One day, in 1983, there was a knock on my front door. I have no idea how they found me,
but it was two women, (Anita and Steph), asking if I might be interested in joining a female
trio who wrote their own music.
Well, I was, so I did, and rapidly so, learning their set of singing and dancing to replace an
AWOL Kizzy, to go on a CSE tour playing in the Falklands. Long story, but we got as close
as RAF Brize Norton, and then experienced our first brush with the law. Contractual issues
over innoculations or lack of them, lead to the 13 person show being cancelled. Zenana went
on to have the most fantastic times together, especially when soul diva Ruth Elder replaced
Nicky Prior, we just clicked and rehearsed and gigged 2 or 3 times per week from then on.
A very special period of my life, when I learned a lot about music, style, performing, womens’
rights, gay culture, love and friendship. Oh, and notifying people in advance if you can’t
make it to a rehearsal! WINK.
Best bits – being in the Star Bar at the Hippodrome (photo 3) after we had just performed on
stage at their very busy showcase, and snubbing this leery old man to chat with my Dad,
only for Anita to explain through gnashing teeth that I had just brushed off Peter Stringfellow.
Doh. Or is that Phew, lol. Better still was sharing Howcher ‘the most beautiful man in the
world’ ‘s dressing room. A fag hag was born that night!
Another great memory was at a gig of ours upstairs in the Queen Victoria pub in Wolverton.
Our manager Alan Whitehead, had brought our friends and his other artists Mel and Kim up
in his Rolls to see us play. We were all giggling in the loos, exchanging make up tips and
trying on each others Butler and Wilson jewelry. Next time we saw them they were on Top of
the Pops, missed out again. We did reunite when they played at The Club at the Point, CMK,
but this time we supported them, and they were not enjoying their success. In fact it’s fair to
say they were exhausted! Sadly Mel died not too long after that.
Talking of dressing room antics, another great night in the changing room at The Club was
with Divine. Lovely queen, who’s wig looked just like my real hair! Sadly Divine passed away
shortly after that. We were getting a reputation of doom!
Some of the clubs we played included La Beat Route, (photo) where we signed our
management deal with Alan Whitehead, and was introduced to the songwriter producer from
Mud, Dave who was interested in us doing one of his songs – Kylie eventually took him up on
that, La la la, la la la…another bad taste in my mouth! Sooo close.
As a sideline to Zenana, I met and joined a mixed race funk rock 7 piece band, Bianco Noir,
a one of two backing singers. (Photo) I lived with drummer Phil Felstead, and the bass
playing songwriter Steve Vincent went on to have a cracking dance hit with Dirty Cash.
Oops, missed again.
By this time, early 1988 that was, Zenana had fallen out of love with the music industry.
We’d had another court case to get us out of our management deal, as Alan was
concentrating all his efforts on Mel and Kim, only to be bought out to SA&W, ha! The thrill of
being on City Sounds TV talent show had worn off; not winning because of a
misunderstanding was galling. The prize was a record deal with CBS, but they thought we
were already signed to a label because we had a vinyl 7″ record out – it was our own label.
(Photo of single) No contract to be bought out of, they only had to ask! Missed again!
We were slick, coordinated, looking and sounding great, but ‘after the love has gone’ as E,W
& F said it just wasn’t earning us anything and we three parted ways.