality Rider for Station appearance.

30
And your strangeness quotient
Black Label Society Hospitality Rider for Station appearance.

30
W.A.S.P.’s contract for The Station
W.A.S.P. Hospitality Rider for Station appearance.

30
One measure of clout in the rock touring world
Rider Agreement for Mick Taylor and Band appearance at The Station, September 3, 2000; fax from Station management to Bruce Solar of Absolute Artists, August 10, 2000 re: Mick Taylor appearance.

31
One such band, Firehouse
Photograph from Firehouse appearance at The Station, disclosed in AG materials.

31
One instrument-case maker
Coffin Case label, Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 290 in evidence warehouse; Coffin Case website,
www.coffincase.com.

31
But why do people spend
Michael Mikutowicz, in discussion with the author, June 18, 2011; witness statement of Michael Mikutowicz, September 15, 2005.

31
Mikutowicz’s Black Sabbath tribute band
Witness statements of Michael Mikutowicz, February 25, 2003, February 27, 2003, September 20, 2005, and October 25, 2005; Station poster for coming events, February 2003.

31
One night at The Station
Witness statement of Stephen D. Lewis, September 20, 2005; witness statement of Michael Mikutowicz, October 25, 2005.

31–32
Believer’s front man was as frugal
ATF interview of Michael Mikutowicz, February 27, 2003; witness statement of Michael Mikutowicz, September 15, 2005.

32
Holy Diver was not the only local band
Grand jury testimony of Rev Tyler, April 16, 2003; O’Ryan Johnson, “Pyrotechnics Used at Club by Area Musician,”
North Andover (MA) Eagle-Tribune
, February 22, 2003.

32
Other bands using pyro at The Station
Witness statement of Clifford L. Koehler, February 25, 2003.

32
Nathan Conti ran sound for Dirty Deeds
Grand jury testimony of Nathan R. Conti, April 16, 2003; witness statement of Robert A. Conti and Nathan R. Conti, February 27, 2003.

32–33
Some pyro bands at The Station eschewed equipment altogether
Grand jury testimony of Edward Ducharme, April 29, 2003.

33
One time at The Station he performed his fire-breathing trick
Ibid., p. 6, lines 6–11.

33
Two days before that gig
Ibid., p. 9, lines 14–21.

33
Frank Davidson grew up in Rhode Island
Witness statement of Frank Davidson, February 22, 2003; transcript of recorded phone conversation between Frank Davidson and Paul Vanner, February 28, 2003 (Rhode Island State Police controlled call); transcript of recorded phone conversation between Frank Davidson and Kevin Beese, March 1, 2003 (RI State Police controlled call); grand jury testimony of Frank Davidson, April 22, 2003.

33
Station regular Cliff Koehler clearly recalls
Witness statement of Clifford L. Koehler, February 25, 2003.

34
Alfred Gomes noticed, too
Grand jury testimony of Alfred Gomes, April 29, 2003, p. 7, lines 8–23, p. 8, lines 1–2.

6.
LUCKY DAY

35
At least that’s what crossed Tina Ayer’s mind
Witness statement of Jacqueline Bernard, February 27, 2003.

35
Tina Ayer had done the ’80s heavy-metal thing
Stephanie Chelf, “Memorial Biography of Tina Ayer,”
Boston Globe
,
www.boston.com/news/packages/nightclub_fire/victims/tayer.htm
.

35
Tina’s best friend, Jackie Bernard
Witness statement of Jacqueline Bernard, February 27, 2003; Franci Richardson and Marie Szaniszlo, “Survivors Lucky to Get Out Alive,”
Boston Herald
, February 22, 2003.

35
Under a handwritten heading
Guest List from Station debris, Plaintiffs’ Exhibit 147 in evidence warehouse.

36
By November 2002 the Derderian brothers had tired
W. Zachary Malinowski, “Brothers Were Trying to Sell Their Nightclub,”
Providence Journal
, February 26, 2003.

36–37
One interested reader was Armando Machado
Witness statements of Armando M. Machado, February 21, 2003, and July 25, 2006; intraoffice memorandum from Judy Kearns, Triton Realty, May 12, 2006 (indexed under Mary Jo Carolan witness statement in AG’s Disclosure); purchase-and-sale agreement between DERCO LLC and Armando Machado, November 24, 2002.

37
The Derderians’ “other two buyers” were
Temporary purchase agreement between Derco LLC and Michael P. O’Connor, February 7, 2003; witness statement of Michael P. O’Connor, March 8, 2003.

37–38
Around 9 o’clock on the morning of February 19
Witness statements of Richard T. Sanetti, March 1, 2003, and April 10, 2003; witness statement of Patricia Sanetti, April 10, 2003.

38
He told them that the Station concert would be a “killer show,” complete with pyrotechnics
Witness statements of Shane M. Embelton, March 8, 2003, and March 14, 2003.

38
They filed articles of organization
Articles of Organization for The Station Club, LLC, February 20, 2003.

38–39
That same day, Jack Russell woke up with an idea
Jennifer Levitz, “The Guest List,”
Providence Journal
, December 19, 2003. Facts elicited by Levitz’s excellent research form the basis of several vignettes in this chapter.

39
The rocker had agreed to be interviewed
Witness statements of Michael Ricardi, February 25, 2003, and April 4, 2003; videotape interview with Jack Russell by James Gahan and Michael Ricardi, February 20, 2003; Stephen Kurkjian, Stephanie Ebbert, and Thomas Farragher, “Deadly Decisions: Behind the Rhode Island Nightclub Fire—Deception, Missteps Sparked a Tragedy,”
Boston Globe
, June 8, 2003.

39–40
When Jack Russell finally strode
Levitz, “Guest List.”

40
About ten minutes after nine, Mike O’Connor
Witness statement of Michael P. O’Connor, March 8, 2003.

40–41
Jason Lund, twenty-six, was in the thick
Witness statement of Jason Lund, AG’s Third Disclosure.