The Fireman webcast

Paul McCartney made his first public “appearance” since his wife Linda’s death in April 1998, to promote The Fireman’s second album, a collaboration with Youth. On October 2, 1998, he featured in a 72-minute webcast from Abbey Road Studio One.

Disguised, Paul answered cryptic questions with enigmatic responses and performed “live remix” sessions of ‘Palo Verde,’ ‘Bison,’ and ‘Fluid,’ which included twenty-one minutes of ‘Palo Verde.’ The performance showcased the CD’s original loops with added guitar, bass, keyboard, and vocal overdubs.

The webcast streamed at 21-32kbs without a proper capture. Only a subpar audio recording and a few still photos remain, leaving the video unavailable.

This was one of the most bizarre, avant garde things I have ever seen. It lasted about 70-minutes.

For those who couldn’t see it or hear it, here is a brief description:

Paul was disguised wearing a big floppy yellow rain hat, a black ski mask with an opening for his nose and eyes which he covered with sunglasses the whole time. He wore headphones over the hat and had on a black short-sleeved T- shirt and black pants. His mouth was covered part of the time. He stood in a far dark corner almost motionless except for his hands playing the left-handed guitar. The video was soft-focused and moved constantly. At times you could see one stationary video camera on a tripod and one being handheld, pointed at Paul.

He played electric lead guitar (Epiphone Casino), whistled (used a device of some sort), sang some and played keyboards live to the ‘Rushes’ music. Shots of him playing the Hofner bass intercut from pre-recorded footage was used with other camera shots of the room and photo stills.

It appeared that Paul was actually playing live guitar, keyboards and whistle to the “Rushes” album as it was remixed live by Youth who was never seen.

The visual stuff was fuzzy and jump-cut (MTV style) with some photos from the album, a different nude photo was shown of a blonde women lying on a bed or cot holding a white stuffed fuzzy animal. Special camera-effect overlays of objects and photos covered the “live Paul” and the set which was a psychedelic ’60s looking room (dimly lit) with a couch, next to a table with two candles and some sort of crystal object. A white spotlight sprinkled the background intermittently as well as colored lights. At times you could see Paul almost clearly. There were lots of closeup shots of his hands playing the guitar with the “strobe effect” of delayed timing. Very prominent were his two wedding bands. A toy penguin was repeatedly shown as well as a small sculpture (or toy) of the Fireman that appears on the album (logo). At times you would see a graphic on the screen that said, “Oh Yeah!” More photos were seen of females: one with just the top of her head showing and another sitting in a lotus position.

The questions were asked  halfway through (no cyber-chat, those were questions by e-mail only) by a woman sitting on the couch, possibly the same woman who appeared on the album. The video part cleared up and became closer to ‘real-time’ video. Someone off-camera asked the questions, then a piece of paper was given to the woman with the answer on it. She would read it and then the next question would be asked and answered in the same way. It seemed very informal. One question was asked about not having a naked man on the album, (see transcript) as a black-and-white photo popped up on the screen of a naked man with a hat over his private parts. Then at some point Paul as the “Fireman” sat on the couch with her and did some typical Paul gesturing with his hands including a thumbs up as she spoke. So if you didn’t think it was Paul before, this was the confirmation (what a silly man!) The questions lasted less than 10-minutes. Paul’s (The Fireman’s) answers were very puzzling and sometimes obscure adding to the bizarre persona of the Fireman. He never spoke.

After the chat he resumed playing the guitar as the camera zoomed in closer. This continued for the next half-hour and as the cybercast neared the end, a pink graphic with blue lettering appeared on the screen that said, “The Fireman Loves You.” Paul could be heard in the background saying, “Thank you for coming!” His voice was obscured and sounded distant.

All and all I loved every minute of it.

Review by Jorie Gracen – Taken from Rushes – CD sleeve

Transcript of the Q & A – Transcription by Mike Kovacich (contributions by Jorie Gracen and Jane P. Rucker) (Taken from Rushes – CD sleeve):

Q: How do you like other contemporary rock or techno-artists like Prodigy, Marilyn Manson, Smashing Pumpkins, or Nine Inch Nails?
A: We like Prodigy at breakfast, Marilyn Manson for tea, and Nine Inch Nails for bedtime.

Q: adriangarciasierra@iname.com asks, I want to know why Palo Verde has a name, it is in Spanish, sorry I don’t speak good English.
A: Neh, neh, you speak good. Palo Verde is green tree found where no tree grow.

Q: SallieAnnBrink@courier.net asks why no naked man. Over half of us want one of them too.
A: Show us the money. We go all the way.

Q: vega3@aol.com asks, Is the CD being released in the US and when will the fireman play live?
A: Yes to the US, live depends on the seasonal cycles.

Q: JessicaRuthouse@campus.tdl asks, What does Rushes music desire to symbolize to the people?
A: Rushes desires only the fertility of the imagination.

Q: roryborwon@aol.com asks, What originally inspired these recordings?
A: Inspiration is derived from the cosmic creative force of the univeral fire.

Q: AngelaConiver@aol.com asks, How do you classify your music?
A: Ambient dreams in rainbow arches describe the circles of the Fireman

Q: carol@aol.com asks, What is the significance of the naked woman on the inner sleeve of Rushes?
A: The symbolism of the unknown naked woman is an ancient mystery. We do not have her number.

Q: denniswillard@interavenue.net asks, What inspired you to do this album?
A: Night skies, flowing streams and whipped cream fire extinguishers.

Q: jane@voicenet.com asks, What is the fireman’s musical bent and where did he learn to play so fluidly.
A: Hidden in the Rushes, the Fireman smooths his bent hose daily.

Q: jpftd@aol.com asks Maybe I’m just not deep enough but I just don’t get the Web Page. Could you explain?
A: The purpose is to meet you at your fireplace.

Q: EricLensing@aristotle.net asks, How many instruments were used in making Rushes?
A: Countless numbers

Q: EileenNeff@capital.net asks, Are the sounds of the horses on Paulo Verde taped from your horses?
A: Live wild horses rushed past our mike. They are owned by no one.

Q: Snoopy@aol.com asks, How did the Fireman get his nickname?
A: The Fireman is no nickname – simply a warm place in the head.

Q: bob.alaska@kpfd asks, What would you consider the best listening conditions for the new music?
A: Best conditions vary from planet to planet.

Q: jjules@interaccess.com asks, So what is Fireman? You said we wouldn’t believe… briefs, boxers, union shorts; non-women edibles?
A: The answer is… what is your question Oh naked one?

Q: shaggdas@aol.com asks, A clue to the new direction? Can we expect more of the same?
A: More of the same would involve less of the rest.

Q: henrickasweden@sweden.gu.se asks, Is it your intention for the music to be played when people relax and what is influenced by you?
A: News of cosmic relaxation influence all decisions made by the burning man.

Q: carol@cnf .canal.edu asks, Does the sentence “The Fireman is no mason” use an anagram to say ‘The Fireman is soon man’ ?
A: No, no sam, it ain’t no anagram.

Q: sheonKiss@aol.com asks, How is your belly for spots?
A: The Fireman’s belly is clear and facing towards a bright future.

Setlist for the concert

1. Watercolour Guitars

   Written by Paul McCartney, Youth

2. Palo Verde

   Written by Paul McCartney, Youth

3. Bison

   Written by Paul McCartney, Youth

4. Fluid

   Written by Paul McCartney, Youth

5. Appletree Cinnabar Amber

   Written by Paul McCartney, Youth

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