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Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America’s Deadliest Rock Concert
On February 20, 2003, the deadliest rock concert in U.S. history took place at a roadhouse called The Station in West Warwick, Rhode Island. That night, in the few minutes it takes to play a hard-rock standard, the fate of many of the unsuspecting nightclub patrons was determined with awful certainty. The blaze was ignited when pyrotechnics set off by Great White, a 1980s heavy-metal band, lit flammable polyurethane “egg crate” foam sound insulation on the club’s walls. In less than 10 minutes, 96 people were dead and 200 more were injured, many catastrophically. The final death toll topped out, three months later, at the eerily unlikely round number of 100. The story of the fire, its causes, and its legal and human aftermath is one of lives put at risk by petty economic decisions―by a band, club owners, promoters, building inspectors, and product manufacturers. Any one of those decisions, made differently, might have averted the tragedy. Together, however, they reached a fatal critical mass. Killer Show is the first comprehensive exploration of the chain of events leading up to the fire, the conflagration itself, and the painstaking search for evidence to hold the guilty to account and obtain justice for the victims. Anyone who has entered an entertainment venue and wondered, “Could I get out of here in a hurry?” will identify with concertgoers at The Station. Fans of disaster nonfiction and forensic thrillers will find ample elements of both genres in Killer Show.
324 pages, Paperback
First published July 25, 2012
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January 24, 2013
The only bad thing I can say about this book is that it was too short. I started getting upset that it was going to end when I was about halfway done.
I have been obsessed with the Station Fire since I heard the author interviewed on NPR. I kept thinking about it and reading stuff on the internet about it and finally I read a review by a survivor that said, "When people ask me what happened, I am going to direct them to this book from now on." So I decided to take her advice.
This book has got to be the most exhaustive, well-written, precise account of all that happened in that fire and explains how in the hell a building could be engulfed in flames in like two minutes (TWO MINUTES!). It is heartbreaking and ghastly in parts, but the author carefully avoids exhausting the reader with horror by going back and forth between the human side and the technical side. I never thought I would be transfixed by a chapter about how skin and burns work. Or how fire and smoke kill. You think you know, but you don't.
Great book. I can't recommend it highly enough.
I have been obsessed with the Station Fire since I heard the author interviewed on NPR. I kept thinking about it and reading stuff on the internet about it and finally I read a review by a survivor that said, "When people ask me what happened, I am going to direct them to this book from now on." So I decided to take her advice.
This book has got to be the most exhaustive, well-written, precise account of all that happened in that fire and explains how in the hell a building could be engulfed in flames in like two minutes (TWO MINUTES!). It is heartbreaking and ghastly in parts, but the author carefully avoids exhausting the reader with horror by going back and forth between the human side and the technical side. I never thought I would be transfixed by a chapter about how skin and burns work. Or how fire and smoke kill. You think you know, but you don't.
Great book. I can't recommend it highly enough.
September 26, 2012
To most Americans, the Station nightclub fire was a blip on the disaster radar of 2003. To Rhode Islanders, it was a very personal tragedy, something that touched almost everyone in one way or another. It's hard to convey that to those who aren't from RI. It's hard to make people understand the interconnectedness of a state that is so small and close-knit, where many families have been living for generations. It is nearly impossible to convey the personal and public devastation of the Station nightclub fire.
The Station nightclub fire, to most Americans, was a passing headline on CNN, a moment when the smallest state was in the public eye for a while. For those affected, the aftermath has been long, drawn out, and has provided few answers and little closure. It is hard to make people who didn't experience it understand that; it's hard to make people who are not personally connected to this fire understand the conflicting feelings that arose throughout the legal proceedings (which, outside of the Providence Journal, received extremely limited press).
This book addresses all of these issues in clear black and white. While the book was very difficult at times, it was also an important book for me to read. The first half of the book covers the story of the Station that I already knew: the frantic phone calls on the morning of February 21, the long hours of waiting at Rhode Island Hospital, the maps of the nightclub and the locations that were most deadly, the collective mourning that went on for the rest of that year. It perfectly captured the insular nature of Rhode Island and of the effect that the fire had both in the immediate and in the long term.
The second half covers the story of the fire that I did not know. At the time the proceedings were going on, I largely ignored them for sanity's sake. Although this was an infuriating part of the book to read, I think it is the most important part of the book. The legal proceedings that came out of the fire are covered in exacting detail by the author (an attorney who was connected to the case), and although you can feel the righteous anger, the bias in his words, everything is true. Barylick did his homework - the bibliography and citations are extensive and excruciatingly detailed, which adds credulity to a story that many will find outrageous in every sense of the word.
I would recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who is interested in learning more about this disaster, about Rhode Island history, or about how the Station nightclub disaster affected fire safety law as we now know it ten years later.
The Station nightclub fire, to most Americans, was a passing headline on CNN, a moment when the smallest state was in the public eye for a while. For those affected, the aftermath has been long, drawn out, and has provided few answers and little closure. It is hard to make people who didn't experience it understand that; it's hard to make people who are not personally connected to this fire understand the conflicting feelings that arose throughout the legal proceedings (which, outside of the Providence Journal, received extremely limited press).
This book addresses all of these issues in clear black and white. While the book was very difficult at times, it was also an important book for me to read. The first half of the book covers the story of the Station that I already knew: the frantic phone calls on the morning of February 21, the long hours of waiting at Rhode Island Hospital, the maps of the nightclub and the locations that were most deadly, the collective mourning that went on for the rest of that year. It perfectly captured the insular nature of Rhode Island and of the effect that the fire had both in the immediate and in the long term.
The second half covers the story of the fire that I did not know. At the time the proceedings were going on, I largely ignored them for sanity's sake. Although this was an infuriating part of the book to read, I think it is the most important part of the book. The legal proceedings that came out of the fire are covered in exacting detail by the author (an attorney who was connected to the case), and although you can feel the righteous anger, the bias in his words, everything is true. Barylick did his homework - the bibliography and citations are extensive and excruciatingly detailed, which adds credulity to a story that many will find outrageous in every sense of the word.
I would recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who is interested in learning more about this disaster, about Rhode Island history, or about how the Station nightclub disaster affected fire safety law as we now know it ten years later.
