9 Years Ago: Remembering Our Friends
TESLA CURRENTS - It's hard to believe but today marks the 9th anniversary of the tragedy at the Station Night Club in West Warwick, RI. The Station nightclub fire was the fourth deadliest nightclub fire in American history, killing 100 people. The fire began at 11:07 PM EST, on Thursday, February 20, 2003, at The Station, a glam metal and rock n roll themed nightclub located at 211 Cowesett Avenue in West Warwick, Rhode Island.Among the 100 that lost their lives that night was TESLA roadie and beloved friend Jeff Rader. Jeff had worked with TESLA on several tours and was considered part of the family. While TESLA was not touring and in the studio. He decided he had time to visit his girlfriend in Rhode Island. Jeff had known the members of Great White and since he was in the same town he would stop by and see the show. Tragically do to a pyrotechnic display gone horribly wrong the stage and ceiling caught fire. As the flames grew Jeff began directing people out of the club towards the exits, he got out but when he could not find his girlfriend he went back in to look for her, neither of them were able to make it out.
Many of us that have been to concerts in smaller towns could easily relate to how small the clubs are have few exists. Jeff was a dear friend and touched the lives of so many of us, and I personally owe so much to him that it's impossible to put into words. Simply put, if not for Jeff Rader, I would not have had the honor of working with and becoming part of the TESLA family that he so much loved.
There were many survivors however, left with painful life long injuries and scars. The Station Family Fund, which was founded in May of 2003 by survivors and family members affected by The Station Nightclub fire, was formed to meet the immediate needs of those most affected by this tragedy. They are proud to announce that their goal of filling the immediate needs of those impacted by the fire have been met.
PHOENIX RISING - ARTISTS UNITED
In February 2008 Dee Snider, John Rich and Troy Luccketta joined forces to put on one of the most impressive benefit concerts remembered. Held in downtown Providence, RI the show featured an incredible mix of talent gathered together for one cause. Artist included were John Rich, Dierks Bentley, Gretchen Wilson, Whiskey Falls, Aaron Lewis, TESLA, Twisted Sister, Kevin Max, Stryper, Marc Bonilla Carmine Appice’s, Tom Scholz & Gary Pihl of Boston, Eric Martin, Danny Seraphine with CTA, Facing Forward, Pete Fish, Travis Davis, Eric Cole, Brandon Allen Read, and Gary Hoey.
Please take moment today and remember those we lost.
~ Duane Serfass
ATLANTA, GA: SOLD OUT!!TROY LUCCKETTA: "I really had no idea it would turn into what it's turned into."
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Hello, my name is Paula McLaughlin. My little brother Michael and his beautiful wife Sandy were killed in the Station Nightclub Fire. I was there when TESLA did the benefit at PPAC and also at the Dunkin Donuts Center in 2008.
I would like to invite the band to an exhibit /charity event to mark the 10 year anniversary of the fire.
I am doing a photographic memorial exhibit at the Pawtucket Armory, February 15th-17th. Opening night Friday, February 15th 7-10.
It is a tattoo memorial.
We photographed over 60 fmaily members, friends and survivors of this tragedy who have memorial tattoo’s.
All proceeds will go to the Station Fire Memorial Foundation to finally build a memorial.
My brother met Jack Russell at Door’s of Perception Tattoo Parlor hours before the show and Jack put Mikeand my sister-in-law on the VIP list. My brother was getting a birthday tattoo that night…his birthday was one week prior to the fire.
Days after the fire all their friends went out and got tatto’s including myself.
This is all about the tattoo’s.
I have had the vision for this exhibit for a long time now and was emotionally not able to do it…I decided the 10 year anniversary was the perfect time.
Please.. if you have a second..visit our website and Facebook. http://www.stationink.com
Iit explains the event a llittle more and also shows examples of photos we have taken for the show.
I know TESLA has been a big part of some of the survior’s healing process and always there to perform throughout the years since the fire.
If you are in RI 2/15-2/17..please come by and see this memorial exhibit..you will see a lot of the friends you have met over the years and their beautiful memorial ink. Thank you, Paula (Hoogasian) McLaughlin
It was a sad night in rock n roll, a DJ from 94.1 WHJY, also lost his life. Dr Metal did a show on Saturday nights on WHJY in Providence from midnight til 2am. He was at the show that night trying to help people. I think his last name was Gonsalves but um not sure he had a great personality. I’ve seen TESLA several times in Boston, and Providence last time u guys played Luopo’s in Providence 2009 I met the band after the show. I also talked to Jeff on the street in Providence before the show u guys are real down to earth. The repulged tour at the Orpheum in Boston when you guys reunited was an amazing show. I was like 5 rows from the stage at that show. I also felt bad for Great White to be blamed for the fire, when I don’t think it was their fault. The town, and club owners the Dederians Jeff used to be a reporter at WHDH 7 News in Boston when he owned the club with his brother. I saw Great White in 1985 at the Orpheum Thearte in Boston. To bad about what happened that night the victims will never be forgoten. I will never forget that night even though I didn’t go to show.