Headline News
Great White Manager, Daniel Biechele, Released From Prison
Band Photo: Great White (?)
According to Eric Tucker from the Associated Press, the band manager whose pyrotechnics display sparked a nightclub fire that killed 100 people in 2003 walked out of prison Wednesday, free to return to his home state of Florida after serving less than half of his four-year sentence.
Daniel Biechele, 31, who tearfully apologized to victims' relatives before being sent to prison, kept quiet Wednesday as he left the state's minimum security prison. He got into his lawyer's car, ignoring questions from reporters across the street, and was driven away.
Biechele's lawyer, Thomas Briody, said in a statement that Biechele would not make any public statements "out of respect for those people most affected by the fire."
"He was a private citizen before this tragedy and he wishes to remain so," Briody said.
Briody has declined to discuss Biechele's future plans, but officials in Florida have confirmed that he would serve his parole there.
Biechele, the former tour manager for the 1980s rock group GREAT WHITE, pleaded guilty in 2006 to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter, admitting he did not have the required permit when he set off flashy pyrotechnics inside The Station nightclub in West Warwick on Feb. 20, 2003.
Co-owner of The Station nightclub, Michael Derderian, 46, went to prison in September 2006 was recently granted an early release from prison by the state parole board, but will not be freed until October 2009 after serving more than three years of his four-year sentence. Derderian became eligible for parole this month after completing one-third of his sentence, but faced an uphill battle to get released after discipline problems in prison and pleas to keep him behind bars.
Source: BW&BK
What's Next?
- Previous Article:
SOiL Frontman Posts Acoustic Song Online - Next Article:
More Sevendust, Saliva Tour Dates Announced
63 Comments on "Great White Manager Released From Prison"
Writer, Reviewer
5. writes:
As long as the guy's actually sorry for the consequences of his actions (and he appears to be so) and has learnt his lesson, I don't see why he should need to be further punished. Then again, I wasn't directly (or indirectly, really) affected by this tragedy. Family members of those deceased are likely to feel differently.
Now Playing: One Minute Silence - "Stuck Between a Rock and a White Face"
Supporter
8. writes:
We all need to realize that he didn't intend to go out that night and kill all of those people. He was only trying to put on a good concert, but he used very poor judgement. We can go on and on about how this individual should be punished, but we all need to realize that it was a terrible accident. An accident that i'm sure this individual wishes he could take back, and he's gonna spend the rest of his life regretting. Lets all pray for the families that passed away, and try and move on from this.
9. writes:
Re: Kalis_wrath - post 7
Following this story, one of the articles I read concerning his parole hearing was that the families of the victims testified on his behalf to let him out at this point. Several of them even stated that they did not want him in prison, as he was not really guilty, and it was an accident.
So they actually did get to choose his punishment in a way.
Founder, owner & programmer
14. writes:
You can click the "Great White" link and go back through their new archives, but unfortunately I didn't start linking news directly to bands til after the incident... Short story, band lit up some pyrotechnics that caught the whole damn place on fire due to some flammable sound proofing material in teh ceiling I believe. People couldn't get out fast enough and 100 people died. Lots of denial of responsibility on band/managers/club owners parts, so no one knows who was really at fault or by way of neglect or misinformation or if it was a pure accident.
Supporter
15. writes:
I think all are at fault in their own way. If you had a band would you have pyrotecnics in a club? Would you as a club owner allow it? Would you not as a band manager tell the band to lay off the fire for the night? It all is pure common sence to me. An arena is set up for pyrotechnects and so are out door venues. Personally, the second I saw pyrotecnics going off in a club would do well to leave and never go there again myself. No, I am not saying its the fans fault either. Just what I would do.
Supporter
Member
Supporter
22. writes:
the blame falls on many shoulders
1 - the manager did have permission from the club to use pyro; it was used in the club many times before.
2 - the manager did not have a permit from the county/state to do pyro
3 - the club owners did not stipulate the band/manager get the permit
4 - the club had the wrong type of sound proofing on the walls
5 - the band bailed on the manager as soon as the hammer came down
everyone involved shares the responsibility
23. writes:
I am glad this guy is being released from prison. He really became the scapegoat in this situation when theere were multiple people to blame. He has apologized about the situation, and I am sure that he is truly sorry and feels terribly guilty about his actions. There is no reason to punish him anymore, just let him try to live the rest of his life in peace.
