(Archive pic of the Flames by Jill Murraybrown)The Flames Official Reunion. (Report by Carl Wilson)
The Flames will be performing on New Beach in Durban on March 27 following their appearance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival on March 25.
At a time when it was pretty much illegal to be brown, a group of coloured boys, Steve, Ricky, Blondie and Brother defied gravity as thousands of people, brown and fair skinned girls (and boys) climbed out of their windows to get a glimpse of the Flames..
Making their way through the country, performing eight days a week to audiences that were growing so steadily, getting so big the only room you had to dance was up, or down. They burned the charts, radio stations forsaking the Whites Only law while they charted # 1 for 13 weeks straight with their soulful rendition of For Your Precious Love.
What happened after this, is four youngsters on a ship to England with their amps, guitars, drum kit and P.A system. They were held captive at the English port due to absence of working visas. For two weeks they had an on-board party until the English Music Associations intervened and got them firmly on English soil.
They revelled, gigging while news of them spread like wildfire. It was at this time while gigging at a club called Blaises that someone tipped The Beach Boys off about the band and Carl Wilson came to see them. From here they went to Hollywood. Living, gigging with the Beach Boys and recording some of the greatest albums on the planet (See The Light). The Flames were once again charted, this time on the Billboard charts.
A funny thing happened here. It had been an intense run, Ricky had been just nine years old when the band started, leaving school to drum and just 14 when they sailed. Steve, Brother, Ricky and Blondie were being persuaded in different directions. Some of the familiar thread was coming apart and it was pulling harder than the music could hold together.
Eldest brother and founder, Steve opted to come home. Ricky and Blondie stayed and were swallowed up and became band members of The Beach Boys and Brother went to Holland.
Some 40 odd years on we find ourselves at the helm of a reuniting and reigniting. Brother never left Holland, he is buried there. Ricky is still a drummer living in San Fran and also a producer. He is drummer to John Scofield and Bonnie Raitt.
If you have a look at the credits for the Rolling Stones’ more recent albums or watch them live, you will see Blondie Chaplin, the magic extra band member. He has also recorded some incredible solo albums, Fragile Thread. Steve Fataar is the cause of countless collaborations, here in South Africa, including the band Avatar which comprises Tara, Dain and Camilla - his children.
The Flames will perform in Durban on New Beach on March 27. More information on www.capetownjazzfest.com/About.aspx#513 or Durban Legends Concert facebook link http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116101171799617 or The Flames official website at www.the-flames.com
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