Posts Tagged ‘brazil-’

The Great White Station Fire: 10 Years Later

Photo by David L Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Today marks the 10-year anniversary of perhaps the greatest tragedy in the history of rock concerts. On Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003, 100 people were killed in West Warwick, R.I. when The Station nightclub’s sound insulation caught fire due to a stray pyrotechnic flame from Great White ‘s stage show. Once the initial spark took, it didn’t take long for the club to become fully-engulfed, sending most of the audience into a panicked frenzy trying to escape the blaze. In addition to the 100 people who perished in the incident, there were an additional 230 people injured in the blaze. Meanwhile, another 132 people escaped the venue free of injury. Great White had just started their performance when the band’s tour manager, Daniel Biechele, set off the pyrotechnics as the group performed their song ‘Desert Moon.’ Though the fire happened in 2003, Biechele’s case didn’t go to trial until 2006. The emotional former manager pled guilty to over 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter In his statement to the court, Biechele explained, “For three years, I’ve wanted to be able to speak to the people that were affected by this tragedy, but I know there’s nothing that I can say or do that will undo what happened that night. Since the fire I have wanted to tell the victims and their families how truly sorry I am for what happened that night and the part I had in it. I never wanted anyone to be hurt in any way. I never imagined that anyone ever would be … I’m so sorry for what I have done and I don’t want to cause anyone any more pain. I will never forget that night and I will never forget the people that were hurt by it. I am so sorry.” For his part in the incident, Biechele was sentenced to 15 years in prison, with four years mandatory to serve and the final 11 years suspended. However, he was granted an early release in September of 2007 after some of the victims’ families spoke on his behalf. By March 2008, Biechele was released from jail. In addition, The Station nightclub’s owners Jeffrey A. and Michael A. Derderian were fined $1.07 million for failing to carry workers compensation insurance for their employees, four of whom died in the blaze. Much like Biechele, the Derderian brothers were sentenced for their roles in the blaze. Michael’s sentence was 15 years, with four to serve and 11 suspended, while Jeffrey’s was a 10-year suspended sentence with three years’ probation and 500 hours of community service. In 2008, Michael Derderian was granted an early release from prison and by June 2009 he was released. As for Great White, they suffered the loss of their guitarist Ty Longley in the blaze and were deeply affected by the tragedy. In the time since, the band has played many a benefit tour. They also offered a $1 million settlement to survivors and their families, the maximum amount allowed under their insurance plan. Memories of the tragic Station fire were recalled recently when more that 230 people perished in a nightclub in Brazil earlier this month. However, for American audiences, the Station fire remains one of rock music’s most horrific incidents. On the tenth anniversary of the tragedy, Loudwire reflects and send our prayers to the families and victims of those affected by The Station nightclub fire. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/brazil-nightclub-fire-kills-more-than-230-people/” title=”Next: Brazilian Nightclub Fire Kills 230 People” align=”center”]

Alice in Chains Unveil Title of New Album

Photo by Dave Ma Alice in Chains had a little fun yesterday (Feb. 13), asking fans to unscramble a collection of letters that once deciphered would reveal their album title, and the fans could then post their suggested titles to Instagram. But how many people actually came up with ‘The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here’? That is the title of the band’s new album, which is on target for a May release, as revealed in a message on the group’s website and social networking sites. The timing is perfect for Alice in Chains, who have a wealth of spring tour dates and festival appearances that should build the buzz by the time the disc drops. Alice in Chains announced a spring trek that runs April 25 – May 24 earlier this year. They’ll also be plenty busy headlining the Rocklahoma , Carolina Rebellion , Welcome to Rockville and Rock on the Range festivals, as well. The band has also been confirmed internationally for the Download Festival in England on June 15 and the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sept. 19. The band is already off to a hot start with ‘The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here’ album, with the lead single ‘ Hollow ‘ inching closer to the top of the charts. The group recorded the disc in Los Angeles with producer Nick Raskulinecz. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/alice-in-chains-hollow-video/” title=”Next: Watch Alice in Chains’ ‘Hollow’ Video” align=”center”]

