FROM ROCK 'N 'ROLL TO HARD CORE PUNK - UKZN ...

38
would give to South African pop music. 19
Between 1970 and 1971, The Flames, now known as Flame, did a
concert tour of South Africa, and then toured The United
States as a support act for the Beach Boys. It was during their
concert tour of South Africa, that Flame received a high profile
in the South African press, and their Durban concerts at
Westridge stadium were sell-outs, albeit marred by a high police
presence during their performances:
[Flame] have something which is absent in many
local groups. They get through to their audiences.
Their communication is incredible. Seldom have I seen
a pop group get the audience to their feet and
dancing. Flame did -- twice ... The only blemish on
the evening was the unfortunate fact that in terms of
the government permit to play before White audiences,
as a Non-White group, they had to appear on stage
first and then leave immediately after playing. 2o
In 1972, Flame broke up and Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar were
invited to join The Beach Boys. The two did so, and remained
members until 1973 (as bassist and drummer respectively) when
they left to pursue successful individual careers as session
musicians in the United States.
Of all the members of Flame, it is perhaps Steve Fataar that has
the most prominent place in Durban rock. When Flame dissolved in
1972, he returned to Durban where he has played with various
combinations of local musicians such as Kenny Henson, Roger Lucey
and Richard Ellis. In 1978, he formed his own group with his
younger brother Issy Fataar, and they later formed the group
Smack.
19
Quo
t
e
d f
rom Stephen Close (of Cheshlre,
.
England), letter to the editor
Trend, 24th of December, 1970.
20 Quoted from Carl Coleman, Trend, 14th of January, 1971.