John Ellis

I knew Bryan, not well but for many years and we had that friendly understanding whenever we did meet in town mainly, that comes from the recognition that we’d both grown from the same soil. It made me very sad to think of him not being around any more.

It was at the alternative cabaret gigs of the late 80’s when I first met and saw him perform his songs. He was also part of the community of creative talent which centred around Crumpsall at the time. However unlikely it seems these days, to us then, it had a bohemian flavour that made it seem, especially straight out of Middleton like me, like the Greenwich village of North Manchester. Wow… imagine that.

Anyway it was perfect for Bryan and he was perfect in it.

I have to confess that I hadn’t heard Bryan play since those days, but as I was thinking back, I remembered seeing him at one of those ‘alternative’ cabaret nights at the Green Room, probably one of the legendary infamous Chris Coupe nights. Those nights were just flooded with great talent Kevin Sissay, Bob Dillinger, George Borovski, The Sandlewoods, Henry Normal, Steve Coogan, Caroline Aherne etc. Like most people my first impression of Bryan was of the supercool, with the shades etc. Then his words always filled you in on the substance. His songs were well received I remember because the people there knew exactly what he was on about.

I just listened to ‘Manchester’ from his website partly because I’ve got a tune called ‘Manchester’, mainly instrumental, and I wanted to hear what collection of Bryan’s words he felt he ought to label with that word.

It struck me that Bryan was the kind of artist who was always going to be best appreciated by his own community. He wasn’t reaching out to the world or the global music industry or whatever but just reflecting what he saw around him and I’m sure that’s what mattered to him in his songs, especially his words. We understand what he’s on about. Have a listen, we have to be thankful for that.

My tune ‘Manchester’ had settled on a kind of melancholic mood but with some kind of redemption on the horizon but I sometimes wondered when I played it live whether It was too downbeat. As soon as I heard Bryan’s words I knew we’d distilled the same feeling……. "sad and beautiful” what more can I say.

Bless you Bryan
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Elliot Wheeler

Deeply shocked to hear this news – my heart goes out to Bryan’s family and friends – a great raw talent from Manchester, I still listen to Zima Junction – ‘Beat The Boat’ and ‘When Harmony Comes’, I still regard them as outstanding tracks… another great singer/songwriter will be sadly missed.

Bryan e-mailed me about a year ago, asking whether or not I’ll be interested in purchasing the original artwork for ‘Zima Junction’ and some records of The Chameleons that he was selling. I asked what he was doing, since Zima Junction, he just demanded for me to go out and buy Am I Kloot CD’s, he said that he was involved in their early years as a songwriter, which I did.

Of course I was definitely interested in the artwork but he was unable to establish a price with him, so I never purchased the item, he said that he was going to place the item on e-bay; I hope he was successful in the end.
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Dovid Yiddy

Shalom Baruch Dovid......Bryan Glancy.

I planted narcissi around Bryan's head.
May the flowers bloom & grow
May they crown Baruch Dovid
With a bright yellow glow.
A kappell for a Kabballa King.
Shalom, shalom Brother Baruch,
They wait to hear you sing.

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P J Hakimi

It is our loss brother

I met Bryan when he was touring with Mark to promote Zima Junction, a beautiful venue is The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. As soon as he started singing and playing his guitar you could tell that this is not just a sideman for Mark and a talent all his own. So information was exchanged and we kept in touch with the idea to put something out on my indi label. Will always remember my trip to Manchester and staying at his place, as soon as I arrived he played a tune of his on the piano and me feeling like I was the luckiest man alive to be an audience to this talent. We would wave to his favorite fox in the early morning hours, driving late at night with him driving with sunglasses on and me feeling like it would be my last trip alive. His visit to the States and the tour with the Mouthfelt like it was one of those things you EXPERIENCE only once. I knew there would be little interest but happily drove, carried equipment and housed the four lads on my twin bed, "MAD!!!" as he would say. Needless to say that he knew all the pubs and the bartenders by first name in the short time they were there. We recently exchanged some emails and he was in such good state of mind. And now this; The world is a lonelier place without him and the likes of Bryan (are there any?) are much too rare. I will think of you often my friend and shed a tear as I write this.
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Chas Rigby

