Forty-three dead in nightclub blaze

More miserable news: at least 43 people are believed to have burned to death in a fire at a Shenzen city nightclub. In an echo of the Rhode Island Great White fire, early investigations are suggesting that the blaze was caused by the use of fireworks on-stage, and the injuries were compounded by a stampede for the exit.

Biechelle to be paroled, says AP

Daniel Bichelle, manager of Great White, is being lined up for early release, reports the Associated Press. Bichelle has served less than half of his sentence for his part in the Rhode Island nightclub blaze.

[Full coverage of the legal aftermath of the fire]

Gate crashes

Sheffield nightclub Gatecrasher has collapsed after a massive fire. A massive, massive one:

One onlooker told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It is a shame - it was one of the best clubs in Sheffield."

Smoke from the blaze could earlier be seen for miles across the city.

Eyewitnesses said plumes of smoke gradually spread across the city centre and turned from a dark grey colour to thick white to yellow cloud.

Sheffield city centre resident Kirsten Law said: "I was on the phone when I first noticed it and thought the whole development was on fire.

"I've had to go around closing all the windows because the smell of the smoke's so strong and have been watching the charred bits fly past the window, and I'm on the other side of town from Gatecrasher."

Mark UK has photos of the club in flames (well, smoke) on Flickr; as does RXSPN and there's also this one, from Alleroo, which captures a spooky juxtaposition.

Great White knew nothing of fireworks

Some members of Great White are seeking to be released as co-defendents on the legal actions relating to the Atlanta nightclub fire:

Three of the band members - Mark Kendall, Eric Powers and David Filice - maintain in new court papers that they had no managerial duties with the group, had no contact with the owners of the club and did not participate in preparing or lighting the devices.

"They were at the nightclub that evening for one purpose - to perform music:, attorneys for the band members wrote in court papers filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Providence. "They had no other role in the band's performance at The Station."

Jack White isn't, at this stage, seeking to be let off.

Rhode Island fire coverage in full

Full coverage: Rhode Island nightclub fire

In 2003, the Station Nightclub in Rhode Island caught fire following an accident with Great White's pyrotechnic display. Over 100 people died in the resulting fire, numbers far higher than they should have been - it was subsequently revealed the club had used flammable soundproofing material.

Yesterday, the owners of the club, Michael and Jeffrey Derderian, were sentenced for their role in the deaths.

Jeffrey Derderian, who was also slapped with 500 hours of community service and three years probation, said in court: "This tragedy has our name on it. I wish I could give you back what you lost, but I know I can't."

Survivors are being helped by the Station Family Fund

These are the stories on No Rock which have tracked the disaster and its aftermath:

25.02.03 - Fred Durst is "horrified", forgets own role in festival disaster
02.03.03 - Great White singer Jack Russell asks for immunity before testifying
20.08.03 - Health and Safety levy 100,000 fine
29.09.03 - Great White's drummer in car crash
10.12.03 - Indictments issued - manager, owners face 100 charges of involuntary manslaughter
23.04.04 - Band disown 'Burning House of Love'
25.04.04 - Unofficial 'Burning House of Love' release pulled from stores
24.07.04 - Families file lawsuits
31.01.05 - Jack Russell takes the fifth
19.07.05 - Familes demand right to test foam for their own legal action
29.09.06 - Light sentences for nightclub owners attacked
10.01.07 - Great White rally for seals as family fund runs dry
07.04.07 - Great White members ask to be excused from case
20.09.07 - Manager Bichelle up for early release
04.02.08 - CBS affiliate settles 'blocked escape' claims
17.02.08 - Survivors struggle because of 'hair metal' profile
02.09.08 - Great White offer million dollar settlement
26.06.09 - Co-owner released from jail

Fred On The Dead

Fred Durst is fast emerging as the Richard Hillman of shit rock. Writing on the Limp Bizkit website, fred sheds tears over the nightclub fire last week:

"i am horrified at what happened to the innocent people who were burned to death at the great white concert recently. i feel so much sadness inside because of it. how could such a thing happen? especially when it could have absolutely been prevented. it is so important to make any concert a safe place for fans to be. we have had our own terrible exsperience with a similar situation in australia a while back. i believe that it is our resposibility to provide you with the safest most secure conditions when you come to our concerts and i pray that every club owner, tour promoter, venue security, and band will learn from this horrible incident."

Ah, yes. Learning from horrible incidents - so, presumably, you'd be disgusted if the attempts to investigate what happened in Rhode Island last week were hampered by, say Great White's singer refusing to attend the inquest except by video link? You know, Fred, like the way you were "too busy" to attend the inquest after that "nasty Australian experience"? It's interesting that you're now Mr. Safety, though. Perhaps when the Australian coroner accused you of being "inflammatory and indeed insulting to the security staff who were engaged in their best efforts to extricate crucially injured patrons from the crowd collapse" it hit home? or are you merely hoping everyone's forgotten?

[Edited 20-09-08 for formatting only; content unchanged]
[Part of Rhode Island nightclub fire coverage]