Flooring Tile - Tiling a Fireplace

This question doesn't relate directly to floors, but this seemed a good place to pick the tiling guru's brains. I have a fireplace that is constructed of a white brick with pinkish-purple veins (something like angelstone, I guess). The brick looks awful And I would like to cover it up with tile, either ceramic, marble, or granite. The fireplace does have a heatilator built in with an inlet and exhaust on the front face of the fireplace so it does get quite hot. Is is feasable, or even possible to tile this fireplace? And if so, what kind of tile is best? What kind of morter or adhesive is best to use?

As long as the brick isn't painted or sealed, just skim coat it flat with a good modified thinset and set any tile you wish, using the same thinset.:)

Clean it well first.:)

Thank-you Tileman. Should I first smooth the brick surfaces, let cure, and then tile; or should I just apply the thin-set to the brick and immediately apply the tile?