May 25, 2009
 By Billy Suter
Durban music legend Steve Fataar, formerly
of the group The Flames and now wowing Durban with his talented family band, Avatar, talks trivia with Billy Suter...
The highlight of your year so far?
A performance at Durban’s Burn nightclub with my band,
Avatar (me and the offspring), collaborating with new Durban band Thots. That gig was as classy as it gets.
Favourite local restaurant, shop, mall and leisure activity?
Little Gujerat. I am excited only by “junk” shops. I don’t do malls, unless I have to make music there. Leisure activities mostly revolve around meeting friends and mulling over topical issues, and going to listen to some of the incredible live music in Durban.
Movie you most enjoyed in the past year? And your
favourite film of all time?
Crossroads Festival, which featured Jeff Beck with a
stunning female bassist, as well as Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton, all on stage together. Awesome stuff, that’s right up my street.
Favourite film of all time?
A toss-up between The Devil’s Advocate and The Last
Waltz.
What CD is in your car at the moment? And what’s your all-time favourite album?
A live recording of a concert from 1993 called Fired Up – The Soul of The Flames. It features a host of locals doing Flames songs. And it’s the only copy on the planet!
All-time favourite album?
My choice wafts between Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and Blondie Chaplin’s Fragile Thread, which is not on general release, unfortunately.
Type of food you most enjoy? And least enjoy?
I love a Christmas-type roast with all the trimmings. I’m not fond of bland, boiled kinds of meals.
How do you keep fit?
Singing (passive breathing), making music – the dynamics of pursuing this is my keep-fit regimen.
Three things you love about South Africa?
People are mostly up, spirited and approachable. I also love the weather – infinitely variable. And then there is our music.
A word or phrase you overuse?
There are a few – “situations” and the phrases “nothing comes in half packages” and “compared to
what?”
Any one thing you’d like to change about yourself?
To be more academic in my relationship with the guitar.
When is your birthday?
March 14.
What is your dream holiday and who would be your fantasy date?
Any unspoilt beach with Lauren Hutton, who I knew when she was just 17. We would have a lot in common to talk
about.
If you could be an animal what would you be, and why?
Probably a polar bear, because of its capacity to survive in solitude.
Personalities you admire?
Evita Bezuidenhout, for her candour, and Keith Richards, for living his life uncompromisingly.
Things you truly love and detest?
I truly love: being aware of the spirit in everything, sharing music, my family, walking barefoot, being in
water naked and tequila. I detest: being aware of the
spirit in everything, condescending attitudes, the fact that life is too short for one lifetime, our fickleness as
humans, the inability to be discerning and, mostly,
opinions that are aired about people or situations when
there has been no hands-on experience involved.
The funniest thing that ever happened to you?
It was when my girlfriend and I bought identical pants
and then changed in separate toilets at a hotel, where we
were going to visit the Beach Boys. She was really short and we had each other’s pants on. It was hilarious!
Favourite actor, actress, author, singer, band and television show?
Johnny Depp, Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Robbins and Thots.
I don’t watch TV.
Three things you have to do before you die?
Show off Avatar to the world, complete the biog I’ve
started and write out a will.
What are you reading at the moment?
Autobiography of a Yogi.
Favourite cities in the world?
Amsterdam (everything can be done there), Melbourne (a friendly, easy-to-live-in city) and Durban (it’s so familiar, and home).
Some things about yourself that most people
don’t know?
I am a grandfather of five, I finished matric at the age of 15, there were kings and queens in my family history, and I am a pensioner.
  
 
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