April 29, 2014
If you've ever attended a rock concert at a hole-in-the wall venue you'll thank your lucky stars you're still alive after you read Killer Show. The first part of the book is well-paced and I could not put it down. Once Barylick gets into the lawsuit stuff he gets a little too wonky and seems to forget that his audience is probably not predominantly other lawyers. There are also times in the book when his tone seems off (flippant or condescending at times) considering the subject matter. But I still highly recommend this book especially to anyone who might give any serious consideration to seeing Great White in concert ever. (Spoiler alert: Jack Russell is a dick.)
November 19, 2012
I dimly remember the media coverage of the Station Nightclub fire back in the winter of 2003. As a former EMT, such stories often catch my attention, leaving me wondering at the circumstances that cause such disasters. While my personal experiences are more related to dealing with the injured survivors, I have more than enough firefighter friends to fully appreciate the challenges presented by the fire itself and the incredible number of lives it took.
This book is an attempt to tell the whole story of the Station Nightclub fire, from the history of the building to the settlement of the legal actions that arose from the fire. The incredible amount of research required to compile this account is evident in the level of details (not to mention the nearly 40 pages of notes), but this isn’t a dry technical report. Instead, the author has done an incredible job of bringing the story to life, evoking a wide range of emotions, from outrage at the gross disregard for safety that resulted from greed, to admiration for the strength and courage of any number of survivors.
This book can be viewed as three parts. The first five chapters set the stage, describing the nightclub and it history. We learn about the installation of inappropriate sound-proofing materials, the physical layout of the building and the questionable results of any number of fire and safety inspections. Chapters 6-18 deal with the events immediately leading up to the Great White concert of February 20, 2003 and the fire itself. We learn the stories of some of the victims and how they came to be in the building that night. Barylick pulls no punches as he graphically describes the horror of the fire as it almost literally explodes through the building. It is almost impossible to imagine how quickly this fire spread, killing most of its victims within just a couple of minutes of ignition. The remainder of the book describes the aftermath: Identifying the victims, the investigations and the criminal and civil litigations that attempted to resolve the legal responsibilities for this tragedy.
As with any disaster of this nature, there are lessons to be learned. In this case, it appears that an unfortunately confluence of circumstances combined to create an incredible deadly fire. It seems likely that the removal of any of the factors (even just one) might have prevented the tragedy, or at least greatly minimized its impact. The author’s evaluation of the possible lessons to be learned is both insightful and heartfelt. This book should serve as a cautionary tale of the potential consequences when safety takes a backseat to greed and when the public servants tasked with enforcing safety rules fail to properly do their jobs.
This book is an attempt to tell the whole story of the Station Nightclub fire, from the history of the building to the settlement of the legal actions that arose from the fire. The incredible amount of research required to compile this account is evident in the level of details (not to mention the nearly 40 pages of notes), but this isn’t a dry technical report. Instead, the author has done an incredible job of bringing the story to life, evoking a wide range of emotions, from outrage at the gross disregard for safety that resulted from greed, to admiration for the strength and courage of any number of survivors.
This book can be viewed as three parts. The first five chapters set the stage, describing the nightclub and it history. We learn about the installation of inappropriate sound-proofing materials, the physical layout of the building and the questionable results of any number of fire and safety inspections. Chapters 6-18 deal with the events immediately leading up to the Great White concert of February 20, 2003 and the fire itself. We learn the stories of some of the victims and how they came to be in the building that night. Barylick pulls no punches as he graphically describes the horror of the fire as it almost literally explodes through the building. It is almost impossible to imagine how quickly this fire spread, killing most of its victims within just a couple of minutes of ignition. The remainder of the book describes the aftermath: Identifying the victims, the investigations and the criminal and civil litigations that attempted to resolve the legal responsibilities for this tragedy.
As with any disaster of this nature, there are lessons to be learned. In this case, it appears that an unfortunately confluence of circumstances combined to create an incredible deadly fire. It seems likely that the removal of any of the factors (even just one) might have prevented the tragedy, or at least greatly minimized its impact. The author’s evaluation of the possible lessons to be learned is both insightful and heartfelt. This book should serve as a cautionary tale of the potential consequences when safety takes a backseat to greed and when the public servants tasked with enforcing safety rules fail to properly do their jobs.
September 15, 2016
The Station Nightclub fire is one of the most horrifying tragedies to take place in the United States. A fire started by sheer incompetence at best, that in under ninety seconds consumed the building and with it, over ninety lives.
But what is amazing about this book is how it details the fact that the fire wasn't just a regrettable, heart wrenching mistake but the result of corruption, laziness, and greed. The building eventually known simply as The Station went through several transformations, with each successive owner cutting a new corner. The owners at the time of the fire, the Derderian brothers, were notorious for paying their workers under the table, making those workers get through their shifts in the blistering cold with no heater because it was too expensive to run, and various other crimes brought on by extreme cheapness.
But the Derderian brothers can't shoulder the blame alone. Their neighbor, a man who had the misfortune of living in a house next to a nightclub, constantly complained about noise. When the Derderians visited to try to work something out, the neighbor sold them sound proofing foam that the company claimed was fire resistant. None of this was true. They put it up over the old cheap foam the first owner had affixed to the walls, ignoring suggestions from others that they buy actual fire resistant foam. So not only are the Derderians cheap, their neighbor is in essence a con man profiting off the sale of dangerous foam (funny note: one of the brothers was a news anchor who at one point referred to this type of foam as "solid gasoline" in a safety special).
Then you have the fire inspector, who kept upping the capacity of the building until a whopping four hundred and four people were allowed inside a space where each human had less than five feet of room to stand. When The Station was a restaurant, the capacity was under two hundred.
And then there are the pyrotechnics. The club approved them, the band Great White shot them off, and both parties knew or should have known that they were illegal without an inspection. But because the type of pyro used was cheap, and because the Derderians wanted to rile up the crowd, they were used. Once the super heated metal shavings hit the foam, the place went up with such swift, ravenous flames that mere seconds could mean the difference between life and death.
