Who Are... The Courettes?
Martin and Flavia Couri answer a few CR questions.
Describe your sound in a sentence?
FC: The Ronettes meet the Ramones for a wild party at the Gold Star Studios’ echo chamber.
You met in [Flavia’s homeland] Brazil when you were in different bands. What were your first impressions of one another?
MC: Flavia was a sunshine of beauty. Even at five in the morning in a smelly tour van.
FC: I didn’t know Martin’s old band Columbian Neckties at all. Then this guy came and sat by my side, in the only seat left available of the van. I was upset at the start, but then we realised we had very similar music taste, and we stuck together for the whole tour – and ever since.
As married bandmates, do you live and breathe music 24/7?
MC: We live it constantly. Playing, being in our studio, office work and at home.
FC: Yes. And we are also dedicated parents to a lovely five-year-old named Lennon.
Who are your go-to guitar heroes?
FC: Dave Davies, Poison Ivy, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Keith Richards, Lady Bo, Pete Townshend and George Harrison.
And drum heroes?
MC: Hal Blaine and Ringo Starr.
Best voices in rock’n’roll?
MC: Little Richard, Gerry Roslie and John Lennon, no doubt!
FC: John Lennon, Tina Turner and Elvis Presley, for sure.
You’re big Beatles fans. Who are your other sixties favourites?
MC: The Beattle-Ettes, The Sonics, Thor’s Hammer, The Ronettes, The Shangri-Las, The Teardrops.
FC: For me Os Mutantes from Brazil are as good as The Beatles! Our big-time favourites are Kinks, Stones (Brian Jones period), the Velvet Underground, The Ronettes, The Crystals, The Shangri-las, Duane Eddy and the Beach Boys.
Defining moment in the band’s life?
MC: The first time we played together in a rehearsing studio. It was such an explosion of sound!
FC: Playing the day after I gave birth to our son, supporting The Sonics and signing with Damaged Goods Records were special days.
What should people expect from a Courettes gig?
MC: The real deal! The real sound! Played loud as hell!
FC: A sweaty and wild celebration of the community that only a rock show can create.