AKTIVIRUS fanzine met Keith Streng, Fleshtones' guitarist at the end of a concert on Feb 21st 1997 in Nonantola (Modena) a very famous rock club in northern Italy.
One hour and half of pure rock'n'roll and pure energy. Styles and trends are changing but Peter Zaremba's band has been faithful to itself until now.
Q : Keith, 20 years after your debut, can you make a final summary of this period ?
A : Well, a nice period, long, amusing, always around the world; we really had a lot of fun.
Q : You're continuing having fun, but I think that Fleshtones are always the same. Aren't you afraid of boring the public? Music is changing all over the world while you've been doing the same stuff since 1976...
A : We play rock'n'roll and that's good. Many bands try hard to change their style, but I think that you've always to be honest and play what you really love; it's not good changing only to meet public's tastes. I think that modern music is too cold, all those samplers, those electronic sounds...it's disgusting... I think that it's too sad...
Q : Do you think that the situation is better in the States or in Europe ?
A : In the States is much better. The best music is played there. The States created R'n'R. I don't know many European productions, I only know that Oasis is one of the most famous bands. We saw their gig in France and I didn't like them at all...
Q : What about your gigs? What's the public's attitude?
A : In the States it's good. In Europe not bad, especially in Italy, France and Spain. In Northern Europe it's worse. In England they know us only in London. English people are too closed, they are looking only at the inside, are sceptical about everything coming from outside. Indeed, the only 'open' city is London. Probably because London is at a cross-roads of different cultures, the only city where there is a sort of exchange which is encouraged by an ethnic variety. Now, with the Eurotunnel, we hope that all these people will be more open minded, getting close to Europe with less distrust and more willingness.
Q : Where do you have the most fans?
A : In the States of course... In the South; Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana. There are a lot of fans in Chicago, too. In Europe fans are growing in France, Spain...
Q : Are you working on a new album ?
A : Yes, it will be an album with versions put out by other bands. It comes out in April and it's called 'Fleshtones Favourites'.
In the meanwhile the rock club was changing its public, the disco-fans came in and the volume in the hall was very loud.
"Do you know this song?" asks Keith but replies immediately to his question "Of course, Oasis". He laughs, says good-bye and goes away.