Born on a whim when summoned by The Lepers as a support band for their Widnes Sixth Form College gig in November 1977. Sticky Flem headlined because The Lepers only had three songs. The Flems never looked back. They stormed the stage wearing black bin bags. The highlight of the night was an exploding strobe light followed by a hail of maggots thrown by the innovative audience.More legendary gigs followed around Widnes. Sticky Flem wrote their own material however they occasionally performed songs written for them by others such as Al Roberts - Woman of My Dreams & Twinkle Twinkle Little Vibrator.The Flems frequented Erics nightclub in Liverpool during its heyday. The lineup evolved between 1977 and 1982 based on who was around at the time but Lead and Rhythmn Guitar Flem were omnipresent. They eventually dispersed to pursue other interests.
Some Flems vanished off the face of the earth. Rhythmn Guitar Flem & Black Eyed Bean Shaker/Vocals Flem married each other many years later. Lead Guitar Flem made a career out of his music and later married a Naughty Lump after a notorious scaffolding climbing incident. He can still be found playing live at the Brecon Jazz Festival and around and about the Beacons. One shortlived Flem (Keyboards Flem) appeared in Full Metal Jacket and even went on to have a hit "Full Metal Jacket (I Wanna Be Your Drill Instructor)" with Abigail Mead (Vivian Kubrick). The 12" picture disc single is now said to be a collector's item.Bass Flem who was known for his Orange amp and rapier like wit, sought his fortune down that London.Good places to spot a Flem are in pubs around Widnes, Brecon and London.
A secret meeting of likeminded Flems is planned in Widnes in the very near future.
