Changes Coming
Local music promoters concerned about safety


By Jessi Virtusio

This originally appeared in The Star's Firstlook magazine on February 27th, 2003

With two nightclub tragedies in less than a week, those in the local music scene say changes are coming.

"The clubs are going to feel it the most. Maybe communities are going to tighten up a bit, and maybe there will be more fire inspectors than in the past," Barry Manheim, of United Talent Coordinators, says.

The Lombard-based company books entertainment at about 50 suburban venues, such as TC Sports Pub in Oak Lawn.

After a security guard allegedly used pepper spray at the E2 Chicago nightclub on Feb. 17, 21 people were trampled to death.

And a week ago today, at least 97 people died after pyrotechnics at a Great White show in West Warwick, R.I., resulted in a fire that engulfed The Station nightclub in three minutes.

Manheim is quite familiar with Great White, a band that United Talent booked at Shark City in Glendale Heights and Sean Kaley's in Lemont last month.

An attendee at the Jan. 31 Lemont show, he says "a couple of sparklers" were used.

"What happened in Rhode Island was one of those freak accidents. (Great White singer) Jack Russell did his pyro at Sean Kaley's and there wasn't a problem," Manheim says.

He adds that the E2 incident involved security measures that are not the norm.

"A lot of clubs that I work with, I have never known them to pepper spray anyone. I thought that was something that probably added fuel to the fire," Manheim says.

"My biggest hope," he adds, noting an already struggling industry, "is that this doesn't make everyone paranoid about going out, having a good time and seeing bands they want to see.

"If you really think about it, ... how many nightclubs there are, how many bands have played and how little incidents of this magnitude (are), it's a small minority."

Still, the nightclub tragedies are impacting the local scene.

Citing a lawyer's recommendation, one talent coordinator, who books entertainment at south suburban and Chicago venues, declined to comment.

Meanwhile, club owners, such as J.J. Kelley's Vince Kelley, say they expect to see more fire marshals checking occupancy codes, fire systems and exits.

But Kelley says adequate preparation can prevent the mass panic that occurred at E2 and The Station.

"You're in an area with Champs (in Burbank), O'Malley's (in Alsip), Oasis One-Sixty (in Chicago Heights) and me (in Lansing)," he says.

"The more prominent clubs are very well staffed and very well equipped. They know how to handle situations that come up."

Among the situations that J.J. Kelley's has seen are pyrotechnics at shows by Kiss tribute bands Strutter and Kiss Army.

"I've done flash pots. In 15 years I've done them 50 times and I've never had a problem," he says.

Kelley adds that his venue has a fire retardant ceiling and a sprinkler system, and technicians have experimented outside with pyrotechnics prior to using the effects indoors.

Despite safely using pyrotechnics at some of its shows, Kiss tribute band Kings of the Nighttime World says it no longer plans to use the effect.

"We did fests outside last summer that did have pyro, and all the permits and stuff were granted in advance," says Jay LaSalle, who portrays Kiss singer Paul Stanley in the group.

"Given the last incident that occurred ... everybody is going to look at pyrotechnics and overcrowded conditions a whole lot differently and, in a sense, that's good for us.

"We won't have to do (pyro) and everyone will understand why."

LaSalle, whose band has performed at the former J.D. Batts in Blue Island and recently closed Sluggers in Orland Park, says he hopes concertgoers will be more aware of their surroundings.

Pointing out that concert promoters Jam Productions were announcing exit locations prior to performances over the weekend, he says, "Maybe it will be up to club managers or one of the performers to stand up and say, 'Note the exits.'

"That may become a standard security procedure that I really don't think anyone is going to object to anymore."