#steve fataar

[carlwilsonappreciation]

Pictured: “first encounter with the gentle Carl Wilson r.i.p. in London circa ’68” - Steve Fataar, Facebook (2018)

“On their ’68 tour, The Beach Boys saw us. Carl was interested and he was a fantastic person, so it worked. We signed up with them and went to the States. Played a lot of places with them and got some good response, so here we are on this tour. I’ve never met a guy like Carl Wilson — he blows my mind. As a musician, he’s superb; as a person, incredible — but it’s his whole being. He’s just full of love. The Beach Boys are some of the most graceful and beautiful people I’ve ever met.” - Steve Fataar, Record Mirror (December 5, 1970)

[iamidentical]

Recently rediscovered my love of South African band The Flames (or, later, the Flame)!

They were one of the most successful groups in South Africa during the 60s, topping the charts for 14 weeks with their version of "For Your Precious Love" in 1968.

Their classic line-up was the three Fataar brothers Steve (guitar and vocals), Brother (bass, real name Edries), and Ricky (who was only nine years old when he began drumming for the group) and singer and guitarist Blondie Chaplin.

They moved to London and were discovered there by the Beach Boys. They recorded one album on the Beach Boys' own label before breaking up. Ricky and Blondie joined the Beach Boys for a couple of years!

The Flames made some killer music and in my opinion, they never got as much international attention as they should have.

The Flame, L-R: Ricky, Steve, Brother, Blondie

[carlwilsonappreciation]

Photos courtesy of Steve Fataar's Facebook page, John K. Langemann and keepinthesummeralive tumblr, the Lee Dempsey Collection, and Pictorial Press Ltd.

“I’ve never met a guy like Carl Wilson — he blows my mind. As a musician, he’s superb; as a person, incredible — but it’s just his whole being. He’s just full of love. The Beach Boys are some of the most graceful and beautiful people I’ve ever met.” - Steve Fataar, Record Mirror (December 5, 1970) “I think Blondie is just a great singer. I’ve always listened to him sing… he can really perform. Very inspired. Both Blondie and Ricky are very inspired. Ricky is the best drummer I’ve ever heard. Dennis had a real good sense of time, he has a natural feel for it. And Ricky has the same thing, and as well, he’s very advanced musically. He can play a lot. He has a lot of technique. He’s just a natural drummer.” - Carl Wilson, Disc (March 17, 1973) “I’d love to make a record with my friends, just so I could do more. There’s one person in particular I’d like to work with: Ricky Fataar, who toured with us once and was our drummer when Dennis hurt his hand.” - Carl Wilson, Chicago Tribune (July 20, 1978)

[iamidentical]

Some awful-quality photos of The Flame playing in London, 1970

[iamidentical]

The Flame with Carl Wilson, 1970

L-R: Steve Fataar, Blondie Chaplin, Ricky Fataar, Carl Wilson, Brother Fataar

[iamidentical]

The Flames, mid-60s

L-R: Brother Fataar, Edries Fredericks, Steve Fataar, Ricky Fataar

[iamidentical]

Flames Song of the Day #2

This one sounds a lot like the Moody Blues song "Nights in White Satin" and indeed, there are conspiracy theories on the internet that the writer of that song somehow ripped off Steve Fataar (credited with "Useless Illusions"). The Moody Blues song was released a couple of months after the Flames' in 1967, so maybe the rumours are true...

I think it's Steve who sings this one and his voice is great. People often assume that Blondie sang most of the lead vocals on the Flames' material, but indeed, often it was Steve. Brother's bass is really nice to listen to listen to in this tune. Ricky's drum part shows his fondness for the hi-hat.

Anyway, I love this song.

[iamidentical]

The Flame, 1970

Clockwise from top left: Ricky Fataar, Steve Fataar, Brother Fataar, Blondie Chaplin