Six firefighters from Newtown are hoping for a Christmas charts number one hit as part of The Fire Tones single being released today.
Firefighters from Newtown, Welshpool and other parts of the UK have produced the single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas,’ a stunning version of the Band Aid original, as reported in recent weeks by our sister site MyWelshpool.
The idea was floated by Welshpool firefighter Chris Birdsell-Jones. One year on and the dream has become a reality with the brilliant remake featuring more than 40 firefighters from across the UK who came together last month in Birmingham to record.
You can watch the YouTube version by clicking here. The video was posted onto YouTube yesterday and in less than 24 hours it has passed 30,000 views.
The Newtown firefighters involved are watch manager, Paul Armes, station manager, Mike Evison, station manager, Dave Latham, group manager, Rob Raynor and community safety assistant. Hannah Shuker.
Meanwhile, one of the creators of Band Aid has given his personal endorsement to The Fire Tones.
Midge Ure, who started Band Aid with Bob Geldof, said last night: “Congratulations to The Fire Tones on their version of ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’. Forty true heroes getting to raise money for not only The Band Aid Trust but also for The Firefighters Charity.”
He went on to wish them “all the luck in the world” in his statement.
The premiere of the single will take place at the official switch on of Welshpool’s Christmas lights this evening when the firefighters will perform.
“It has all come together so quickly over the last couple of weeks but it has been a massive team effort,” said Chris.
“We needed to have the CDs at Sony in London for 7pm on Friday but they were still in Austria where they were being produced on Thursday night,” said Chris, who feared they would miss their window of opportunity for the initial batch to reach Amazon and HMV ready for this weekend’s launch. “We managed to have them delivered by 6.50pm!”
The CD will be available to buy this weekend in town but pre-orders can also be made through Amazon where there is a snippet of the song as a taster. It will also be available through the usual channels including iTunes and Spotify.
When initial news of the single was broken last month, The Fire Tones were installed as favourites for the coveted Christmas No 1 slot, but they have been knocked off that perch by Elton John, thanks to his £7 million advert push from John Lewis.
While attention seems to be on the top spot, Chris is realistic and remains focussed on the charitable side of the project.
“We are doing this to raise money for two fantastic causes,” he said. “I’m over the moon to have worked with such a talented group of people, and I feel proud and honoured to have been involved with such a fantastic project, whatever we manage to raise.”
The Fire Tones would like to thank the CD sponsors for making it possible: Mike Harris, The New Saints FC and VCW Security as well as RoQ Recruitment.