Sweat: The Story of the Fleshtones, America's Garage Band

by Joe Bonomo

Book Overview

"Joe Bonomo has written a fine book: a book not only about a band or times passed, but also about the rare virtue of endurance."
-Nick Tosches, author of Hellfire: The Jerry Lee Lewis Story

May of 2006 marked the Fleshtones' 30th anniversary as the only band from the mid-70s New York City Punk/New Wave scene that hasn't had an inactive year. In that time they've amassed an incredible history-they shared a practice space with the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826428460
• ISBN13: 9780826428462
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Continuum
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.07 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

I almost broke a sweat just from reading this book

From about 1985 onward, I've been a steady fan of the mighty Fleshtones, although I confess that by about 1993 I sort of stopped keeping up with them. But if for no other reason than to understand why "Roman Gods" and "Hexbreaker" have never been reissued on CD, I bought this book. Little did I know how insane the story of the Fleshtones really is. In a nutshell, "Sweat" reveals that despite the jolly, party-time atmosphere that is the essence of the Fleshtones, the band and its individual members have truly been through hell along the way. The well-documented drug use by this band is nothing short of legendary, and at least one member, Marek Pakulski, ultimately had to leave the group do to his uncontrollable heroin addiction. Other members, particularly Keith Streng and Bill Milhizer, are probably lucky to be alive considering the amount of alcohol they've consumed. As for Peter Zaremba, it's surprising his body didn't just blast off into orbit, with the amount of speed he was taking! Funny personal story - I saw the Fleshtones in Boston back around 1988, and got a chance to meet them before the show. I'd brought along the cover of my "Fleshtones vs. Reality" CD and Keith, Bill and Peter all cheerfully signed it. But Peter was irked by the fact that the label, Roadrunner, had included one of those anti-drug public service messages inside it. So Peter scribbled over the message and wrote underneath, "Do what thou willst! A.C." (An Aleister Crowley quote) I had no idea at the time just how serious he was! And then of course there's the most notorious Fleshtone of all, Gordon Spaeth (R.I.P.). Who would have thought that a member of the Fleshtones served several years in prison after killing a man in a drunken fight?! Author Joe Bonomo does a fantastic job of tracing the band's history over more than 30 years. From the young hipsters prowling lower Manhattan at the dawn of the punk era, through the 80's where at least Europe embraced the band and they enjoyed some celebrity, and on through the 90's to the present, as the bandmates have continued to make music on their own terms, even as material success has eluded them, "Sweat" spares no detail and offers compelling proof that the Fleshtones, albeit on a small scale, are true living legends. And by the way, why won't I.R.S. allow those classic early albums to be reissued? You guessed it - it's all about money. As much as any band in history, the Fleshtones are a prime example of why major labels suck. This book is essential for any Fleshtones fan, and even someone who never heard of them should still find "Sweat" to be one hell of a good read. (p.s. The Fleshtones' brand-new album "Take A Good Look" is their best album ever.)

Final Destination: R & R Station

R & R is not defined by its stars. Although undoubtedly R & R in their hey days Elvis, the Stones or Springsteen do not define the genre. The may make up for its aspirations, but they are not at the core of what R & R is. At its heart R & R is literally thousands of bands busting their chops in the garages and sordid basements all over the world, dreaming to make it in the big league one day. The Fleshtones have been at this game for about 30 years now, never escaping the basement. In a sense they are the text book example of R & R. Joe Bonomo's book "Sweat" captures their ongoing search for ever elusive fame perfectly. Anybody familiar with the band couldn't have thought of a better tittle to this autobiography. The Fleshtones have been guaranteed to give the best R & R show around for as long as they've been together. Yet the subtitle to sweat, "30 Years, 2.000 Shows, 1.000 Blue Whales, No Hits, No Sleep" gives the perfect summary of what to expect when reading "Sweat". The Fleshtones story starts in a basement in Queens. Much to the dismay of the neighbors, some of the key members of what later would become the Fleshtones, throw legendary Blue Whale parties while churning out raggedy R & R, barely being able to master their instruments. A Blue Whale apparently is quite the toxic mix of various kinds of alcohol, preferably served in big barrels. That loud and lethal mix of three chord R & R would be a constant in the band's bumpy career. It would get them kicked out of their apartments, make them lose record companies, would find them in bloody brawls, turn them in the gutter but would also make living legends out of them. Although there are way to little people to recognize them. For the lucky few who fell under their spell, they are R & R best hidden deities. For the lucky few who stumbled onto their albums the Fleshtones have come to symbolize sweat drenched good times at their shows, roaring saxophones, screeching farfisa organs, rambling guitar riffs, raggedy soul crooning and pure and simple R & R. The Fleshtones came smashed between the burgeoning Punk scene of NY city in the late seventies and back to basic superstars such as Bruce Springsteen. Like the latter the Fleshtones went back to the core of R & R. They found their inspiration in a time when 45 was king. The core of the Fleshtones, Peter Zaremba and Keith Streng found themselves in their love for the format. Swapping obscure 7" records filled with R & R, ranging from Hank Ballard and the Midnighters to the Strangeloves. At the time when Punk and Springsteen were about to burst wide open, R & R had strayed from its true path. The scene was marred by various horrific super groups, making guitar based intellectual drivel that had very little to do with R & R. Both Punk and Springsteen were a counter reaction to that drivel. The Ramones brought R & R back to its (barely) three minute essence in a loud cartoon like mess. Blondie did much the same, giving R & R a new sense of

The Trials & The Tribulations, The Blue Whales & The Bacchanalia...

Author Joe Bonomo has produced a labor of love detailing the ups and downs (and worse) of America's undiscovered, greatest rock and roll treasure - The Fleshtones. This book captures their wild abandon, the influences that made them who they are and ever-present obstacles in their way (be they from an indifferent record industry, bad planning, or their own personal demons). If you are a contemporary of the band and think you know their story, you don't. Every chapter reveals a new insight, a new wrinkle, a new disaster gone right that you've never heard. And if you never heard of the Fleshtones and want to know what it's like to be in a REAL rock and roll band - this book is for you.

The True Face and Spirit of Rock'n'Roll

The best rock'n'roll show I ever saw was the Fleshtones, at the Cubby Bear probably Fall 1982. The show spilled out into the street after the power was shut off, something that had to be experienced to be believed. I saw these guys I think eight times and they always gave 110%. The Fleshtones were one of the greatest live bands ever, and possibly THE greatest. That power did not translate in all its glory to vinyl, alas. They have lived the Rock Life to the fullest, tasting the bitter dregs, and hitting the Olympian heights of crowd-pleasing frenzy -- but never making any serious money, never having a hit record ... . There is no rest for the righteous, no justice for the pure of heart, no big pile of cash for the true heroes of rock-for-its-own-sweet-sake. But there is the satisfaction of being GREAT and knowing it, whatever the world at large may do in response. This is a great American story of guys who brought fun and excitement and happiness into the lives of thousands of people. If they come to your town, go see them.

The American beat that can't be...

A great read that reminds me exactly why I keep bashing my brains out against a seemingly impregnable brick wall. If you listen to the band while reading, you'll hear that the lack of commercial hits these guys have been chasing for more than a quarter century certainly isn't down to them. They have powers way in excess of whatever the alleged hipsters are offering you and if you haven't seen them live then I envy you. Joe's documentation of the band's struggle is a fantastic portrait of a combo who will go to death defying ends to deliver what is precious to all of us. A music book about a band with a story worth telling, you don't get many of those to the pound these days.