Another note I thought was interesting was Jack Russel (leader of Great White) claiming he kept going back in to the blaze to rescue people, but kept getting "pulled out." This reminded me of people claiming to have survived 9/11 when they did nothing of the sort. I wonder what the psychological components of these false claims are. Something I should read about next, perhaps.
This is an illuminating, infuriating book and is a great look at the corruption of a small town. I recommend it. It is also written by one of the lawyers involved after the fact and includes interesting legal wranglings set out in plain language.
But what is amazing about this book is how it details the fact that the fire wasn't just a regrettable, heart wrenching mistake but the result of corruption, laziness, and greed. The building eventually known simply as The Station went through several transformations, with each successive owner cutting a new corner. The owners at the time of the fire, the Derderian brothers, were notorious for paying their workers under the table, making those workers get through their shifts in the blistering cold with no heater because it was too expensive to run, and various other crimes brought on by extreme cheapness.
But the Derderian brothers can't shoulder the blame alone. Their neighbor, a man who had the misfortune of living in a house next to a nightclub, constantly complained about noise. When the Derderians visited to try to work something out, the neighbor sold them sound proofing foam that the company claimed was fire resistant. None of this was true. They put it up over the old cheap foam the first owner had affixed to the walls, ignoring suggestions from others that they buy actual fire resistant foam. So not only are the Derderians cheap, their neighbor is in essence a con man profiting off the sale of dangerous foam (funny note: one of the brothers was a news anchor who at one point referred to this type of foam as "solid gasoline" in a safety special).
Then you have the fire inspector, who kept upping the capacity of the building until a whopping four hundred and four people were allowed inside a space where each human had less than five feet of room to stand. When The Station was a restaurant, the capacity was under two hundred.
And then there are the pyrotechnics. The club approved them, the band Great White shot them off, and both parties knew or should have known that they were illegal without an inspection. But because the type of pyro used was cheap, and because the Derderians wanted to rile up the crowd, they were used. Once the super heated metal shavings hit the foam, the place went up with such swift, ravenous flames that mere seconds could mean the difference between life and death.
Another note I thought was interesting was Jack Russel (leader of Great White) claiming he kept going back in to the blaze to rescue people, but kept getting "pulled out." This reminded me of people claiming to have survived 9/11 when they did nothing of the sort. I wonder what the psychological components of these false claims are. Something I should read about next, perhaps.
This is an illuminating, infuriating book and is a great look at the corruption of a small town. I recommend it. It is also written by one of the lawyers involved after the fact and includes interesting legal wranglings set out in plain language.
August 19, 2022
I was struck, though, and strangely encouraged by a corollary of the above calculus. That is, that just one person or corporation doing the right thing can make all the difference in a given situation. At The Station, it could have been Fire Marshal Larocque citing the flammable foam on the club's walls or Great White forgoing illegal pyro. More generally, one club owner's installing sprinklers instead of a larger sound system; one manufacturer's clearly warning of its product's dangerous properties, instead of hiding behind dubious test results--just one person acting reasonably, rather than greedily, can often avoid catastrophe.
On February 20, 2003, the (fading hair metal) band Great White set off pyro at the beginning of their set at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The ceiling and drummer's alcove immediately caught fire.
A mere 60 seconds later, the fire achieved flashover.
By 90 seconds, those who hadn't made it out of the building most likely never would.
All told, 100 people died (96 that night and 4 later of injuries.) Many more were badly burned. It became one of the deadliest nightclub fires in American history.
I had heard of the Station Fire when it happened, as most Americans of a certain age probably have, but I didn't know the details until recently when I went down a YouTube k-hole and watched what I thought was a story about the Station Fire and turned out to be actual footage of the Station Fire from inside the club. In a "you can't make this up" coincidence, a local news cameraman, Brian Butler, was there that night shooting B-roll for a story about nightclub safety at the suggestion of the club's co-owner, who worked on the side as a news reporter. And a story on nightclub safety it was.
(I'm not going to link to the footage, but it's easy enough to find on YouTube and a quick search of Reddit will provide you a link to the unedited Butler video. Obviously a watch at your own risk type of thing. Butler saw the fire start through his lens and immediately booked it toward the exit, which is why he survived.)
This story fascinated me because I've been in so many firetrap clubs over the years without thinking much about it. There was a local venue I'd been to a handful of times much like The Station called The Alrosa Villa, which had a completely different tragedy occur a year after The Station when four people were murdered by some idiot who was mad at the band (this was the shooting that killed Dimebag Darrell, formerly of Pantera.)
It also fascinated me because it was completely preventable if any of a number of people had just acted responsibly, as the author says in the quote above. The list of contributing factors is mind-boggling. This isn't even a complete list of fuck-ups:
• Due to willful or otherwise misunderstanding of state fire codes, there was no sprinkler system (later testing would prove that this alone would have given occupants sufficient time to escape)
• Great White had no license to use pyrotechnics and no one properly trained to do it
• Pyrotechnics used were illegal indoors
• The club was soundproofed with highly flammable polyurethane “eggcrate” foam overlaid
onto polyethylene foam which acted as an ideal conduit for heat transfer (why flashover happened so fast)
• The local fire inspector not citing the club over multiple visits for improperly using the PE foam
• The local fire inspector artificially raising the occupancy of the building by considering the entire space SRO (meaning the capacity calculation included the bathrooms, the kitchen, pool tables and two bars as places where patrons could theoretically stand)
• The club owners selling tickets which exceeded the already over-stuffed occupancy limit
• Bouncers who blocked patrons from using one of the exits after the fire began
• A fire door that swung inward instead of outward
• A narrow, poorly designed entranceway that sloped downward, causing fleeing patrons to fall and create a pile-up at the front door
And I could keep going, but you get it. A perfect storm of "can't be bothered."
The book was written by John Barylick, a member of the committee of attorneys who handled the civil suits, so it includes insight into the case and explains why the lawsuit wasn't limited to Great White and the club owners. Barylick also spends time going into why there were so many defendants in the civil case and why civil suits are an often maligned but integral part of consumer protection.
