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Posted by Jenn (Member # 17) on February 21, 2003, 12:10 PM:

Death toll is up to 85 now, with some 160+ injured. The capacity was only 300 and they say that the club hadn't reached it yet. That means that so far we know that almost 30% of the rock fans at that show didn't make it out. And the guitarist, Ty Longely, is still missing.

This is terrifying for folks like us who spend A LOT of time in small, older clubs. In fact, there was a fire at Paldino's last year (wiring issues, I think) that caused considerable damage to the backstage area but fortunately it was during the day and no one was hurt.

Thank God the Punks don't use pyro but damn, after the incident in Chicago last week (21 killed in stampede after a security guard sprayed pepper spray on the crowd to break up a fight), it doesn't take much to cause a panic.

One common thing in both of these tragedies was that almost everyone headed for the front door to escape and the other fire exits were virtually unused.

Lesson learned here is to scope out all the fire exits the minute you enter a club. I'm starting tonight with Cane's!

Hope to see everyone there. Be safe!

Posted by Brett (Member # 1) on February 21, 2003, 01:03 PM:

Moral of the story. Always keep your wits about you anytime you are in an enclosed place with a lot of people.

Posted by Atomic Bass (Member # 4) on February 21, 2003, 05:15 PM:

When I got home from our San Diego show this morning (4am), I turned on CNN to see what was going on and needless to say, I was speechless and horrified. It's an unbelievable, sad and tragic event. The reality is that it could happen at any time, another one of those things that I'm sure no one thinks of...ever. I know that we NEVER discuss what to do in a case of any type of emergency at our shows. As I sat and watched the interviews and account of the night, I started to think of every club we play in and where the exits are is relation to the stage. Great White were extremely lucky, there usually are not exits directly behind or to the immediate side of the stage. There are certain clubs we play at that if something like this ever occurs, we are dead, no doubt, the exits are too far away from us.
I was reminded of our first show in Chicago last summer, the band after us at Joe's were using Pyro in a big club. I was watching the show thinking, why do they need this, why have flames or sparks or anything in that place. What is the point, it's expensive and dangerous. Looking back on that night, if the club would have caught on fire, we would have been dead. There aren't very many exits there and they are at the opposite end of the club from the stage. The club holds a ton of people, and it makes me wonder. Regardless of whether you had permission or not, why would someone use Pyro in a club that small. That would be like us using those same fireworks at Palladino's of 14 Below, anyone that has been to those places could imagine how unnecessary that would be.
That being said, it's obviously a sad day, I know that all of us in the band are shocked and send our condolences to family members and anyone else directly affected by this. These people might have been A. Punks fans as well. I know that Ralphs buddy Sean played in Great White for a while, but it didn't look like him in the video from last night. Everyone, be safe, be aware and hopefully something like this doesn't happen again.

[ February 22, 2003, 03:26 PM: Message edited by: Atomic Bass ]

Posted by Brett (Member # 1) on February 21, 2003, 05:21 PM:

I think Mark Kendall and Ty Longley (who is sadly missing) are the guitar players now. I do know Sean McNabb isn't in the band anymore.

Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 50) on February 22, 2003, 10:45 AM:

I was at that Chicago show and it was Hairbangers Ball using the pyro. I doubt they use it again after this...and I highly doubt Joe's lets any bands use it from now on either. What a tragedy. 96 people dead, 187 hurt. Unbelievable.

Posted by Jenn (Member # 17) on February 24, 2003, 09:49 AM:

They found another person in the rubble, that's 97 now, hopefully that's the last. [Frown]

Ty has been identified as one of the victims. I know we already knew this was how it was gonna turn out, just sad to have it finalized.

His girlfriend Heidi was on Dateline last night and America learned that she and Ty are expecting a baby soon. Very sad.

Next Sunday there will be a memorial show to him at Happenin Harry's Hellhole at the Cat Club on Sunset, a gig that Ty was known to play often. Come if you can.

[ February 24, 2003, 09:52 AM: Message edited by: Jenn ]

Posted by oldschool (Member # 218) on February 24, 2003, 08:54 PM:

- not sure if anyone mentioned this but one of Ralph's old bandmates from Nightfall died in the Rhode Island fire. My prayers go out to the Griffith family.

http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=1810