"Flash" - 1971 to Present

By the way, Flash wasn't "a smaller band" at the time.  Remember, they had a Top 30 hit—still rare for a "prog" band.  Capitol was very enthusiastic about them and they were a terrific touring band—better live than on record.

Bubble, or not, it was great time for good music.  And that's why I'm glad they're back!


Edited by sherrynoland - August 18 2013 at 01:23

Now I'm pretty sure you're being sarcastic.  You actually don't think Flash was at the top of the heap during their short 70's lifespan.  I was gonna ignore it, but I'm curious...

I'm wondering how old you are, David, and how much you actually know about Flash's history.  Or maybe we just have different definitions of "big," but they certainly satisfy mine.

They performed with most of the top bands of the day playing before hundreds of thousands of people, they toured the world, were on radio and TV, headlined at Lincoln Center in NYC, hit the charts, have had their albums reissued numerous times, and accomplished all this in 2 1/2 years before breaking up, which is the only reason they didn't become the household names some of their peers became.

I wouldn't call that "a smaller band," no.

"They've got guts, they are musicians with the chops and they've got enough insight into the mechanics of music-making to be able to offer more in the way of intelligent, innovative musicianship than nine-tenths of their contemporaries." Gordon Fletcher - ROLLING STONE






Edited by sherrynoland - September 15 2013 at 01:16

Thanks Sherry

I played some "new progrock" for Ray last night and he said to me, "If you're not evolving, you become part of the furniture."

He went on to say (I'm paraphrasing now), the only place NEW music comes from is WITHIN an individual.

I say, that's why when you hear truly original music, you can recognize the artist (not a genre). They sound like no one else.

presdoug wrote: I did not discover Flash until finding a used lp copy of the debut in the early 90s. I have the first three records, and like them very much. I like them more than Yes, itself, really.

Have you heard the new CD?  Excerpts here: https://soundcloud.com/flashbennettcarter

moshkito wrote: Hi,   I just took a trip back in time ... got the first album and enjoyed it!   One of the liner notes is kinda funny ... what do I need a keyboard for it when I can play the part on the guitar also ... and Peter DOES!

Did you buy a vinyl reissue, or a CD? I don't think I've seen those liner notes. Anything else interesting? Would you consider reproducing them here for us?

Ray says Flash managed live without keyboards and was so energetic they got by, but he thinks it was a bad decision to carry on without and they would have been better with Moraz who auditioned, or someone like him.

Dellinger wrote: sherrynoland wrote: Ray says Flash managed live without keyboards and was so energetic they got by, but he thinks it was a bad decision to carry on without and they would have been better with Moraz who auditioned, or someone like him. Interesting. I guess it would have been great if indeed thay had taken Moraz in. Perhaps he would have fared better than with Yes, given that the story of how he was kicked out was rather unpleasant.

The story goes, Moraz came backstage after a Flash gig all decked out, with a woman on both arms and said, "I should be in your band!" I wonder if he remembers that? :) Nobody knew him or had heard him play, and were a bit put off. Mike, the drummer, went home with him and reported back that he was a good player. But in the end, they'd gotten used to just the four of them and felt it would be odd to bring in someone new.  Tony Kaye was asked to join because he felt like part of the family.

Thanks for your comments, Moshkito, I know you enjoyed those covers! But I'm confused.

Moshkito wrote: I just took a trip back in time ... got the first album and enjoyed it! One of the liner notes is kinda funny ... what do I need a keyboard for it when I can play the part on the guitar also ... and Peter DOES!

Flash had Tony Kaye as a guest on keys on their first album. I assumed you read that liner note from Pete on a later album, or reissue. Ray tells me there were no quotes on any of the first three Flash studio album covers. I know Pete said it later, but where did you see it?

As for Moraz, or another keyboardist joining Flash, "feeling like part of the family" is code for "can get along and work well with everybody" as well as being super-talented. That would have been essential and I think Patrick's demeanor upon meeting them didn't bode well. As it turned out, there was only room for one ego in Flash—Pete's. Unfortunately, that's why Pete was never successfully in any band for very long.

Dellinger wrote: ... It seems the editing of the posts you were trying to reply to are a bit confusing. I didn't say any of that, as the quote boxes sugest, bur it was rather Sherry

On behalf of troops everywhere...past, present and future—

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q0Eyw3l3XM