The Flames

Before the band's formation, Steve Fataar would enter and win talent shows at the Admiral Hotel. According to Fataar's friend Bing Kinsey, "he continued entering these contests, which put his mother in a bit of a bother as she had to drive him there. I recall that on one occasion, Steve had heard a song by Cliff Richard just once; I'm not sure whether it was 'Gee Whizz It's You' or 'I'm Looking out the Window.' I knew the song and taught it to him. That night he sang it at the talent contest and won." Eventually, Steve's brother, Edries Fataar, would join him shortly after.^[4]

The Flames were formed in 1962 by guitarist Steve Fataar, bassist Brother Fataar (real name Edries Fataar), drummer George Fabre, and guitarist Eugene Champion. Shortly before the band were set to play a show, Fabre withdrew from the band, with Ricky Fataar replacing him on drums shortly after.^[5]

During their formative years, the band primarily performed covers of The Shadows and The Ventures. Steve served as the band's the lead vocalist, with Eugene and Brother providing harmonies and occasionally providing lead vocals. Because of work commitments, Eugene Champion left the group in 1963, with Edries Fredericks replacing him. Fredericks' vocal abilities led the band to include more vocalization.

In early 1963, the group signed a recording contract with Trutone Records and produced their first recording at a studio in Durban run by John and Margaret Cahill. Two songs were recorded; "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Misery." Trutone decided not to release them, instead heavily promoting The Meteors' version of "I Saw Her Standing There", which became a hit in South Africa.

In April, the group travelled to Johannesburg to record four tracks. The first release from this recording session consisted of two instrumentals, "Mr. Moto" and "Dixie," and were distributed by Rave. "Mr. Moto" premiered on Eric Egan's morning program, leading to the band gaining widespread attention. The band's second single was released soon after, and further singles "Maniac" and "Modern Casanova" were eventually released. The label listed the artists as Steve and The Flames due to Steve Fataar's primary role as the group's frontman. In December, The Flames toured Port Elizabeth. After the shows, The Flames drove to Johannesburg to record their first album.

The band's first album was recorded over three days, with Art Heatley as producer and Dave Erbstoesser as sound engineer. However, "Pretty Woman." became the album's only single to garner radio airplay.

By 1964, the group had begun receiving mainstream reconigition. That year, they won Battle of The Bands, where Ricky was awarded Best Drummer. The group toured throughout the country and began to establish their popularity in the Cape, performing two tours to Cape Town as well as touring the Eastern Cape with shows in Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and East London.

While songs by The Beatles were featured prominently in their repertoire, The Flames included songs by The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Solomon Burke, Otis Redding and The Fortunes. Despite the group's popularity, the members failed to recoup costs. Edries Fredericks was in a serious relationship at the time, and eventually expressed concerned about the group's finances, culminating in his departure in 1966.^[5][4]

Mitchell "Baby" Duval replaced Edries Fredericks in 1966, and played on the band's second album That's Enough. before leaving the band. Blondie Chaplin, then a member of The Kittens, replaced Duval. The new line-up recorded their third and fourth album "Burning Soul" and "Soulfire", which were both produced by Grahame Beggs. Beggs later recorded a live album at the Al Fresco in Durban, which was eventually scrapped due to Beggs's concerns about the recording's failure to capture the band's sound.

By 1965, the band had begun touring internationally, with The Flames joining the Beach Boys' Brother label and moving to the United States. The group was renamed The Flame to avoid confusion with another band. The band's self-titled fifth album was released in 1970.^[4] It was the first ever rock album recorded in quadraphonic sound^[6] and the only non-Beach Boys album on the Brother records label, produced by Carl Wilson.^[7] The album's single "See The Light," reached the Billboard Hot 100. The group developed a following as they performed at different venues, mainly in the West Coast.

By 1970, Steve and Brother Fataar expressed their discontent living in the United States, with Brother Fataar moving to England shortly after, while Steve Fataar moved back to South Africa. Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin dissolved the remains of the group later that year.