The
Fleshtones – the lost nugget
There are
millions of bands that should’ve ‘made it’ and most of ‘em
didn’t, simply cos they weren’t good enough. Some split up
before
getting a chance to prove themselves. Some just weren’t in the
right place at the right time. But very few unknown bands truly
deserve the suffix ‘-they should’ve made it big’.
|
Their first serving of vinyl, on Red Star 1979. |
The
Fleshtones are one. The main reason was that they could never
record
the atmosphere of their sweaty, euphoric dancing party live
shows on
to wax. This happens to only a handful of bands, The Monotonix
being
the most recent receiver of that accolade. Record labels like
little
boxes of units that they can sell and some bands are just that –
bands, not unit-manufacturers.
|
1982 'Blast Off' Tour poster |
Plagued
with bad luck, the Fleshtones play Garage Punk like it’s an
extension of traditional Americana music. They have never hit
the
zeitgeist and therefore will always be timeless.
|
1984 IRS Release of 'American Beat' |
Formed in
’76 in the sleazy filth of the Bowery, New York City. They were
always outsiders to the New Wave & Punk scene as they
weren’t
angry young men with a F**K YOU on their shoulders. They wanted
to
dance the shimmy, shake, frug and watusi (and drink). Seen as a
bunch
of outcasts who formed a mindless twist band, record labels
overlooked them when searching for that CBGBs market (like
Blondie,
Ramones, Cramps & Suicide).
|
The Fleshtones, CBGB's 1976 |
A
degenerate party band with a DIY punk ethos and energy but
without
the politics. In a time where bands forgot they were
entertainers and
crowds just stared blankly at the stage, these guys partied
&
played their take on ‘60s frat rock, born out of long teenage
days
getting high and listening to The MC5, Stooges, Kingsmen, Kinks,
Stones and countless black R&B artists of the ‘50s.
|
UK Tour 2014 |
This band
has toured relentlessly for 35 years. Driving into town,
partying the
crap out of it and moving on like Rock ‘n’ Roll pied pipers,
usually leading the kids astray in a procession down the street.
Never pretentiously cool in the scenester way, never
fashionable,
this band play timeless RnR to goofballs, outsiders and geeks.
If you
were too embarrassed to dance at the school disco, then make up
for
it now. You won’t be alone! Get diseased by the infectious beats
of
the Fleshtones, designed for drunken dancing…
|
Another Great sleeve by Serge Clerc 'en plus' |
UNLUCKY
FOR SOME
-
1979 - their first record was shelved when
the label went belly up. “BLAST OFF!!” was not to see the
light of day till ’90.
-
1985 - Their chance to finally record a live
album and finally show them at their best was scuppered as
the recording was under-equipped, rushed and released in a
week. Oh, and the singer was suffering from laryngitis
-
1987 - much in need of good press and
exposure, they were asked to produce the title song to an
up-and-coming film. However “I Was A Teenage Zombie” was
panned by the critics and after a very limited run it sank
without a trace.
-
1995 – Steve Albini, fresh from his Nirvana
success, produced a technically perfect (to the point of
sterile) album. It might work for Grunge but not for Garage…
where’s the soul, Steveo?
-
A rolling rosta of managers, bass players,
record labels, low turnouts due to bad promoters, under
promoted records, poor radioplay, ignored by MTV, perversely
juxtaposed with overwhelming critical acclaim and audience
adulation.
|
Always well received in France ! |
With over
20 LPs over 35yrs, where do you start to get the taste for
flesh?
Most suffer from trying to translate the drunken, messy, fun of
their
trash ‘n’ roll live shows into a seriously sellable album.
Over-produced, under-prepared, over-budget, under-promoted,
unfashionable, these guys have been through it all… so here’s my
top 10
|
Fabulous ! |
-
American Beat
-
I was a Teenage Zombie
-
Screaming Skull
-
Hitsburg USA
-
Hide & Seek
-
Shadowlines – Urgh
-
Hexbreaker
-
Dick Tracy
-
Roman Gods
-
The Cramps used to share their rehearsal garage with the Fleshtones in NY
ReplyDeleteYep, I got a pix - given to me by ex Mrs Streng with th Cramps & Fleshtones in the garage (it's was in fact real "garage car" place).
ReplyDeleteI used to love the Fleshtones but I think they are boring now.
To my the real underrated band are th Flamin' Groovies - 2nd The Real Kids - 3rd The Romanee Counteez
Patrick
Would love to see that sometime Patrick. Feel free to email it over and I'd be only too glad to post it !
Delete