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Guitar, Drums, Bass - Norbert
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Every great band has a car song. The Beach Boys "Little Deuce Coupe", Deep Purple "Highway Star", Prince "Little Red Corvette" and now "pale Blue Dream Machine" by the Fingolstones Firemen.
The song was written and sung by Norbert who also played all the instruments. It's a deeply personal song for Norbert who back in the late 80's was the proud owner of a pale blue Vauxhall Chevette. The actual name of the colour of this stunning piece of engineering is unknown but it soon came to be know as "disabled blue" due to it's similarity to the 3 wheeled invalid carriages once prevalent on the roads of Great Britain and often to be seen parked by the side of the pitch on 1970's episodes on Match Of The Day. With a straight 6 (er hum) 1198cc engine, the Chevette was a miracle of 1970's British engineering. It's predecessor was of course the famous Vauxhall Viva so beloved of the Fingolstones musical heroes The Macc Lads. Norbert particular model boasted a stereo radio cassette player, faux leather vinyl seats and massive 14" wheels. It could reach a top speed of 96mph (going down Slack Hill with a strong wind behind it). Norbert and the possee got up to many scrapes and adventures in the Chevette, this despite a tendency to break down at the most inopportune moments. For example whilst heading to Southampton to watch Vinny Jones make his debut in a Sheffield Utd shirt it broke down at junction 29 of the M1, Heath. Then whilst Norbert and Dobba were travelling to London to meet some birds they had previously met in top Chesterfield night spot "The Moulin Rouge", it broke down in the fast lane of the M1 near to the M25 turn off and Dobba had to risk his life pushing it to get it started again. Despite these minor faults the Chevette always came good in the end and Southampton was successfully reached and the London birds successfully courted (by Dobba that is, Norbert failed miserably). Norberts Chevette gained many bumps and bruises during it's time in Norberts "care". Opening the drivers door on the hard shoulder of the M5 led to it being almost ripped off it's hinges by the blast of air from a passing juggernaught. Chris Radfords Fiat felt the full force of being rammed from behind whilst manoeuvring in Stockport after a Spireites match at Bolton (resulting in the Chevettes headlights pointing into the sky all the way home. Then there was the time Dobba decided it would be a good idea to kick it thus putting a large dent in the front wing, driving down Slack Hill with a balloon tied to the radio aerial resulted in the aerial being snapped off. The exhaust fell off at least twice, once whilst driving down the Chesterfield by pass and rust was a constant irritation. Despite all these problems the Chevvy served it's purpose and provided the principal mode of transport for many a possee night out. The song itself is a hard rocking number very similar to early Pearl Jam. In fact it's often described as the greatest song Eddie Vedder never wrote. It's hard grungy sound has garnered many fans and uber critic Paul "Goffy" Gofton had this to say: "Hmm that's actually quite good". |
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