MATTOWAR guitar
BRIAN HAMILTRON drums
JOHNNY NO MONIKER vocals
YVAN KAWECKI guitar
BRIAN PLASKETT bass
FLESHIES, a loud band, started playing together in 1999 in beautiful Oakland, California. The band's involvement in the east bay area collective S.P.A.M. Records provided for a convenient label to release some early 7" records, cassette-only releases, and a (long out-of-print, being remixed and re-pressed sometime in 2006) self-titled "demo" CD. A penchant for songwriting, constant shows, and generally keeping busy made for a ridiculous amount of productivity from a weird punk band, and a number of records soon followed. The album "Kill The Dreamer's Dream" came out on Alternative Tentacles in 2001. FLESHIES released a 10" picture disc/CD, "The Game of Futbol", on Billie Joe Armstrong's (GREEN DAY) Adeline Records in mid-2002. "The Sicilian", again on Alternative Tentacles, quickly followed in early 2003. This put Fleshies in the decidedly odd position of having new records out simultaneously on record labels run by the most longstanding, iconographic figure of underground punk (Jello Biafra) and by the one individual arguably responsible for punk's most widespread mainstream recognizance (Billie Joe Armstrong). Rather than developing a business plan and jumping on the gravy train of opening slots for high-profile "punk" bands (with a few one-off exceptions), FLESHIES continued their already-established pattern of body/mind-warping worldwide marathon tours - mostly in the same basements, warehouses, squats, and really sketchy bars they'd been playing since 1999, albeit at slightly more packed-out shows.
At one point in early 2004, a short time after playing 133 shows in 131 days, FLESHIES added a 5th member (Brian Plaskett), released a CD-only compilation of old b-sides called "Gung Ho!" on Life Is Abuse Records, and proceeded to withdraw into the dark warehouse cave of drummer Brian Hamiltron's SUGAR MOUNTAIN STUDIOS in Oakland to work on a new record. They decided to break the punk rock tradition of banging out a new record in 5 or 6 days, and a damned sweet time was taken in order to make the most ridiculous album possible. They pushed 1975's most cutting-edge recording technology to the max, manipulating 8-track half-inch tape machines, breaking tens of dollars' worth of expensive vintage equipment, and battling cabin fever while living off of hydrogenated oils and other psychoactive substances. After a year and a half they emerged, scraggly, mean, and old, with a new record, back on Alternative Tentacles Records. "Scrape The Walls" is a spirited effort to molest punk rock in a similar manner that SPARKS unwholesomely molested glitter rock in the 70's. Appropriately enough, the album includes a cover of SPARKS' "Happy Hunting Ground", with Jello Biafra on guest vocals.
FLESHIES just re-released their first self-titled record from 2000, originally on S.P.A.M. Records and now on vinyl through the lovely Thrillhouse Records! (www.myspace.com/thrillhouserecordsthelabel). It is all remastered and badass. Go to Thrillhouse for more details.
Influences
Children, breasts, bad education, the greatest love of all.
LIVE footage of FLESHIES at Bottom of the Hill on August 5th, 2007 shot by Marc - this features five songs that will be on the new record BROWN FLAG, due out on Recess Records sometime this summer or early fall! Part 2 in particular has a lot of new stuff, with the songs Garmonbozia, Grounded, and Fire It Up...Part 1 has the song Rain-Dro Fantasy and Part 4 has Onion Of My Eye. Since only 13 year old girls and the 40 year old creeps who love them embed videos on their myspace pages, weare just gonna give you some nice, clean YouTube links here:
wow.new record coming out?can't wait for that one.been ages.i only have the 3 alternative tentacles cd's-all excellent by the way.been watching the videos.great stuff.keep punking out guys.love your music.
