Attorney John Barylick, author of Killer Show: The Station Nightclub Fire, America’s Deadliest Rock Club Concert, breaks down the 2003 tragedy that killed 100 people and injured hundreds more during a Great White show. We cover the chain of negligence—illegal pyrotechnics, flammable foam, overcrowding, code failures, and grandfathered buildings—plus how a team of lawyers uncovered surprising defendants and secured a $176M global settlement.
Topics we cover:
• Why 90 seconds determined life or death
• The illegal pyro decision & who actually gave the order
• Flammable polyurethane & polyethylene foam—and the marketing that sank the defense
• Fire marshal “good faith” immunity vs. civil liability
• The role of Anheuser-Busch, the TV cameraman’s employer, and foam suppliers
• How settlements were allocated to victims & survivors
• Practical safety tips for any venue (be your own fire marshal)
• Post-tragedy code changes—and where enforcement still fails
📘 John’s book: Killer Show (Affiliate Link) https://amzn.to/4p7XpDS
🎥 Documentary: The Guest List: America’s Deadliest Rock Concert https://tubitv.com/movies/701897/america-s-deadliest-rock-concert-the-guest-list
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Cold open: “Negligence + greed over safety”
01:05 West Warwick & the building’s messy past
04:25 The night of the fire: pyro + foam + crowding
08:02 “Grandfathered” code loopholes & missed inspections
12:10 The band door, noise complaints & blocked egress
16:18 Criminal charges: who pled, who didn’t, and why
20:44 Civil strategy: finding the money beyond $2M
25:01 Foam liability: warnings, misuse & the smoking brochure
29:45 Why a TV station & Anheuser-Busch paid big
34:58 The $176M settlement & point system for victims
39:50 What changed in fire codes—and what didn’t
43:18 How to stay alive in any venue (be your own fire marshal)
47:05 Final thoughts & resources
👉 If this helped you understand what happened—and how to stay safe—please like, share, and comment.
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