Great White Singer 'Cooperating Fully' With R.I. Grand Jury, Club Bought Flammable Soundproofing

03/03/2003 4:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Bruce Simon

Great White frontman Jack Russell is "cooperating fully" with the Rhode Island grand jury investigating the fire that killed 98 people at The Station nightclub. However, his attorneys haven't ruled out a request for immunity as things move forward. Russell did not appear before the grand jury on Friday (February 28), although he was on site, and his local attorney, Neil Philbin, told AP, "Mr. Russell has been cooperative and he'll continue to be cooperative and helpful to the department in any way."

Philbin initially raised the issue of immunity, and neither he nor Russell's lawyer in Los Angeles, Ed McPherson, would rule out such a request. Philbin said there had been discussions between the office of Rhode Island's attorney general and Russell's lawyers, and McPherson said, "I can't tell you what we're going to do in the future, but we're cooperating fully right now, and that's what everyone should be doing...Jack and the rest of the band have done everything they've been required to do by the attorney general. They've been fully cooperative."

Calls to Philbin were not returned.

Like Russell, Great White drummer Eric Powers was also subpoenaed to appear. His attorney, Peter DiBiase, said his client had "discharged his obligation to the grand jury."

In related news, it's been learned that The Station bought cheap foam for sound insulation that was not flame-resistant. Investigators have taken samples from American Foam Corporation in nearby Johnston, and company president Aram DerManouelian says he sold the club 25 sheets of what he described as egg-crate packaging material for $575 in June 2000, according to AP. He called the foam "the lowest grade, the cheapest stuff," adding, "They asked for egg-crate material and that's what we sold them. It's good packaging material. You just can't light it on fire."

DerManouelian said he also sells fire-retardant packing foam, but "it costs about twice as much." The firm doesn't sell soundproofing insulation, only packaging material.

-- Bruce Simon, New York

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