Fogerty concert smokin’ despite fire scare

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This article was published 18/07/2022 (257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

JOHN Fogerty won’t soon forget his latest concert in Winnipeg.

The California rocker and his band were staying in the Fairmont Winnipeg when fire broke out in a restaurant in the concourse beneath the hotel Sunday night, shortly before the former Creedence Clearwater Revival front man was scheduled to take the stage at Canada Life Centre.

One firefighter had to be treated at the scene for heat-related injuries.

Melissa Dragich, a publicist for Fogerty, said on Monday the band was fine.

“They were in the process of getting ready for the show when the alarm started to sound,” she said.

“They thought maybe it was a malfunction or test as the (air conditioning) was out in the hotel as it was, and it was over 90 F (32 C) in their room.”

Dragich said Fogerty’s son Shane — who plays in the band along with his younger brother, Tyler — called to say he had already evacuated from his room and that his dad should, too.

“He had already walked down the 14 flights, and there was smoke in the stairwell,” she said. “John and his wife, Julie, followed suit and left for the stairs with none of his show gear in hand.

“They got out OK and arrived at the venue safely, but without John’s stage clothes — or even his shoes. He was almost going to borrow the promoters’ shoes for the show, but with the fire out… his tour manager was able to safely make it back there and retrieve his show things in time,” Dragich said. “Very stressful, to say the least.”

Dragich said Fogerty, whose hits with CCR include Proud Mary and Fortunate Son, said he forgot about the snafu as soon as he hit the stage.

“He saw the smiling faces of the fans in the crowd, and it turned out to be one of the best shows in years,” she said.

“I was told by his wife, Julie, it will probably go down as one of his Top 10 shows ever.”

Fogerty briefly mentioned the incident between songs during the concert.

Dragich said the band decided to switch hotels because of the lack of air conditioning.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service said crews found smoke inside the hotel and the concourse below at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

Firefighters found the fire in a restaurant in the concourse, which crews quickly brought under control.

Fairmont manager Aryanne Lu said guests had to briefly evacuate the hotel until firefighters said they could go back in because the blaze was not in the building.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca