History Flaming Youth

Flaming Youth was an obscure British band known as a forerunner of what would later be called 'space rock', the group recording an album in 1968 before breaking up. Today, the band is more known as the original group of English singer-songwriter Phil Collins, then 18 years of age, who was the group's drummer, although Flaming Youth's critical acclaim has caused a cult following.

The band consisted of keyboardist Brian Chatton (born Brian Charles Chatton, 19 July 1948, Bolton, Lancashire, England), Ronnie Caryl (on bass guitar), Gordon Smith on guitar and bass, and Collins on drums. Toward the group’s end, Rod Mayall briefly joined on organ, and the group became more free-form.

The group released an album, 'Ark 2', in 1969. In November 1969, the British music magazine, NME, reported that the concept album was the subject of an hour long television special, which the group had filmed in the Netherland. The LP was released on the Fontana Records label to some critical but no commercial success. There was also a follow-up single recorded, “Man, Woman, and Child”. After a brief tour, the group dissolved.

Collins and Caryl both auditioned for Genesis the following year, although Caryl was not successful.[2] Caryl later played with Collins as his guitarist on his solo tours. Collins also kept in touch with Chatton, playing on at least one song by the band Boys Don't Cry on their second album.

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