From Shropshire pub to national television – The Fire Tones make This Morning
A version of Do they Know its Christmas sung by firefighters, including some from Shropshire and mid Wales, appeared on national television in a bid to claim the number one spot in the charts.
Four members of The Fire Tones appeared on This Morning alongside Rochelle Humes and Phillip Schofield to plug their Christmas cover.
Organiser and veteran firefighter Chris Birdsell-Jones, 50, from Welshpool, said bookies had slashed odds on the feel-good festive tune making it to the top of the charts this Christmas.
His comments come after the band got the backing of Band Aid founders Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, as well as the seal of approval from PM Teresa May.
Organiser and veteran firefighter Chris Birdsell-Jones, 50, from Welshpool, said bookies had slashed odds on the feel-good festive tune making it to the top of the charts this Christmas.
“To have the support of somebody like Sir Bob Geldof is remarkable," he said. "The song is so poignant.
“We were offered the original backing track for the Band Aid song, but out of respect to the original artists, we chose to create our own. How could we replace the iconic voices of George Michael and Boy George? We never wanted it to be a karaoke version, we always wanted to be respectful and never replace them.”
A band of 40 firefighters came together to record the single earlier this year after Chris dreamed up the idea during a night in the pub.
Unique bond
The group were joined by a host of X Factor veterans including Marc Higgins and Richard Ryan to record the track in Birmingham.
The 40-strong group hope to raise thousands for two good causes, the Band Aid Trust and the Firefighters Charity.
Chris said that some colleagues travelled from across the country to join the group for the single's recording.
The entire group had not met before their studio session so the moving effort created a unique bond between each firefighter.
The single is set to raise money for the Firefighters Charity and the Band Aid Charity Trust.
“The idea came after we went out for a meal with other firefighters in Welshpool in December last year and went out to a local bar," Chris said. "People were putting music on the jukebox and when all the money ran out, the original Band Aid song came on.
“As we sat there everyone in the bar was singing along or tapping the bar it got me wondering if we could do something for charity. It was a no-brainer to try and do a charity single - but when I said it out loud, everyone told me I was dreaming.
"A couple of days later there was a film on called ‘Daddy’s Home 2’ and the song is on the soundtrack so I took it as a sign and got to work."
Prime Minister Theresa May is also backing the campaign and was spotted with their teddy bear mascot and also has a copy of the physical single.
The single is available in HMV as well as on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon music.
