Pedro Vila

I’m from Spain but I lived in Whitefield-Manchester around 96-98. I know Bryan from Night &Day, where we used to talk and drink and sometimes stay behind when doors were shut, he was a regular there as I was too and also sometimes we used to go to other places who served drinks until bit later like 'The Roadhouse', 'The temple of Convenience', [I recall him one morning enjoying so much that he was dancing over the tables] or also the "Ten Bar" ....fantastic nights ........... I also saw some of his performances in late 90's with 'The Mouth' [acoustic sets], although few people turned up I have to say I always enjoyed him playing live.
He was a nice fella and a charming man [and a huge Beatles fan too!] ...and he would not let me pay any drink/round.......I won’t forget his hugs everytime he meet me...they were honest ...like him .....

I will always remember last time I saw Bryan ......despite of hang around sometimes with him I was totally unaware of his collaboration with Mark Burgess on the past [I am a big Chameleons fan] and he never mentioned to me , so one early morning staying at his place [I remember perfectly that night , as it was really funny cuz he didn’t have central heating in the house then, so he was breaking to pieces the place furniture with an axe to warm up us a bit].....well the thing is while I was peeping on his record collection, I saw the 'Zima Junction ' album and ' Tony Fletcher 12" ' vinyl too [Chameleons collectors know how much it's worth] , so I asked him 'You like the Chameleons mate?' and , to my surprise , he replied ' oh yeah, I used to play with Mark in the past'.......When I told him I liked that band , he gave me without to think it twice, and after insisting me a lot, both copies and a single from 'The mouth', which were the only ones he had.... ..I won’t forget that ever. Now they are even more valuable to me.........
Wherever you are I’m sure I will meet you again.... as soon as I leave this planet earth.....

See you again brother........

Still Shocked


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Please send your memories and stories to bryaninfo@gmail.com

Martin Flanagan

Awful news. Only met Bryan a couple of times through a mutual friend but a very nice and interesting guy; also very talented. When I heard this last night I started to hear Bryan's songs off Mark Burgess' 'Zima Junction' LP go through my head...will be playing that album today.

Emma Williams

My one outstanding memory of Bryan is a beautiful vision of him flying gracefully through the air in the arms of another man ….

There was a small gathering in the Temple of Convenience, it was after hours and most people had left but Nic, myself, Bryan, Paul, Mark and Maxi were still there drinking, chatting and dancing. For those of you that have had the pleasure of dancing with Mr Glancy you will remember having your hand taken, not a word spoken, and being held and twirled to any number of songs of any tempo, usually still with your drink and cigarette in hand … it was always a joy, even if it was a little precarious.

That night enough alcoholic beverage had been consumed for “I’ve had the time of my life” to be played on the Juke box and the inevitable phrase of “catch me” was recklessly banded about. So first we had Nicole in her ungraceful state run towards Paul, his hands went around her waist and her feet, just, lifted off the floor … hmm, two attempts later and she realised that she had been defeated. As the better dancer of the two of us I decided to get up to demonstrate how in fact this should be done. I seem to remember Paul and I collapsing in a heap on the floor.

As all the boys were forced to realise falling over whilst dancing was nothing to dwell upon you just had to pick yourself up, dust a little ash off your clothing and start over. As Paul was dusting himself off and Nic and I were planning our next move, Bry had another idea. I can just imagine him now sat at the table, whiskey in hand thinking it was time to put a stop to such stupid antics. Without a word he got up, moved girls and chairs with a wave of his hand and slowly walked to the back of the Temple. He gave Paul the nod and with an incredible lightness of step he ran towards Paul, who took Bry by the waist and lifted him gracefully in to the air where Bry lay perfectly outstretched above Paul’s head before slowly being released back down to the ground. Needless to say Bry sat down without a word and resumed his whiskey drinking whilst we all sat there stunned by the beauty and grace that he had just shown us.

Hope you are dancing with the angels Bry All my

Love Em xxx

Mick Middles

“So sorry to hear that. I was off work last week so only just got your message. I liked Bryan very much...one of the old gang -I always think of the old gang being a whole bunch of people from yourself to Bryan, John Bramwell, Henry Normal, Chris Coupe … well, you know what I mean. Some are superstars now but, whatever. It was a big pool of talent and Bryan was up there with the best of that bunch. Great days ....

cheers...mick”

Taken with permission from an email to Darren Poyzer

Jay Taylor

Bryan made me feel embarrassed. I'd played plenty of live shows and I'd lost count of all those various gigs in various acts. But never solo - never me, my battered guitar and the crowd. So I told him "I feel I should have done this"..."Yeah, you should have" he said. And our ages are close so it was doubly embarrassing. So he forces and issue for me via some kind hearted bullying and I take the step. God knows how many shows behind me and I'm doing something brand new to me.