Despite my rambling on, there is still a lot more to this story (coincidentally, a new book just came out about it, Trial by Fire: A Devastating Tragedy, 100 Lives Lost, and A 15-Year Search for Truth.) I realize "fascinating" may sound callous, but it legitimately is. Highly recommended and final thoughts from the author:
None of us knows how we might react to imminent peril to ourselves or others. We'd like to think that we would act swiftly, appropriately, and decisively. However, it's probably not even a matter of choice, but one of nature. We can only hope that if that terrible day comes, our nature will help us rise to the challenge.
On February 20, 2003, the (fading hair metal) band Great White set off pyro at the beginning of their set at the Station Nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The ceiling and drummer's alcove immediately caught fire.
A mere 60 seconds later, the fire achieved flashover.
By 90 seconds, those who hadn't made it out of the building most likely never would.
All told, 100 people died (96 that night and 4 later of injuries.) Many more were badly burned. It became one of the deadliest nightclub fires in American history.
I had heard of the Station Fire when it happened, as most Americans of a certain age probably have, but I didn't know the details until recently when I went down a YouTube k-hole and watched what I thought was a story about the Station Fire and turned out to be actual footage of the Station Fire from inside the club. In a "you can't make this up" coincidence, a local news cameraman, Brian Butler, was there that night shooting B-roll for a story about nightclub safety at the suggestion of the club's co-owner, who worked on the side as a news reporter. And a story on nightclub safety it was.
(I'm not going to link to the footage, but it's easy enough to find on YouTube and a quick search of Reddit will provide you a link to the unedited Butler video. Obviously a watch at your own risk type of thing. Butler saw the fire start through his lens and immediately booked it toward the exit, which is why he survived.)
This story fascinated me because I've been in so many firetrap clubs over the years without thinking much about it. There was a local venue I'd been to a handful of times much like The Station called The Alrosa Villa, which had a completely different tragedy occur a year after The Station when four people were murdered by some idiot who was mad at the band (this was the shooting that killed Dimebag Darrell, formerly of Pantera.)
It also fascinated me because it was completely preventable if any of a number of people had just acted responsibly, as the author says in the quote above. The list of contributing factors is mind-boggling. This isn't even a complete list of fuck-ups:
• Due to willful or otherwise misunderstanding of state fire codes, there was no sprinkler system (later testing would prove that this alone would have given occupants sufficient time to escape)
• Great White had no license to use pyrotechnics and no one properly trained to do it
• Pyrotechnics used were illegal indoors
• The club was soundproofed with highly flammable polyurethane “eggcrate” foam overlaid
onto polyethylene foam which acted as an ideal conduit for heat transfer (why flashover happened so fast)
• The local fire inspector not citing the club over multiple visits for improperly using the PE foam
• The local fire inspector artificially raising the occupancy of the building by considering the entire space SRO (meaning the capacity calculation included the bathrooms, the kitchen, pool tables and two bars as places where patrons could theoretically stand)
• The club owners selling tickets which exceeded the already over-stuffed occupancy limit
• Bouncers who blocked patrons from using one of the exits after the fire began
• A fire door that swung inward instead of outward
• A narrow, poorly designed entranceway that sloped downward, causing fleeing patrons to fall and create a pile-up at the front door
And I could keep going, but you get it. A perfect storm of "can't be bothered."
The book was written by John Barylick, a member of the committee of attorneys who handled the civil suits, so it includes insight into the case and explains why the lawsuit wasn't limited to Great White and the club owners. Barylick also spends time going into why there were so many defendants in the civil case and why civil suits are an often maligned but integral part of consumer protection.
Despite my rambling on, there is still a lot more to this story (coincidentally, a new book just came out about it, Trial by Fire: A Devastating Tragedy, 100 Lives Lost, and A 15-Year Search for Truth.) I realize "fascinating" may sound callous, but it legitimately is. Highly recommended and final thoughts from the author:
None of us knows how we might react to imminent peril to ourselves or others. We'd like to think that we would act swiftly, appropriately, and decisively. However, it's probably not even a matter of choice, but one of nature. We can only hope that if that terrible day comes, our nature will help us rise to the challenge.
March 20, 2013
I won this book in a First Read giveaway on Goodreads. I entered the giveaway because I thought this book looked interesting, and right up my alley. I have to say that this book was actually really disappointing.
So this book is a non-fiction account of The Station fire, which took place in a Rhode Island night club and killed 100 people while injuring hundreds more. Barylick's account of the actual fire is riveting, everything else... well not so much.
Barylick is actually one of the lawyers that prosecuted over 40 defendants over the night club fire, so its obvious he has a bias. Frankly, I don't blame him. He was close up and personal with the victims of this horrendous event, so its natural that in his book about the fire, he would sympathize with the victims. The thing is, he is blatantly biased. When you're writing a non-fiction book, you try to be as unbiased as possible, right? Well apparently Barylick didn't get that memo. He frequently calls out various people involved in the fire (understandable from his perspective, but still) and expresses disgust and anger (among other things.) If he had written a memoir of his experiences as a prosecutor, then this bias and emotion would have been expected and understandable, but this is a non-fiction account of an event and not the place for Barylick to express his anger.
Barylick is also extremely dramatic. His use of foreshadowing actually annoying. He constantly uses phrases like "Little did he know..." and "She could never have guessed..." It started to get tiring. He also includes little puns and jokes that not only seem incredibly out of place for a book on a tragedy like this, but are so cheesy. Frankly, it seems like Barylick thought to himself "I've been waiting to use this one for so long! I'm so clever!" while he chuckled with barely contain glee, as he typed his puns.
The author's an attorney! We get an inside scoop on the legal proceedings that took place after the fire! He'll explain everything so we can understand it!
Just kidding, Barylick will fill the second half of the book with legal jargon and will champion his part in the litigation while almost completely ignoring important people like the victims. We get it John, you're a hero. Now could you maybe stop telling us about your detective work and tell us how this patron of the club you focused on so much is doing? Oh you have an epilogue for that? Oh more than half of that epilogue focuses on your opinions about fire safety and greedy businessmen? Okay.
So that's a lot of issues I have with this book, but it wasn't all bad. The first half, when Barylick describes the circumstances leading up to the fire, the victims of the fire and the fire itself is really well written (despite Barylick's obnoxious dramatics.) I just wished that he had focused less on the legal repercussions of the fire and more on the people. I'm aware that as a lawyer for the prosecution, Barylick would of course have more insight and interest in that part of it, but it shouldn't take up half the book.
