Over the years, such bands have included Big Star, the dB's, NRBQ and the Cramps. Possibly the proudest and maddest are the Fleshtones, spontaneous party combo of new York and anywhere else that will have them. These boys are merrily unhinged, except for their complete control of those three chords which were stowed away with the animals on the Ark.

Lead singer and self-styled 'acme thunderer' Peter Zaremba is a frenzied being who approaches his harmonica like a starving man presented with a slice of Black Forest gateau. When that's not in his mouth, he bellows as if watching his youth being repossessed. In short, he is not a quiet man. Nor are the rest of the group. They began their set at the Town & Country Club, Highbury Corner, by marching in a conga to the rear and back. The horn players crouch low like Cossack dancers until their moment for a toot, then all leap into the air, horns akimbo.