Bellingham's Rogue Hero to end live music Dec. 1

ZOE FRALEY - THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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BELLINGHAM - Come December, things are going to be a lot quieter at The Rogue Hero, a downtown bar. After Dec. 1, the North State Street bar will no longer host live music, said owner Steve Duthie.

He's pulling the plug because of a state law that requires nightclubs to have fire sprinkler systems installed by Dec. 1. The law came about after a deadly fire in 2003 during a Great White concert at a club in Rhode Island.

The Rogue doesn't have sprinklers, and Duthie doesn't plan on getting them installed.

"It's very pricey and it doesn't happen very fast," said Duthie, who owns the bar but not the building. "It doesn't make sense to invest that kind of money for a business right now."

Duthie has no plans to close the bar, but to avoid being considered a nightclub under the sprinkler law, he has to stop offering live music.

"I'm bummed about that," he said. "At this point it will just be a normal bar with pool tables and a jukebox. It's definitely not going to be what it used to be."