The Flames were a South African band that formed in the early 1960s and achieved some international success in the 1970s. The band consisted of brothers Steve and Edries "Brother" Fataar, along with George Fabre and Eugene Champion.

The Flames began their career playing in clubs around Cape Town, and their music was heavily influenced by American rock and roll and R&B. They gained popularity in South Africa and eventually signed a recording contract with the local label, Trutone Records.

In 1967, The Flames released their album, "Burning Soul," which featured a mix of covers and original songs. At this point, the band consisted of the three brothers Steve, Ricky, and Edries "Brother" Fataar, along with another member named Blondie Chaplin. The album was a success in South Africa, and the band began to attract attention from international audiences.

Subsequent albums included "Soulfire!!" (1968), and "The Flame" (1970). Their music during this period was a blend of rock, soul, and funk, and featured strong vocal harmonies and skilled musicianship.

They performed across London in the late 1960s, where they met Brian Jones, Keith Moon, Keith Richards, Jerry Garcia, Miles Davis and Carl Wilson. They later traveled to Los Angeles to record an album for The Beach Boys' record label Brother Records, for which they changed their name to The Flame.

Despite their international success, the band eventually disbanded in the mid-1970s, with some members going on to pursue success elsewhere in music. In 1972, Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin joined The Beach Boys. Ricky met Bonnie Raitt in 1978 and has since accompanied her on many tours as well as appearing on most of her later recordings.

The Flames' music continues to be celebrated in South Africa and around the world, and their legacy as one of the country's most influential bands remains intact.

Soul-cover band from Durban, South Africa. The Flames (a.k.a., The Flame) were later "discovered" by The Beach Boys. -GSH

• Steve Fataar - guitar/vocals
• Edries (Brother) Fataar - bass/vocals - d. 1978
• George Fabre - drums/vocals
• Eugene Champion - guitar/vocals