Alyson over at What's It All About, Alfie recently published a post about 'Flaming Star' by Elvis Presley, the title track of the first LP she ever purchased - a great song, too often overlooked. An early, lyrically darker, version of 'Flaming Star', unreleased until the 1990's, was titled 'Black Star' and was thought to have been a reference point for David Bowie's song of the same name. But I digress. Alyson's post got me thinking about the band who presumably took their name from Elvis' hit, when they formed in 1994 - The Flaming Stars. I've got the first two Flaming Stars LPs and they're great, so it's a bit of a mystery to me how I allowed them to slip off my radar around the turn of the century. To date the band have released seven studio albums plus a double compilation of John Peel sessions and, only in the last few days, returned to the stage following a period of hiatus. They've been described as being '...like a fistfight between Jerry Lee Lewis and the Voidoids...', though I seem to recall recommending them to one of my own customers many years ago, as a cross between The Jesus & Mary Chain with a sense of humour and The Godfathers. Frontman Max Décharné certainly has a keen turn of phrase. See what you think.
The Flaming Stars - Bring Me The Rest of Alfredo Garcia
The Flaming Stars - The Face on the Bar Room Floor
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6 comments:
It was a long time ago since I listened to The Flaming Stars. Thanks for bringing them back into my mind, Swede.
New to me but good to see my post about my first album purchase has led to you revisiting these guys.
I've got several albums by the Flaming Stars, all of which are full of good tunes. Named and Shamed is probably my favourite.
Familiar with the Flaming Lips and the Flaming Groovies but the Flaming Stars is a new name to me
Never heard these guys either. Man, what a blast! Right in my wheelhouse.
It's a rare time when the Flaming Stars are name checked.....by anybody, so thanks for this opportunity to reflect again on a band I was really taken with in the 90s ...thanks to Peel of course. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye's a great track but Ten Feet Tall stands out above all others. Swirling organ...if you pardon the expression! I used to wear a band T Shirt of theirs for many years - Bring Me The Rest Of Alfredo Garcia if memory recalls. I can also recommend Max Decharne's book I Was A Teenage Warehouse. Brilliant. Cheers
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