Overall, not a terrible book, but the author should have written a memoir instead. And his editor should have caught his terrible dramatics, obvious bias and bad jokes.
By the way, don't read this if you're afraid of dying in a fire. Or don't want to be afraid of dying in a fire, because I now am.
3/5 stars
Book review blog:http://thebookgirlblog.wordpress.com/
So this book is a non-fiction account of The Station fire, which took place in a Rhode Island night club and killed 100 people while injuring hundreds more. Barylick's account of the actual fire is riveting, everything else... well not so much.
Barylick is actually one of the lawyers that prosecuted over 40 defendants over the night club fire, so its obvious he has a bias. Frankly, I don't blame him. He was close up and personal with the victims of this horrendous event, so its natural that in his book about the fire, he would sympathize with the victims. The thing is, he is blatantly biased. When you're writing a non-fiction book, you try to be as unbiased as possible, right? Well apparently Barylick didn't get that memo. He frequently calls out various people involved in the fire (understandable from his perspective, but still) and expresses disgust and anger (among other things.) If he had written a memoir of his experiences as a prosecutor, then this bias and emotion would have been expected and understandable, but this is a non-fiction account of an event and not the place for Barylick to express his anger.
Barylick is also extremely dramatic. His use of foreshadowing actually annoying. He constantly uses phrases like "Little did he know..." and "She could never have guessed..." It started to get tiring. He also includes little puns and jokes that not only seem incredibly out of place for a book on a tragedy like this, but are so cheesy. Frankly, it seems like Barylick thought to himself "I've been waiting to use this one for so long! I'm so clever!" while he chuckled with barely contain glee, as he typed his puns.
The author's an attorney! We get an inside scoop on the legal proceedings that took place after the fire! He'll explain everything so we can understand it!
Just kidding, Barylick will fill the second half of the book with legal jargon and will champion his part in the litigation while almost completely ignoring important people like the victims. We get it John, you're a hero. Now could you maybe stop telling us about your detective work and tell us how this patron of the club you focused on so much is doing? Oh you have an epilogue for that? Oh more than half of that epilogue focuses on your opinions about fire safety and greedy businessmen? Okay.
So that's a lot of issues I have with this book, but it wasn't all bad. The first half, when Barylick describes the circumstances leading up to the fire, the victims of the fire and the fire itself is really well written (despite Barylick's obnoxious dramatics.) I just wished that he had focused less on the legal repercussions of the fire and more on the people. I'm aware that as a lawyer for the prosecution, Barylick would of course have more insight and interest in that part of it, but it shouldn't take up half the book.
Overall, not a terrible book, but the author should have written a memoir instead. And his editor should have caught his terrible dramatics, obvious bias and bad jokes.
By the way, don't read this if you're afraid of dying in a fire. Or don't want to be afraid of dying in a fire, because I now am.
3/5 stars
Book review blog:http://thebookgirlblog.wordpress.com/
June 4, 2017
This was an excellent, at times devastating read. Like Fire in the Grove: The Cocoanut Grove Tragedy and Its Aftermath and The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea, the text effectively tacked back and forth between the science of the disaster, the surrounding circumstances, the experiences of the less-central people involved, and the minute-by-minute personal stories of the people who went through it. You never got that far from the horror of the fire, but the author didn't keep you there for so long at a stretch that you started to get numb. I didn't give it a full 5 stars only because at times it did bog down, a just bit, when the author was discussing all the machinations involved in the massive, complex personal-injury suit that followed the Station disaster. If you loved Triangle: The Fire That Changed America, you'll love this one.
October 6, 2012
Harrowing account of the 2003 Station Nightclub fire in West Warwick, RI. If you wonder why we need strictly enforced regulations on businesses, read this book. It's as much a story of greed and stupidity as it is about a fire and its aftermath. It's not an easy read, given the subject matter, but impossible to put down. Now, whenever I'm in a restaurant or even a mall, I check for the exit signs and a sprinkler system.
April 4, 2013
This feels like two books wedged together. The first is a gripping story about a major tragedy, going into detail about how a lot of individually poor decisions made by different people over a series of years added up to create a massive disaster. Personally, I would not have thought that reading about the intricacies of foam manufacturing would be particularly interesting, but I was wrong. The author gives details of personal accounts by fire survivors, details on burn trauma and recovery, and a lot of detail about how exactly this fire happened.
However, the second half of the book is a lengthy description of the post-fire litigation done on behalf of the victims and their families. The author was an attorney representing the plaintiffs, and so his opinions are biased and extensive in this area. It's reasonably well-written, I guess, but I could have done without the fascinating tale of how Budweiser sponsorship of a rock concert somehow makes Anheuser-Busch responsible for a fire. (And so on, and so forth.)
I'd like to give the first half of the book five stars and the second half one star, so I'm compromising with three.
However, the second half of the book is a lengthy description of the post-fire litigation done on behalf of the victims and their families. The author was an attorney representing the plaintiffs, and so his opinions are biased and extensive in this area. It's reasonably well-written, I guess, but I could have done without the fascinating tale of how Budweiser sponsorship of a rock concert somehow makes Anheuser-Busch responsible for a fire. (And so on, and so forth.)
I'd like to give the first half of the book five stars and the second half one star, so I'm compromising with three.
June 4, 2022
This was very well researched, many, many footnotes. Even though this story went in to technical details in some areas, it was never boring. I would have liked more personal stories, but very well done.
November 14, 2023
There's another book about this same tragedy, the nightclub fire set off during the band Great White's set, called Trial By Fire. DO NOT READ THAT ONE. It's an apologia for the club owners, written by the owner's buddy, trying to absolve them of all responsibility. This book is written by a lawyer for the victims, the people who died and were injured by the fire, and they are the only innocent victims in all of this! This one is meticulously researched, and even beyond the events of this fire, it helped me to understand how civil cases for damages even works, and why lawyers can go after manufacturers of products, because who else will be paying for the victims? They literally did nothing wrong, and they're expected to bear the entire burden of other people's slimy mistakes? Absolutely not.
