During live performances and in the black and white promotional television clip, Brown performed the song wearing a burning helmet. The helmet was improvised with a leather skull cap onto which was bolted a metal dish that held lighter fluid or petrol. As the cap was not insulated, the heat from the burning fuel quickly conducted through the fixing bolt to the top of Brown's head, causing him considerable pain.
Versions
Two studio mixes of "Fire" have been officially released, one in stereo and one in mono. The mono mix features no brass. Both versions are included on the CD reissue of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. The single B-side, "Rest Cure", was another track from the album.
Composition
The song is an example of the psychedelic rock of the period, though its lack of guitars or bass guitar distinguished it from many of its contemporaries. The lead instrument in this case was Vincent Crane's Hammond organ, augmented by an orchestral section featuring prominent brass. The singer's opening proclamation "I am the God of Hellfire" became a lasting catchphrase. The song ends with the sound of a wind from Hell along with one of Brown's trademark banshee screams. Credit for the composition of "Fire" on the original vinyl single was to Arthur Brown and Vincent Crane only; however, Mike Finesilver and Peter Ker successfully sued for co-credit and royalties based on melodic similarities to their song "Baby, You're a Long Way Behind".
Chart performance
The single reached number one in the United Kingdom in August 1968 and in Canada in October. Also in October, it reached number two on the US BillboardHot 100 and number 19 in Australia. It also reached number three in Germany, number four in France, number six in the Netherlands, number seven in Austria, number eight in Ireland, and number 18 in Finland. "Fire" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.
Personnel
In Ronnie Wood's radioshow of 14 November 2011, both Wood and Alice Cooper claim that the bass is performed by Ron Wood, but Polly Marshall's biography of Arthur Brown states that "According to the-faces.com, Ronnie claims he played on the Track Records studio sessions recording Fire, but he must have confused it with the BBC session ." There is no bass guitar on the recording, only bass pedals.
Yuya Uchida & The Flowers recorded a cover during sessions for their 1969 album Challenge!, but it was not released until it was included as a bonus track on a 2007 limited edition.
Pete Townshend, the single's associate producer, covered the song on his album .