Supporter
25. writes:
Kalis...just wantet to let you know that while I'm not sure if they have done an actual benefit concert or not, I know that after they started playing shows again they announced they were donating a portion of the proceeds to the victims.
I think it's important to note that Great White also lost a member is this tragedy, Ty Longley, their guitarist. A lot of bad sh** happened that night, but the fact is we've all been to concerts where very bad things could happen, some of them are in plain sight but we chose to ignore them because we don't think about sh** like that when we're at concerts. Point being; everyone today knows how bad of idea it is to use those pyrotechnics, and that night everyone would have too had they thought about it for a minute. Problem is we as humans usually don't think about consequences until after the fact...then it's too late. It was a black day for music in general.
Supporter
26. writes:
This may sound very cold, but I truely think that stupidity should be painful and am glad that it is for Great white. Really and truely think about it; club and fire? People have had their homes burn down because of unattened ciggeretts and that flame is smaller than the pyrotechnicts that were going off in that club. I am sorry to say it, but f*** Great white and I hope they feel every ounce of pain they feel for the loss of their guitarist. Call me a b****, a c*** and uncareing all you want. I don't care and stand by what I just said!
Supporter
30. writes:
guys always do dumb things without thinking about the consequences. all we want is some fun and then before we know it weve screwed ourselves over. i think all guys can relate to this and understand where the "stupidity" of Great White came from and would maybe not be as judgmental.
Supporter
33. writes:
LM, that was exactly my point, I forgot the fact that woman think things through more though, lol.
If I would have stopped and thought about half the sh*t I've done in life, I might not have done it (Some for the better, some for the worse). I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on anyone, not even my enemies.....which I wish a lot of pain on sometimes!
Kalis....I won't call you cold or ruthless or any sh*t like that, just say to you that remember all those people that were in there, they stayed in there. I'm sure they didn't think about it at the time either.....until it was too late. I've seen some pretty bad sh** at shows, heck I went to a concert once where there was no security....none. How many fights do you think were at that concert? If not for fans someone would surely have been put in the hospital....but I chose to stay there. Everyone has to accept some responsibility, even if the majority lies with the bands manegment.
34. writes:
the cameraman who actually provided the footage of people not being able to get out was also charged with a crime, along with the tv station he worked for. that case was just settled.
there were a lot of heads on the chopping block for this. there should have been more with such a great loss of life.
Founder, owner & programmer
Member
42. writes:
yep, this is really funny isnt it..?
Its kinda pathetic that this idiot doesnt know how to copy an paste...or even use the same words or spelling....that way, it would at least look like the original poster made a mistake and posted twice...!!
What a moron..!!
43. writes:
44. writes:
To post 19 - it was Mushroomhead, Psyclon Nine, I Decay, and some other bands...
I recommend Mushroomhead and I Decay.
It was an actual tattoo bar. It was bada$$ to be close to Mushroomhead, and be able to talk with them, but like I said before a bit claustorphobic. One fire or explosion, hell, I may have been trapped in there...or trampled.
Member
46. writes:
Hello, this is the fraud, i like to steal peoples names because im a douche with no acceptable identity. i am a total loser, i have no life and i am jealous of you all. i love peeking at my mom and sister when they shower, they are so hott. i shove grapes up my a$$ and eat them for more flavor. forgive me for being an a$$hole i will stop doing this. i need to f*ck the goat in my backyard now, typing this makes me horny, i dont know why. im going now, byeeeee.
48. writes:
Hello,this is the fraud, i like to steal peoples names because im a douche with no acceptable identity. iam a total loser, i have no life and iam jealous of you all. i love peeking at my mom and sister when thay shower,thay are so hott. i shove grapes up my dads a$$ and eat tham i love sucking black dogs d*** the only p***y you get is with your hand f*** boy
Member
Member
Member
Member
59. writes:
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. ok so if anybody remembers over 90% of the people who got killed were trampled to death by OTHER f***ING FANS!
its was a fluke. dont get me wrong he should serve the f***ing sentance. if not life. but most of it was the fault of the crowd.
Member
To minimize comment spam/abuse, you cannot post comments on articles over a month old.
1. thor hath risen writes:
hah!!!!nobody like great white............