This is incredibly terrifying reading, there's some images that will stick with me forever and honestly I had to force myself not to think about how I'd react in the same situation because it makes me feel panicky just thinking about it. So proceed with caution, but also know it's a tribute to the victims too, it very much makes the reader understand who these people are and why they were there that night.
This is incredibly terrifying reading, there's some images that will stick with me forever and honestly I had to force myself not to think about how I'd react in the same situation because it makes me feel panicky just thinking about it. So proceed with caution, but also know it's a tribute to the victims too, it very much makes the reader understand who these people are and why they were there that night.
December 9, 2012
This was one of those books that as you read, your mind is saying, "I just can't read this!" But I kept reading--maybe because I live in RI, and I remember how awful it felt realizing how horrible it all was. Maybe I kept reading because it was a well-written book, and the author had knowledge of the situation that maybe could make some sense of it all. Finished with the book now, two thoughts remain. First, how awful that negligence and greed could cause such horrific loss. Second, usually, no one likes lawyers, but thank God that in this case, therer were lawyers who could help the victims in at least, a small way. An awesome, and thought-provoking book.
October 11, 2013
Glad to have heard the Author on NPR. I ordered it the same day. At 244 pages, John Barylick packs Killer Show with everything from victim stories to lessons in tort law. This book is the definition a a page turning thriller. Not one page is dull. Degrees of burns are explained, production of polyurethane discussed and no punches are pulled on the idiocy of all of the players involved. I can't say enough about this perfectly written book.
January 3, 2013
I read this in a day, unable to put it down. I grew up close by and have an issue with the author characterization of the people of West Warwick being uneducated, blue collar, corrupt, metal head sorts. That is not true. West Warwick is the home of a very diverse and caring group of people. That all of Rhode Island had connections to people in the tragedy and remains heartbroken over the loss of lives and struggles of the injured is absolutely true.
October 8, 2012
I finished the book this afternoon. It was a surprisingly fast read. From Chapter 25 on I was especially engaged. I learned so much. I have a new appreciation for plaintiffs' lawyers and their work. John also helped us to recognize the good and decent people in this story. Thank you for taking this enormous risk and for giving it your all. And congratulations on winning!
June 21, 2012
Make sure you pick this one up...it is a staggeringly accurate account of the nightclub fire in RI which cost a hundred lives.
October 8, 2012
This is one of the most gripping books i've ever read. A page turner in every sense of the word. Definitely the best True Crime book of 2012!
September 8, 2012
Fantastic. A must read for anyone who cares about law, public safety or the untold stories of the victims of a horrific yet utterly preventable tragedy.
September 17, 2012
Extremely gripping and extremely well researched account of the small steps taken by dozens of people that led to 100 people dying.
August 25, 2023
This book was harrowing but truly eye opening. I’ll never go to a tightly packed space again without checking where the exits are. So much negligence all around, and the book does a wonderful job painting exactly where each person went wrong in terms of the inspectors, club owners, bouncers, etc.
I thought that it was really impactful how the first part of the book paints the excitement of the concert-goers, specifically those on the guest list of the band. Then, it descends into a chaotic nightmare beyond what most of us could imagine within 90 seconds. The victims and survivors involved in this fire truly endured an horrendous scenario. The slightest delay or wrong turn could seal your fate from life to death.
The later half of the book is about the legal battle of the survivors and families of the victims. It does an amazing job of breaking down the process and the challenges these families and individuals went through.
I will always carry the story of this night with me now. It is horrific and terrifying and heartbreaking. You can feel the author’s passion and care for these people. The anger and disappointment is palpable, and rightfully so.
Loved it.
I thought that it was really impactful how the first part of the book paints the excitement of the concert-goers, specifically those on the guest list of the band. Then, it descends into a chaotic nightmare beyond what most of us could imagine within 90 seconds. The victims and survivors involved in this fire truly endured an horrendous scenario. The slightest delay or wrong turn could seal your fate from life to death.
The later half of the book is about the legal battle of the survivors and families of the victims. It does an amazing job of breaking down the process and the challenges these families and individuals went through.
I will always carry the story of this night with me now. It is horrific and terrifying and heartbreaking. You can feel the author’s passion and care for these people. The anger and disappointment is palpable, and rightfully so.
Loved it.
August 1, 2017
Wow. I live in the next town to where the Station Nightclub was - and this is a must read for Rhode Islanders and all who were touched by this tragedy. It is also a cautionary tale for those of us who go out to big indoor gatherings - I haven't attended a concert or play since February 20th, 2003 without searching out the nearest exits.
It's said that in the world we are all separated by six degrees - but in RI it's a degree and a half. We all know someone or know someone who knows someone, who was at the Station that fateful night. This was written by one of the lawyers who sued for damages for the group, and because of plea bargains and deals, no trial was ever held. This book tells the whole story of what went wrong to lead to this tragedy. It's a tough read, but a good one.
It's said that in the world we are all separated by six degrees - but in RI it's a degree and a half. We all know someone or know someone who knows someone, who was at the Station that fateful night. This was written by one of the lawyers who sued for damages for the group, and because of plea bargains and deals, no trial was ever held. This book tells the whole story of what went wrong to lead to this tragedy. It's a tough read, but a good one.
November 9, 2025
I bought this book to read in a waiting room. What luck that Amazon recommended one of the best books I’ve read in years. The writer brought all the major players to life — the club owners, patrons, Great White members and crew (“my my my, once bitten twice shy”) and heroic first responders. He shed light on the twists that led to this total horror show, and the harrowing aftermath, plus brought tremendous insight to the court proceedings. I still have a few pages left but wanted to voice my enthusiasm for a brilliantly crafted account of a horrible but important event. If you don’t take fire safety seriously, you will after this book. You will buy a smoke detector, fire extinguisher, or fire blanket if you don’t already have one.
January 16, 2020
This is a pretty straightforward account - and it really enhances the telling. This is a well written book, of a disturbing story that impacted hundreds of people. A story that didn’t really need to happen. Any of a half-dozen people could have changed the outcome alone. Only one of them truly showed any remorse. This will give you the unvarnished story of greed, neglect, shirking of duty and stupidity that created Rhode Island’s greatest disaster. Highly recommended.
