New Model Army’s studio ‘destroyed’ by fire
The Bradford studio of post-punk veterans New Model Army has been left devastated by a fire.
The blaze left the studio’s roof collapsed and caused extensive fire, smoke and water damage, according to Pro Sound News.
Drum kits, an organ and guitars were all amongst the wreckage. However, some items were salvaged – as singer Justin Sullivan revealed on the band’s blog, in a post titled ‘Fire destroys NMA studio’.
“We have lost our entire studio set-up – desk, microphones, recording gear etc – and many irreplaceable instruments including Michael’s Tama and vintage Gretsch kits and Robert’s priceless old Slingerland,” he said. “Gone is Michael’s entire snare drum collection, eight guitars including a Les Paul, the Phew that Dean plays live and a vintage Epiphone acoustic, a 1960s C3 Hammond organ, a harmonium, a vintage EDP Wasp synthesiser and a huge number of our most favourite instruments, large and small.
“HOWEVER we were lucky that we had just returned from the short run of Christmas shows and that most of our touring equipment was still cased and stacked up. It is amazing what can be pulled out of totally melted flightcases and, with varying degrees of smoke and water damage, we have salvaged Justin’s Lowden, his favourite SG and Vox AC30 and parts of Michael’s touring kit while none of Marshall’s guitars or Nelson’s touring bass were in the studio at the time of the fire.
“We are hoping that our Insurance claim will be relatively straightforward although it is too early to say for sure. Meanwhile, in the true ‘Spirit Of The Mill’, an army of volunteers helped us to fill five skips full of charred remains, while work has already begun on fixing the roof.
“We would like to thank everyone who has written to us with messages of support and offers to loan gear. We have honestly been amazed and humbled by this response. Our gratitude and respect goes out to all of you. And lastly, but certainly not least, we’d like to thank the firefighters who contained the fire and saved the Mill (and even some of our equipment) in difficult and dangerous conditions.”
Source: Music Week