I’d first shared a bill with Bryan maybe ten? fifteen? years ago at the Band on the Wall – he had a spot in the middle of a Mark Burgess set and an old combo of mine were opening up – I was a side man back then, wholly different to a me, myself and I solo set. Over the past few years we played a lot together (with some trepidation on my part – I was a fan you see). We bolstered our sometimes-meagre fanbases by pooling crowds – hey, it may be a crummy turn out but at least we are among friends with drinks in our hands right? And I got to see Bryan and the incomparable Graham Clark play – I never tired of that.

Our last show together turned out to be Bryan’s last show. He was superb that night. Effortlessly melodic, eloquent, funny and smart. A heaven sent gift right there.

I’m going to miss those shows. Even shows like that pretty extraordinary Stoke experience mentioned in Mr Guy Lovelady’s missive down below. I’m going to miss those damn fine songs. I’m going to miss Bryan appearing randomly in my office doorway at Night&Day with something great to say. Hell, I’m going to miss this wonderful man.

Guy Lovelady

I only met Bryan this century, although I was aware of the enigma from his "Manchester Busker" days in the early 90's. The weirdest thing was that when we met, introduced by Peter from I am Kloot, I found out that I knew his dad really well. Ken was a referee in the Manchester amateur football scene and I had had lots of dealings with him. I had never made the connection.

Over the years Bryan and I got into a lot of parallel scrapes: money (or lack of it) was a common problem for both of us, music - I forced him to play the Hard Rock Cafe (he hated it), dragged him semi conscious to Stoke (a legendary night) as well as exotic trips to foreign Climes - well Dublin.

In all that time i never really got as close as I did in the first 2 hours we talked at the contact theatre, never felt like I was as close a friend as I would have possibly liked.

I now find myself with a big gap in my life even though he occupied a Bryan sized area when he was here, because I know that I wasn't able to help him to the most important thing he craved. That was the recognition for his musical gifts. His writing, his tunes, his cock-eyed delivery were all very unique to him. But his humour was the thing that set him apart for me.

When he played me "Morphine" for my first time I asked him what it was all about. "It was about the time when Man United got relegated to division two" He always knew his audience and knew how to get the laugh with his wit and wisdom.



Last week was just a nightmare but hopefully he is up there, having a good time, networking and gigging. Hopefully in the next life he gets the recognition he both wanted and deserved.

Darren Poyzer

The very first time I met Bryan Glancy was at Arches in Manchester, at one of my very first gigs. Having played a stinker I was alone at the bar, when Bryan came over to introduce himself and console me with kind words, support and warm conversation. He made me feel like I belonged when having left the stage to a cold reception, I felt like I just needed to leave and go home.

When someone you've never met takes the time to get to know you, when you are at alow ebb, it is something you never forget.

Had some really shit news today, and it's hard to get your head round this when it happens. Bryan Glancy, aged late 30's, died on Friday. Found these words on the 'I am Kloot' forum:

"Bryan was a close friend of just about everybody in
the Manchester Music scene and his popularity was only matched by the darkness and sensitivty of his songwriting"

I personally am of course a little lost for words as I knew Bryan well as a kindred spirit, even though I've not seen him for a little while. He was amongst the very very first songwriters to play The Witchwood, a venue I managed for 10 years, and was an integral member of a very special circle of friends who inspired me to promote live music, and who made the very first Stereo Graffiti Thursday nights so special.

It's a shocker, and a very very sad time for the our music community, as it is for all music communities when we lose someone so very special.

Steve O'Donoghue

From what I knew of Bryan, he was a charming guy and always a pleasure to talk to.

When I was in Salvatore we actually gate crashed his gig at The Boardwalk. Just turned up with our gear and asked to play. Johnny Dangerously was on the bill that night also. I remember Johnny and Bryan coming over saying they enjoyed the set. I wish I could have got him to gatecrash a gig of mine.

He was a very talented song writer who, for some reason, didn't enjoy the success of some of his peers. He was good friends with David Gray and enjoyed some success in Mouth, a band he formed with I Am Kloot's John Bramwell.

I saw Mouth play at the Cavern in Ashton Under Lyne one Saturday afternoon, and that was the last time I heard Bryan perform. The last time I spoke to him was outside the Band On The Wall, trying to persuade me and a friend of mine, James to go for a drink with him and John.Now in the cold light of day I regret to say I declined the invite............

God bless you Bryan

January 21 2006 - Saturday Afternoon

I received a phone "sorry I've just had some really bad news" call. "Bryan's dead".

There was a stunned silence.

Bryan Glancy was no more. He lived his life to the full and finished too early for mine or anybody else's liking. The following week has been filled with tears and the odd laugh, remembering what he did, what he meant, what he said, what he sang and wondering why it had to end too soon.

The blog is a meeting point for people to come and pay a visit, enjoy each other's Bryan stories and memories and thank whoever we thank for a very special life.

You can get us at bryaninfo@gmail.com