Brazil Nightclub Fire Kills More Than 230 People

Germano Roratto/AFP/Getty Images Nearly 10 years after the tragic 2003 fire in which 100 people died at The Station nightclub in Rhode Island during a show by the rock band  Great White , an eerily similar nightclub blaze Sunday morning (Jan. 28) in Santa Maria, Brazil, has claimed the lives of more than 230 people. According to an Associated Press report, witnesses stated that a flare or firework lit by a band member during country pop group Gurizada Fandangueira’s performance started the fire, though officials are still investigating the exact cause. After the blaze broke out, partygoers began to panic while rushing toward the Kiss nightclub’s solitary entrance. The exit was reportedly partially blocked by people who had already perished attempting to escape. Many of the deceased were found in a bathroom after it was apparently mistaken for an exit. One of the survivors, Luana Santos Silva, told the Globo TV network, “There was so much smoke and fire, it was complete panic, and it took a long time for people to get out, there were so many dead.” Another survivor, Michele Pereira, told the Fohla de S. Paulo newspaper, “The band that was onstage began to use flares and, suddenly, they stopped the show and pointed them upward. At that point, the ceiling caught fire. It was really weak, but in a matter of seconds it spread.” The band’s guitarist, Rodrigo Martins, told Radio Gaucha that he thought that Sputnik, a machine they used to create a luminous effect with sparks, might have caused the fire. He stated, “It’s harmless. We never had any trouble with it. When the fire started, a guard passed us a fire extinguisher. The singer tried to use it but it wasn’t working.” Martins confirmed that the band’s 28-year-old accordion player Danilo Jacques died in the incident, while the five other members escaped unharmed. At last count, 233 people had been counted among the dead and 117 had been treated at hospitals for smoke inhalation and burns. Sunday’s incident was the worst nightclub fire since December 2000, when an accident led to 309 people dying in a venue in Luoyang, China. In the United States, the Great White club fire at The Station in Rhode Island is the most notorious incident. One hundred people were killed after a combination of pyrotechnics and cheap foam soundproofing led to the February 2003 blaze. Loudwire offers its condolences to all the family and friends of those who lost their lives as well as thoughts for those injured in Sunday’s Brazil nightclub fire. CNN Report on Brazil Nightclub Fire [button href=”http://loudwire.com/radiohead-stage-collapse-kills-one-person-and-injures-three-in-toronto/” title=”Next: Stage Collapse Kills One and Injures Three” align=”center”]

Daily Reload: Axl Rose, Killswitch Engage, Nightwish + More

Theo Wargo, Getty Images Here’s a look at the top stories of the day on Loudwire and around the Web: Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose has been confirmed to make a rare television appearance on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ It will be the first time Rose has been interviewed on television since visiting ‘That Metal Show’ last year. [ Loudwire ] Killswitch Engage are set to embark on a North American tour to play their landmark album ‘Alive or Just Breathing’ in full. The band will play the record from start to finish to celebrate the album’s 10th anniversary and the return of vocalist Jesse Leach. [ Loudwire ] Nightwish part ways with singer Anette Olzon and announce the vocalist who will be replacing her. [ Loudwire ] Did you know that the first Compact Disc (CD) was released 30 years ago today? Find out which album was the very first to be printed on CD here. [ Ultimate Classic Rock ] British songstress Adele confirmed that she is singing the James Bond ‘Skyfall’ theme song, which leaked earlier today. Check it out here. [ Diffuser.fm ] Lollapalooza will be held in both Chile and Brazil in 2013. Check out the lineup for both shows here. [ Rock Music Report ]

Metallica to Headline Rock in Rio 2013

Mary Ouellette, shewillshootyou.com Metallica may not be releasing  new music until 2014 , but that doesn’t mean you won’t still hear them next year. In fact, the band has just announced a headlining appearance at the 2013 Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Just to make sure their fans have enough advance notice, the group is giving their faithful followers a full 11-month head start on planning for the event. This will be Metallica’s sixth time playing the festival, and they’re set to perform on Sept. 19. Pre-sale tickets will be available Oct. 23 for those who have Rock in Rio membership cards, which are exclusively for Brazilian residents. Further information can be found here . For those outside of Brazil, there will be an international ticket sale beginning in April 2013. Metallica will have further details on that sale posted on their website once the info becomes available. In addition to Metallica, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band and Iron Maiden have been named as headliners for next year’s event. For further Rock in Rio information, visit the festival’s website . At present, the only other shows on Metallica’s schedule beside Rock in Rio is their appearances at Australia’s Soundwave Festival early next year and at New Orleans’ Voodoo Music Festival  on Oct. 27 of this year. The band recently stepped in to headline Voodoo when Green Day bowed out as frontman Billie Joe Armstrong continues rehab for substance abuse. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/kirk-hammett-excited-for-metallica-headlining-set-at-voodoo-music-festival/” title=”Next: Kirk Hammett Discusses Metallica’s Voodoo Fest Appearance” align=”center”]