July 9, 2025
This was a respectfully comprehensive account of the tragic events portrayed that didn’t shy away from the necessarily harsh details. I left this book feeling heavy, angry, and shaken-up—but none of that compares to how the families involved are left feeling. Reading this opened my eyes further to the dangers of blatant ignorance.
abandoned-books
September 5, 2023Too much backstory
March 10, 2023
Excellent read! This is the second book I’ve read about The Station fire. Great research and very thorough with all information. This year makes 20 years.
April 19, 2023
Descriptively graphic novel on The Station Nightclub fire and the events proceeding and following it from a fire investigator’s viewpoint. Goes into the story of many people involved, as well as the corruption and borderline bribery that led to the disaster which killed/injured hundreds. Very in depth and interesting read.
November 28, 2014
I only recently heard of The Station fire from an article in People magazine that gave an update on one of the survivors 10 years later. I was really taken by it, and went home that night to find out more. There's a multi-part documentary on youtube that interviews survivors/people involved that is equal parts heartbreaking, horrifying, and inspirational. In the related videos, I saw there was a video of the Station Fire itself. Not realizing right away that it was a complete filming of the fire inside the club from start to finish, I clicked it. Definitely not for the faint of heart. It's (hopefully) the most disturbing thing I will ever see, yet once you start watching, it's hard to look away. From the people wailing, to the people stacked like sardines in the club's doorway, to the eerie silence once the screaming within stops, it's not something you forget about afterward.
I wanted to know more about it and how something like this could have happened, so I looked to see if there were any books on The Station, and this was the one most highly recommended.
*Spoilers below**
I went into the book thinking that the fire was just a freak accident that was a blameless tragedy. Had no idea that it was going to be such a twisted story of greed and lies. The club owners who cut corners at every possible moment to save money and (and least one of which) knew how flammible the foam that they lined the inside with, and especially the Fire Marshall who repeatidly let them slide by even though the foam was on clear display, should have been punished instead of the band manager. The author also tries to sway you against Jack Russell (the band leader) and the reporter who video recorded the entire thing, but I'm not convinced of their guilt. Jack Russell may be a douche who used pyro illegally and claimed to be more heroic than he was in post-fire interviews, but I have no doubt that the club owners told them they could use pyro at their show that night. He just seems like a washed up rock star who carelessly tried to spice up their comeback tour. But the other 3 knew how fatal the foam could be if lit.
The author does a great job of going over the history of not only the club itself, but other similar clubs (one that I've even been in myself many times in MN!) and explaining different laws and regulations. I didn't realize until near the end of the book when he says so, that he was part of the lawyer team for the Station Fire victims. Makes sense that this would be such a comprehensive book on the subject.
The bulk of the book takes you through the events of the fire from different survivor perspectives and what they could piece together with the video footage. Hard not to tear up when reading about the people's families and friends losing each other in the crowd, etc. It's amazing to read how a few seconds, or a decision to go the bathroom at the wrong time could end up being the difference between life and a horrible death. Having been to dozens of hard rock shows myself, even when I get huge bruises, or have giant crowndsurfing men land on my head, or get crushed against the barricade by the pushing wave of the crowd to the point that I can't breathe, I still always felt that I was safe. Because, 'I'm at a concert, they wouldn't let anyeone die at a concert'. I can't say I'll feel that way any more after reading this book. I'll never look at fire the same way again either.
The standout chapter is the one about the dominos, explaining how people making their way toward the bottlenecked entrance ended up toppling over on top of each other, essentially turning the club into vacuum packed tomb. I saw a few seasons of Rescue Me a couple years ago and one scene specifically stood out to me when Denis Leary's character describes picking up a child from a burning building and his skin sliding off like a glove. They describe that here as well when people tried to pull trapped people from the body pyramid. It's too horrifying for words.
Makes it all the more amazing to see the survivors today and how they've managed to heal, and not just their physical wounds.
I'd recommend this book, but be warned: it's very heavy and it's one you won't forget.
I wanted to know more about it and how something like this could have happened, so I looked to see if there were any books on The Station, and this was the one most highly recommended.
*Spoilers below**
I went into the book thinking that the fire was just a freak accident that was a blameless tragedy. Had no idea that it was going to be such a twisted story of greed and lies. The club owners who cut corners at every possible moment to save money and (and least one of which) knew how flammible the foam that they lined the inside with, and especially the Fire Marshall who repeatidly let them slide by even though the foam was on clear display, should have been punished instead of the band manager. The author also tries to sway you against Jack Russell (the band leader) and the reporter who video recorded the entire thing, but I'm not convinced of their guilt. Jack Russell may be a douche who used pyro illegally and claimed to be more heroic than he was in post-fire interviews, but I have no doubt that the club owners told them they could use pyro at their show that night. He just seems like a washed up rock star who carelessly tried to spice up their comeback tour. But the other 3 knew how fatal the foam could be if lit.
The author does a great job of going over the history of not only the club itself, but other similar clubs (one that I've even been in myself many times in MN!) and explaining different laws and regulations. I didn't realize until near the end of the book when he says so, that he was part of the lawyer team for the Station Fire victims. Makes sense that this would be such a comprehensive book on the subject.
The bulk of the book takes you through the events of the fire from different survivor perspectives and what they could piece together with the video footage. Hard not to tear up when reading about the people's families and friends losing each other in the crowd, etc. It's amazing to read how a few seconds, or a decision to go the bathroom at the wrong time could end up being the difference between life and a horrible death. Having been to dozens of hard rock shows myself, even when I get huge bruises, or have giant crowndsurfing men land on my head, or get crushed against the barricade by the pushing wave of the crowd to the point that I can't breathe, I still always felt that I was safe. Because, 'I'm at a concert, they wouldn't let anyeone die at a concert'. I can't say I'll feel that way any more after reading this book. I'll never look at fire the same way again either.
The standout chapter is the one about the dominos, explaining how people making their way toward the bottlenecked entrance ended up toppling over on top of each other, essentially turning the club into vacuum packed tomb. I saw a few seasons of Rescue Me a couple years ago and one scene specifically stood out to me when Denis Leary's character describes picking up a child from a burning building and his skin sliding off like a glove. They describe that here as well when people tried to pull trapped people from the body pyramid. It's too horrifying for words.
