“Unfortunately, since this video was posted, 2 more members of The Fireplace have died. Trevor Green, the keyboard player died in 2011, and Jon Barlow, the drummer, in 2014. Jon Barlow carved out quite an acting career for himself after the demise of the band and had prominent roles in Coronation Street, Making Out and Brookside. Trevor, in the words of Malcolm Garret, was an 'Inspirational Figure' and is much missed.”
“Hi Malcolm. This is Jon Chamberlain here, though I use the moniker Kcid21 (don't ask me why, can't remember). A few weeks after posting this comment I heard that Trevor had died. We were both from Shropshire and lived within a few miles of each when growing up but I didn't know him until arriving at Manchester Poly. I went to his funeral which was held in the local crematorium among the leafy lanes where I used to cycle as a child. As well as Trevor, Simon Grant, the singer of Fireplace died many years ago, also Jon Barlow, the drummer, an old grammar school chum of mine who died last year. Now there's only me and Fuzz (John Foster) left of the original band so perhaps we were cursed.
Trevor also moved to Whalley Range, and I was eventually the last remaining tenant of 199. Brian Cowlishaw (remember him) used to come in every day demanding I leave and one night Trevor returned and I found him curled up in his old room, saying he couldn't remember the address of his new flat. It was around that time he became heavily involved in drugs and I believe that was really the start of his long decline which ultimately led to his mental illness and suicide.
A year or so ago I was contacted by Roger Cleghorn by email after he saw the video of Fireplace on this site and I told him about Trevor.
“Anyone remember the air-raid siren that the DJ set off if a fight broke out? Most of the time, if I remember rightly, fights were started by the bouncers just so they had someone to beat up and chuck outside.”
“Greatest gig I've ever been to. The energy and the atmosphere were electric. The Ramone's guitars kept shorting out because the condensation from all the sweaty bodies was dripping from the ceiling on to their amps - the whole crowd chanting hey-ho lets go for ten minutes before the lights blazed on and they fired up with Blitzkrieg Bop. Other memories - the local scallies taking potshots with an air rifle at the queuing punks from the adjoining estate , oh, and Tina Weymouth was beautiful. Yes, the lights were on through Talking Heads' set, Byrne, asking for them to be switched on so he could see "all the people here."”
“Designed by Malcolm Garrett, but the idea for the bag came from Trevor Green, keyboard player in The Fireplace (www.mdmarchive.co.uk/tag/5147/Fireplace). Malcolm was doing a BA in Commercial Art at Manchester Poly at the time and Trevor, Fine Art. Meanwhile Malcolm came up with the name Fireplace for the band as Trevor was always drawing them. We all shared a flat at 199 Wilmslow Road in Rusholme, above Cowlishaws wet fish shop. John McGeogh of Magazine/Banshees was also a tenant, as well as Judy Blame, designer, who I knew by his real name of Chris Barnes. Malcolm and John and Chris went on to fame and riches and Trevor languishes in obscurity. C'est La Vie!”
“Thanks. Though this was recorded in 1979, the first time I ever saw it was 31 years later. I was sure it would have been lost forever! It's weird watching yourself for the first time as a 21 year old when you're now in your fifties. I am the guitarist. Unfortunately Simon, the singer, died 4 years ago so he never got to see it. He was my close friend so watching it now brings a lump to my throat. For more Fireplace songs go to my youtube channel here: www.youtube.com/user/21kcid?feature=m...”
“Note: this pass is made out to Simon Grant, who was Fireplace's singer. Simon seemed to know everyone in the Manchester music scene at this time, particularly Alan Wise, Rob Gretton and Dick Witts. Unfortunately, Simon died in March of 2007 from cancer. RIP.”
“I remember Magazine's first live performance at the Electric Circus, and then their first proper gig at Rafters. But I could have sworn this was 1977. It seems amazing that over a year passed between their first and second gigs, plus I was at art school with John, Magazine's guitarist (RIP), and I distinctly remember lending him my guitar for H Devoto to use and him returning the guitar to me the next day, but by October 1978 we had left college and I didn't see John for another 3 years. So I'm convinced this is 77.”
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