Update 2023: I would eventually retake this photo concept on the same spot for the 20th anniversary of the disaster. Read about the full story here.

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I took these photos during my December 2021 drive through New England. On this exact spot almost 20 years ago, one of the worst disasters occurred in rock music history.

On the night of February 20th 2003, the glam metal band Great White briefly reunited with their lead vocalist Jack Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall to begin a tour with the reformed lineup, kicking off at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Shortly after beginning the first song of their set, the band’s tour manager set off pyrotechnic fireworks on stage which made contact with the flammable noise-insulation foam, thus causing a fire. Due to lack of adequate fire safety measures, the flames instantly spread among the walls and ceiling; initially, the stunned audience members weren’t sure if the fire and smoke were part of the act. Within mere minutes, the nightclub was engulfed in flames and many of the patrons were trapped in the blaze – some of which were crushed in a stampede as they formed bottlenecks by the only exits. 100 people died, 230 were injured, and 132 miraculously escaped uninjured.

Afterwards the band and their managers, as well as the nightclub owners were caught in a legal battle resulting in the tour managers being sentenced to prison. The nightclub’s owners pleaded no contest and were sentenced to prison as well. The band itself then split into two factions: one led by Russell, one led by Kendall. The band would never relive its glory days of the late ‘80s, and their image would be permanently marred by the catastrophe.

Now on this spot in West Warwick, Rhode Island lies a memorial park dedicated to the victims of The Great White Station Nightclub Fire.