We Need To Care For Our Own –
The Station Nightclub Fire Aftermath
A Letter From Fred “Daddy†Bramante
Daddy’s has a store in Warwick, RI, a very short distance from the site of the tragic Station Nightclub fire where, five years ago, one hundred music lovers were horribly killed in this tragedy. You know of that story. What you may not be aware of is that there are approximately two hundred survivors, MANY were severely burned and will carry the scars of that night, both physical and psychological, with them for the rest of their lives. Sixty-five children lost one or both of their parents.
On February 24th, 2008, the night before “Phoenix Risingâ€, the fund raising concert at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI, we did a meet & greet fund raiser at Daddy’s Warwick with Twisted Sister, who graciously signed autographs, took pictures and interacted with fans, including survivors, for two solid hours. To hear the stories, meet some of the survivors, and see what they will have to live with is heartbreaking.
Many of the victims and survivors were musicians. You and I know these people. They attend similar shows all over the country. They love screaming guitar solos, blaring Marshall amps, great 80’s hair bands. You’ve been to these shows. This tragedy happened doing something that you and I have done many times. You know the friends you’ve gone with to these shows. It just happened that the disaster took place in Rhode Island at a club called ‘The Station’.
Try to envision the financial needs associated with this event. There are nearly 1,000 litigants vying for settlement monies. One 23 year old female survivor who spent a month in a coma, had no insurance, has lost her ability to earn a living and ran up a $1.5 million dollar hospital bill. Her story is just one of many just like her. The needs are staggering.
An article in Rolling Stone said that the victims feel abandoned by the government and abandoned by the music industry. We, you and I, as members of the music community can not allow this to stand. Regardless of where this tragedy occurred, be it Rhode Island or Long Island, the community of Warwick or your community or anywhere else in America, you would want the music community to come together to lend a hand.
Daddy’s continues to try to play our small part in providing precious resources to the victims. We need your help. Anything that you can do to help would be greatly appreciated.
If you would like to make a donation directly to the Station Family Fund – click here.
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Ok, now its my turn :) On a couple related notes - Tune into VH1 on Easter Sunday, March 23 @ 10:00 pm as they air a one hour special called “AFTERMATH: The Station Fire Five Years Later” and will feature footage of the “Phoenix Rising” benefit concert.
We (myself, my dad and my mom) attended the benefit concert which featured Twisted Sister, Tesla, Aaron Lewis, and a TON of other artists all to benefit the Station Family Fund. It was an amazing evening. We have in our warehouse ALL of the remaining concert merch including t-shirts, hats, program guides, and pins and will be selling this merch on our website with ALL of the proceeds going to the Station Family Fund. This online store will be up within the next 24 to 48 hours, so please keep checking back.
Thank you in advance,
Candi