Through Bryan I got to know all my current Manchester friends, he was so good at sharing them with me. I met him at the New Troubadours in1990 were we shared many a billing together. The 'Troubs' was on a par with some of the Village bars that Dylan mentioned in his "Chronicles". Bryan and I got on well for many years and spent lots of quality time together. He wrote a wonderful review in 1996 for me/my wife Julia often says "the best ever". He also gave me confidence with my craft when my self esteem was low. I remember one night on the way back to Prestwich we were both off our heads and listening to Dylan's Oh Mercy/deciding that the music was too Spiritual and driving was a distraction we pulled over and played it out at some kerbside. There are many memories of him, I last saw him on Bonfire Night at his cousin Dave Werners house/unfortunately we did not get a chance to say much/ I never realised it would be the last time that I would see him. Through him I have some of the best friends that I have ever had/ I was proud to play at the Castle tribute gig last Friday.My heart goes out to his Family at this sad time!

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Sandy Gort

I seem to have spent a fortnight now hugging grieving people all over Manchester who loved Bryan Glancy. I’m lucky I’m so tall. If you’re hugging me you can’t see me cry.

On the afternoon of Saturday 21st January I was having lunch with my friend Danny Moran at Night & Day. Danny had seen Bryan rattling around big hands bar on Friday night in something of a state and said to me ‘i’m worried about Bryan.’ I told him that he couldn’t possibly imagine how many people I had sat with over the last twenty something years where one or other of us had said ‘i’m worried about Bryan.’ And I gave Danny some advice. Along the lines ‘of don’t get involved.’ I explained that Bryan’s problems were complex, manifold and seemingly endless. It could be frustrating to get involved with Bryan because just as one set of hideous problems had been addressed, he somehow managed to acquire an entirely new set. Over the last couple of years, I confessed, I had withdrawn from getting involved in managing the chaos of Bryan’s life.

We finished eating and headed for the office. On the way there I answered the ‘phone and learned that none of us would ever have to worry about Bryan again.

Emma Black had discovered him, was alone with the body and clearly traumatized. Danny and I jumped straight in a cab and spent the next ten hours or so dealing with the cops and contacting a whole bunch of people to tell them the worst thing you can possibly tell anyone.

As I went through Bryan’s ‘phone I kept seeing the numbers of people I knew I had to call. After his family, I realised my next priority was all the beautiful, strong and remarkable women who had invested so much of their time, love and goodness into trying to cope with Bryan’s chaos

I can honestly say it was one of the worst things I have ever had to do in my life. To ring these women. To know what I was about to say. To know that when I said it their hearts would be completely broken. And then to hear their hearts breaking. At the same time as my own heart was breaking.

At some point, I think in the early evening, me and Danny and Emma were taken to swinton cop shop to give formal statements. I turned to Danny and said ‘so much for my advice about not getting involved.’

And it struck me that Bryan had played a trick on me. He was already dead by the time I was giving that advice. It was as if he’d gone ‘withdrawing from managing the chaos of my life are you? then how about you manage this.’

I have no mystical, religious or supernatural beliefs whatsoever. But it did feel to me that something was out there taking a part in the proceedings. Maybe it was just a consequence of the love that bryan had engendered in his world. The right people entered the frame at the right moment and did exactly the right things. Emma Black, Danny Moran, Helen Littler, Jay Taylor, Rafe Conn, Guy Garvey and Bryan’s brother Philip are amongst the people. They know what they did. And I’ll tell you if you ask me. and if you hug me afterwards, you won’t see me crying.

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Graham Clark

"Bryan in my backyard, when we were getting ready to support David Gray."
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