Hundreds Die in Brazilian Nightclub Fire

Firefighters try to put out the nightclub fire.Germano Roratto/AFP/Getty Images

More than 230 people were killed in a fire that raged through a nightclub in Brazil early Sunday morning, the Associated Press reports. The majority of the victims were local students, who had packed the Kiss club in the university city of Santa Maria.

According to witnesses, the fire began shortly after 2 a.m., during a set by the local band Gurizada Fandangueira, when a flare from the band's pyrotechnic display ignited the soundproofing on the ceiling. The band's guitarist, Rodrigo Martins, told a Brazilian radio station that the group was around five songs into its set when he noticed that the roof was burning. "It might have happened because of the Sputnik, the machine we use to create a luminous effect with sparks," Martins said. "It's harmless, we never had any trouble with it." Martins escaped safely with four of his bandmates, but their accordion player, Danilo Jacques, died in the blaze.

Victims of the nightclub fire receive medical assistance in Santa Maria, Brazil.Germano Roratto/AFP/Getty Images

An official with the city's fire department said that the club's security guards had locked the exits, hampering escape and adding to the panic. As of Sunday afternoon, 232 people had been declared dead, making it the deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade.

For many, the incident brings to mind the deadly Rhode Island blaze that broke out in 2003, when pyrotechnics during a set by the band Great White ignited soundproofing on the walls and ceiling. As a result of the incident, which took 100 lives, Rhode Island banned pyrotechnic displays in all but the state's largest venues. 

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Hundreds Die in Brazilian Nightclub Fire

Firefighters try to put out the nightclub fire.Germano Roratto/AFP/Getty Images

More than 230 people were killed in a fire that raged through a nightclub in Brazil early Sunday morning, the Associated Press reports. The majority of the victims were local students, who had packed the Kiss club in the university city of Santa Maria.

According to witnesses, the fire began shortly after 2 a.m., during a set by the local band Gurizada Fandangueira, when a flare from the band's pyrotechnic display ignited the soundproofing on the ceiling. The band's guitarist, Rodrigo Martins, told a Brazilian radio station that the group was around five songs into its set when he noticed that the roof was burning. "It might have happened because of the Sputnik, the machine we use to create a luminous effect with sparks," Martins said. "It's harmless, we never had any trouble with it." Martins escaped safely with four of his bandmates, but their accordion player, Danilo Jacques, died in the blaze.

Victims of the nightclub fire receive medical assistance in Santa Maria, Brazil.Germano Roratto/AFP/Getty Images

An official with the city's fire department said that the club's security guards had locked the exits, hampering escape and adding to the panic. As of Sunday afternoon, 232 people had been declared dead, making it the deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade.

For many, the incident brings to mind the deadly Rhode Island blaze that broke out in 2003, when pyrotechnics during a set by the band Great White ignited soundproofing on the walls and ceiling. As a result of the incident, which took 100 lives, Rhode Island banned pyrotechnic displays in all but the state's largest venues. 

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Hundreds Gather for the Funeral of Etta James

Stevie Wonder performs at the funeral service of Etta James in Gardena, California.REUTERS /JONATHAN ALCORN /LANDOV

Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their last respects to Etta James as the R&B legend was buried today in Los Angeles.

The service was held at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena. A widely-attended public viewing took place on Friday at the Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary, where fans waited for hours to bid farewell to the singer, who died on January 20 at the age of 73.

The Reverend Al Sharpton presided over the funeral, opening by delivering a message from President Barack Obama, who famously danced with the First Lady to James’ song "At Last" during his first inaugural ball.

"Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation's musical heritage," Obama's statement read. "I know she will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her."

Stevie Wonder performed with a church choir, singing "Shelter in the Rain," "The Lord's Prayer," and playing a harmonica solo.

"Out of all the singers that I've ever heard, she was the one that cut right to my soul and spoke to me," Christina Aguilera told the audience, before singing "At Last."

 U.S. Rep Maxine Waters was also there to offer some words of remembrance.

"Etta is special to me and for me, because she represents the life, the triumphs, the tribulations of a lot of black women all over this world," Waters said. "It does not matter who sang 'At Last' before or after Etta. It does not matter when it was sung, or where it was sung. 'At Last' was branded by Etta, the raunchy diva – that's her signature and we will always remember her."

In his eulogy, Sharpton described James’ incredible rise from poverty and addiction.

"The genius of Etta James is she flipped the script," Sharpton said, and praised her for helping break down racial barriers through her music. "She was able to get us on the same rhythms and humming the same ballads and understanding each other's melodies way before we could even use the same hotels.”

"At last, you can find peace now!” Sharpton concluded. “At last, you can get the gratitude of the savior now. Etta, you made it, you're going home. At last! At last! At last!"

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Hundreds Gather for the Funeral of Etta James

Stevie Wonder performs at the funeral service of Etta James in Gardena, California.REUTERS /JONATHAN ALCORN /LANDOV

Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their last respects to Etta James as the R&B legend was buried today in Los Angeles.

The service was held at Greater Bethany Community Church City of Refuge in Gardena. A widely-attended public viewing took place on Friday at the Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary, where fans waited for hours to bid farewell to the singer, who died on January 20 at the age of 73.

The Reverend Al Sharpton presided over the funeral, opening by delivering a message from President Barack Obama, who famously danced with the First Lady to James’ song "At Last" during his first inaugural ball.

"Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation's musical heritage," Obama's statement read. "I know she will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her."

Stevie Wonder performed with a church choir, singing "Shelter in the Rain," "The Lord's Prayer," and playing a harmonica solo.

"Out of all the singers that I've ever heard, she was the one that cut right to my soul and spoke to me," Christina Aguilera told the audience, before singing "At Last."

 U.S. Rep Maxine Waters was also there to offer some words of remembrance.

"Etta is special to me and for me, because she represents the life, the triumphs, the tribulations of a lot of black women all over this world," Waters said. "It does not matter who sang 'At Last' before or after Etta. It does not matter when it was sung, or where it was sung. 'At Last' was branded by Etta, the raunchy diva – that's her signature and we will always remember her."

In his eulogy, Sharpton described James’ incredible rise from poverty and addiction.

"The genius of Etta James is she flipped the script," Sharpton said, and praised her for helping break down racial barriers through her music. "She was able to get us on the same rhythms and humming the same ballads and understanding each other's melodies way before we could even use the same hotels.”

"At last, you can find peace now!” Sharpton concluded. “At last, you can get the gratitude of the savior now. Etta, you made it, you're going home. At last! At last! At last!"

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

Amazon Music and MP3 Center

Read more »