'VH1 Classic Presents: AFTERMATH: The Station Fire Five Years Later'

One-Hour Special Premieres Easter Sunday, March 23 10:00 p.m.* On VH1 Classic and VH1

NEW YORK, March 11 -- VH1 Classic and VH1 premiere "VH1 Classic Presents: AFTERMATH: The Station Fire Five Years Later," a one-hour special that will incorporate concert highlights from the Phoenix Rising! Musicians United to Benefit the Victims of the Station Nightclub Fire, which took place on February 25 in Providence, Rhode Island, and interviews from the music fans who survived the horrific fire five years ago.

Premiering Sunday March 23 at 10:00 p.m., "VH1 Classic Presents: AFTERMATH: The Station Fire Five Years Later," interweaves performances from the benefit concert hosted by Dee Snider with on-camera stories from the survivors of the fire, who share their first-hand experiences of what happened that night five years ago. Brett Michaels opens the documentary, taking the audience back to the site of the fire that now stands as a memorial.

The concert features Twisted Sister (Dee Snider, Jay Jay French, Eddie "Fingers" Ojeda, Mark "The Animal" Mendoza, A.J. Pero) and Tesla (Jeff Keith, Brian Wheat, Frank Hannon, Dave Rude and concert co-organizer Troy Luccketta), Aaron Lewis from Staind, Winger, and Eric Martin from Mr. Big. In addition, country music lends a hand to rock and roll with sets from John Rich (Big & Rich) and Friends, featuring Gretchen Wilson and Dierks Bentley.

Ultimately, "VH1 Classic Presents: AFTERMATH: The Station Fire Five Years Later," is a continuation of the effort to raise awareness about the plight of the Station fire survivors. These music fans now bear traumatic mental and physical scars from the events of that night. 100 lives were lost in the fire, 200 others seriously injured. 65 children lost one or both parents and five years later, only 15 survivors qualify for Social Security benefits, insurance policies are depleted and many are still unable to meet their basic monthly needs such as heat, electricity and rent. Many survivors are unable to work due to their injuries, which include missing limbs, blindness, and severe lung damage from smoke inhalation. Their medical bills are continuous and astronomical due to these badly burned victims requiring care for the rest of their lives.

The Station Family Fund was founded by five survivors of the February 17, 2003 fire to provide financial support for medical treatment, rehabilitation and household expenses for survivors and their families and is understandably in continual need of financial replenishment.

All of the proceeds from the concert ticket sales, charity auctions and direct donations to the fund go direct to the Station Family Fund, a non-profit 501 (C) (3) charitable organization. To donate to the Station Family Fund and to find out more about their work, please visit: http://www.stationfamilyfund.org.

Launched in May 2000, VH1 Classic is a 24-hour network that present videos, concerts and music specials all day long, featuring the best of rock, soul and pop artists from the 60's, 70's, 80's and the early 90's including The Beatles, The Stones, Tina Turner, Led Zeppelin, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Stevie Wonder, The Police and many more. Learn more at http://www.vh1classic.com.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

*All times ET/PT

SOURCE VH1
http://www.vh1.com http://www.vh1classic.com http://www.stationfamilyfund.org