Two musicians who once fronted rival bands in Burton upon Trent's vibrant 1980s music scene have reunited decades later to release a special Christmas single for charity.
A Musical Reunion Decades in the Making
Mark, formerly of indie group The JFKs, has joined forces with Steve from the band Flamehead to co-write and produce an uplifting festive track titled 'Coming Home'. The collaboration began after a chance meeting at a local gig, where they discovered their shared, enduring passion for music more than thirty years after their original bands were active.
The project gained another layer of local musical heritage when Jo Doran, a former member of Burton indie legends The Telescopes, offered guest vocals. Jo got involved after seeing the project on social media and attending Flamehead's first reunion gig, which sparked nostalgic conversations about their shared past.
Charity Work Driven by Personal Experience
All proceeds from the single will be donated to two causes: Treetops Hospice and the Stroke Association. For Mark, supporting Treetops is profoundly personal, as both of his parents received end-of-life care there.
"Treetops didn't just look after each of my parents – they looked after the whole family," Mark explained. "When everything felt uncertain, the nurses were there to reassure us and guide us through what was happening next."
He added that creating the song felt like a natural way to give back. "Supporting Treetops with this song felt like the most natural thing in the world... We're hoping to raise as much money as possible for both charities through the downloads and streams of the song."
Supporting Vital Local Services
The funds raised will provide crucial support for the charities' work. Last year alone, the Treetops nursing team supported more than 2,000 patients, delivering over 34,000 hours of end-of-life care. Their bereavement counselling services accounted for more than 5,000 hours, including over 1,500 sessions specifically for children and young people.
The festive single, 'Coming Home', is now available to purchase and download online for £1 or more via the Bandcamp platform. The former rivals-turned-collaborators hope their track will spread holiday cheer while generating essential financial support for these vital local and national services.
