A band which was supposed to play at an historic pub which was gutted by a huge fire have spoken after a coincidence about their name.
Worried friends and followers of Gasoline and Matches, got in touch out after a blaze broke out at The Crooked House.
The band had been set to play on Saturday, August 5 when it “went up in flames”. But the pub was out of action as it had been closed for weeks and sold to a private buyer for an unspecified “alternative use”.
The pub was founded in the 1830s and was iconic due its unique leaning effect which caused interesting illusions.
On its Facebook page, Gasoline and Matches wrote: “We were due to perform at #thecrookedhouse on Saturday when it went up in flames! The gig had actually been cancelled a month ago, but the pub hadn’t taken the flyer down.”
The pub had been closed and bought by a private buyer for an unspecified “alternative use”. The band called it a “crazy coincidence” and described how they were “really sad” to hear of what happened.
The acoustic set was meant to start at 8.30 pm less than two hours after the fire was reported to the West Midlands Fire Service and Staffordshire Rescue Service.
Speaking to the Mirror, the band added: “Nothing else to say other than our thoughts are with everyone this has affected. We know the pub held a lot of memories for a lot of people, such a shame.”
A spokesperson for the rescue service said: “When we got there, the lads had to work so hard because there were mounds of dirt that had been put in the road blocking the lane. They could have been put there as a security measure.”
One Facebook user commenting on the fire called it a “spooky incident”, whereas another called it “ironic” and jokingly said the incident was “a curse”.
Police said no one was inside the building when it went up in flames.
Staffordshire police added: “We are appealing for information after a fire at a derelict building in Himley late Saturday evening. Officers were called to a report of a fire at what used to be the Crooked House pub on Himley Road at 10:45 pm” on August 5.
Officers are making local inquiries to secure any information that might help the investigation. Anyone that can help has been asked to get in touch with Staffordshire police.