Makes it all the more amazing to see the survivors today and how they've managed to heal, and not just their physical wounds.
I'd recommend this book, but be warned: it's very heavy and it's one you won't forget.
July 7, 2018
This truly is one of the most horrific tragedies I've ever read about. One winter night, 400+ Rhode Islanders gathered to see "Great White" perform. In the 80's, they sold out arenas but in February of 2003, they would perform in a small, run-down, oversold nightclub called "The Station." Ninety-six of them wouldn't leave that nightclub alive and 4 others wouldn't survive their injuries from the fire that wouldn't sustain life 90 seconds after it started.
People always think I'm "anxious" when I'm in crowds, specifically when I'm in older buildings, and I make a big deal about knowing where all the exits are and which one would be closest in what situation. But, this is why. My ever-patient husband would tell you that if I ever found myself in a space like this, shoulder to shoulder with tons of other people, with only one exit in sight? I would be out of there. The truth is though, when I was in college, or around that age (as many of the concert goers were that night), I probably wouldn't have thought much of it.
The author, John Barylick, is a lawyer who was a lead attorney in the wrongful death/personal injury lawsuits that resulted from The Station Fire. There were a couple chapters that after I finished, I found myself knowing far more about the science of fire and Rhode Island litigation than I ever thought possible. However, Barylick does a really beautiful job balancing his extensive knowledge of the fire and the legal aspects of the case with the personal stories of those who lost their lives, their families, the people who live their lives permanently disabled because they just barely escaped and everyone else in this small town in our country's smallest state who were touched by this tragedy.
The message that stuck with me most deeply was this: it would've only taken ONE person, one person in the long list of people who made the ill-fated, greed-based choices that would ultimately create the perfect storm that started this fire that would then burn more rapidly than anyone could've ever predicted, to have made a different choice, to have done the RIGHT thing, and everyone would've likely survived that night. It wasn't JUST the pyrotechnics that the band said they had clearance for and the club owners said they never approved, or JUST the Anheuser-Busch-Budweiser Beer company that didn't bother to check out the venue where a concert they were backing was being held, or JUST the cheap foam that was glued to the walls, or JUST the even older set of cheap foam that had been nailed to the walls by a previous owner that fueled the cheap foam that was glued on top of it to burn even more intensely, or JUST the fire inspector ignoring dangerous signs of cut corners, or JUST the inflated capacity limit that was arisen at by very faulty/ignorant calculations, or JUST the bouncers who wouldn't allow people through the "band only" door when the club was ON FIRE, or JUST the cameraman who blocked the door for a precious 10 seconds so he could get the story of his life or even JUST the club owners who didn't carry workman's comp. insurance or think it necessary to train "security staff" they paid with few free beers and who spent $60,000 on a new sound system but didn't think it was important to spend a small fraction of that on a sprinkler system and working fire extinguishers...it was ALL of those things combined that would create this preventable, catastrophically deadly fire. Had ONE of those people made a different choice (a safe foam for soundproofing, an honest fire inspection, a reasonable capacity limit, sprinklers, multiple exits, etc. etc. etc.), most everyone, if not EVERYONE, would've survived this fire.
After reading this, I know for sure that in any given situation I never want to be a person who could've made an ethical/right/honest choice but instead allowed myself to be driven by greed or any of its relatives and end up being a reason, even if it's one in a laundry list of reasons, that harm would be done to others.
People always think I'm "anxious" when I'm in crowds, specifically when I'm in older buildings, and I make a big deal about knowing where all the exits are and which one would be closest in what situation. But, this is why. My ever-patient husband would tell you that if I ever found myself in a space like this, shoulder to shoulder with tons of other people, with only one exit in sight? I would be out of there. The truth is though, when I was in college, or around that age (as many of the concert goers were that night), I probably wouldn't have thought much of it.
The author, John Barylick, is a lawyer who was a lead attorney in the wrongful death/personal injury lawsuits that resulted from The Station Fire. There were a couple chapters that after I finished, I found myself knowing far more about the science of fire and Rhode Island litigation than I ever thought possible. However, Barylick does a really beautiful job balancing his extensive knowledge of the fire and the legal aspects of the case with the personal stories of those who lost their lives, their families, the people who live their lives permanently disabled because they just barely escaped and everyone else in this small town in our country's smallest state who were touched by this tragedy.
The message that stuck with me most deeply was this: it would've only taken ONE person, one person in the long list of people who made the ill-fated, greed-based choices that would ultimately create the perfect storm that started this fire that would then burn more rapidly than anyone could've ever predicted, to have made a different choice, to have done the RIGHT thing, and everyone would've likely survived that night. It wasn't JUST the pyrotechnics that the band said they had clearance for and the club owners said they never approved, or JUST the Anheuser-Busch-Budweiser Beer company that didn't bother to check out the venue where a concert they were backing was being held, or JUST the cheap foam that was glued to the walls, or JUST the even older set of cheap foam that had been nailed to the walls by a previous owner that fueled the cheap foam that was glued on top of it to burn even more intensely, or JUST the fire inspector ignoring dangerous signs of cut corners, or JUST the inflated capacity limit that was arisen at by very faulty/ignorant calculations, or JUST the bouncers who wouldn't allow people through the "band only" door when the club was ON FIRE, or JUST the cameraman who blocked the door for a precious 10 seconds so he could get the story of his life or even JUST the club owners who didn't carry workman's comp. insurance or think it necessary to train "security staff" they paid with few free beers and who spent $60,000 on a new sound system but didn't think it was important to spend a small fraction of that on a sprinkler system and working fire extinguishers...it was ALL of those things combined that would create this preventable, catastrophically deadly fire. Had ONE of those people made a different choice (a safe foam for soundproofing, an honest fire inspection, a reasonable capacity limit, sprinklers, multiple exits, etc. etc. etc.), most everyone, if not EVERYONE, would've survived this fire.
After reading this, I know for sure that in any given situation I never want to be a person who could've made an ethical/right/honest choice but instead allowed myself to be driven by greed or any of its relatives and end up being a reason, even if it's one in a laundry list of reasons, that harm would be done to others.
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