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CNN Live Today

Rhode Island Nightclub Fire Tragedy

Aired February 20, 2004 - 11:07   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: The anniversary of the Rhode Island nightclub fire is the focus of an article in "Rolling Stone" magazine. Victims and survivors of the fire talk about how their lives have changed. Jason Fine is assistant managing editor for "Rolling Stone." He's in our New York bureau.
Good morning to you, Jason.

JASON FINE, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: Good morning.

SAVIDGE: This came at a time when the nation was preparing itself for war, so this story may not have been reported as strongly as it might have been because of the war. You decided to go forward and to look back. Why?

FINE: Well, we covered it as a major event and a major tragedy, one of the biggest tragedies in rock 'n' roll. And We went back a year later, the same reporter went back, to see how the people's lives changed, including Mr. Williams, who was just on the show.

SAVIDGE: And your piece does focus on the victims. What were the stories you found from the people?

FINE: We found that so many of the survivors have had such a rough year, that many of them are still in rehabilitation, many of them can't cover their medical expenses. They received very little support, financial support, from the federal government. They're upset that the rock 'n' roll community, they feel, sort of ignored the situation, and they're struggling, both, you know, psychologically and physically.

SAVIDGE: Well, what is being done for them? I mean, I know they feel a disappointment that the state, and perhaps even federal government, hasn't come more to their aid. But what is actually being done to pay what must be huge medical bills?

FINE: The governor of Rhode Island estimates that all told, it's going to cost about $100 million. There's been some United Way funds, There's been limited federal funds, about $300,000 or $400,000, and the rest is being stuck, you know, on Medicaid in Rhode Island and, you know, and a lot of these people don't even have health insurance. So there's a real shortage of money. There are all kinds of civil lawsuits being filed. So who knows what will happen with those.

SAVIDGE: And how is the community itself recovering, as well as the victims? FINE: You know, you get the sense that it's a tight-knit community, and especially the rock 'n' roll community there. And these are people who are close friends. You know, so many people in the fire lost a husband, a wife or a best friend. So those people are sticking close together, but they don't feel as if the outside world has paid attention to them.

SAVIDGE: But wasn't there talk that there was supposed to be rock 'n' roll groups going out there, raising money, doing concerts? That what, didn't happen?

FINE: That never really happened. There were a few small benefits, small club benefits, that raised a little bit of money, but there was never a large-scale benefit concert by any bands. The band itself, Great White, went on a tour and raised $60,000 or $70,000, which helped the victims a little bit. But there's been no large- scale concert on their behalf.

SAVIDGE: Jason Fine, assistant managing editor with "Rolling Stone" magazine. The article is focusing back on the fire and the terrible tragedy that took place in Rhode Island one year ago. Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired February 20, 2004 - 11:07   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: The anniversary of the Rhode Island nightclub fire is the focus of an article in "Rolling Stone" magazine. Victims and survivors of the fire talk about how their lives have changed. Jason Fine is assistant managing editor for "Rolling Stone." He's in our New York bureau.
Good morning to you, Jason.

JASON FINE, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: Good morning.

SAVIDGE: This came at a time when the nation was preparing itself for war, so this story may not have been reported as strongly as it might have been because of the war. You decided to go forward and to look back. Why?

FINE: Well, we covered it as a major event and a major tragedy, one of the biggest tragedies in rock 'n' roll. And We went back a year later, the same reporter went back, to see how the people's lives changed, including Mr. Williams, who was just on the show.

SAVIDGE: And your piece does focus on the victims. What were the stories you found from the people?

FINE: We found that so many of the survivors have had such a rough year, that many of them are still in rehabilitation, many of them can't cover their medical expenses. They received very little support, financial support, from the federal government. They're upset that the rock 'n' roll community, they feel, sort of ignored the situation, and they're struggling, both, you know, psychologically and physically.

SAVIDGE: Well, what is being done for them? I mean, I know they feel a disappointment that the state, and perhaps even federal government, hasn't come more to their aid. But what is actually being done to pay what must be huge medical bills?

FINE: The governor of Rhode Island estimates that all told, it's going to cost about $100 million. There's been some United Way funds, There's been limited federal funds, about $300,000 or $400,000, and the rest is being stuck, you know, on Medicaid in Rhode Island and, you know, and a lot of these people don't even have health insurance. So there's a real shortage of money. There are all kinds of civil lawsuits being filed. So who knows what will happen with those.

SAVIDGE: And how is the community itself recovering, as well as the victims? FINE: You know, you get the sense that it's a tight-knit community, and especially the rock 'n' roll community there. And these are people who are close friends. You know, so many people in the fire lost a husband, a wife or a best friend. So those people are sticking close together, but they don't feel as if the outside world has paid attention to them.

SAVIDGE: But wasn't there talk that there was supposed to be rock 'n' roll groups going out there, raising money, doing concerts? That what, didn't happen?

FINE: That never really happened. There were a few small benefits, small club benefits, that raised a little bit of money, but there was never a large-scale benefit concert by any bands. The band itself, Great White, went on a tour and raised $60,000 or $70,000, which helped the victims a little bit. But there's been no large- scale concert on their behalf.

SAVIDGE: Jason Fine, assistant managing editor with "Rolling Stone" magazine. The article is focusing back on the fire and the terrible tragedy that took place in Rhode Island one year ago. Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com