Posted on 03/30/2015 10:39:05 AM PDT by Squawk 8888
Bananarama, the ‘80s UK female pop vocal group, were famous for their hits “Venus,” “I Heard a Rumor,” “Really Saying Something,” and “Cruel Summer.” Fans of the band’s bouncy bubblegum pop, might be surprised to learn the group once recorded a (completely awesome) Sex Pistols cover on an obscure 1982 soundtrack.
Stylistically, they may have been world’s apart from the UK punk scene, but actually it’s where they got their start. According to their Wikipedia entry:
The trio were ardent followers of the punk rock and post-punk music scene during the late 1970s and early 1980s and often performed impromptu sets or backing vocals at gigs for such bands as The Monochrome Set, Iggy Pop, The Jam, Department S and The Nipple Erectors.
Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols helped Bananarama get their first record deal. In 1981 the members of Bananarama were living above Jones and Cook’s rehearsal room, and with their help, the group recorded their first demo “Aie a Mwana.” Further Sex Pistols connection came when Malcolm McLaren offered to manage them. McLaren’s proposal of sexually suggestive material did not fit with the group’s tomboyish image, and so Bananarama passed on McLaren’s management— probably a wise decision, as their later string of top ten UK hit singles would attest.
(Excerpt) Read more at dangerousminds.net ...
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They were cute, in an ‘80s kind of way.
Without reading the linked article, I recall they and “Fun Boy Three” were manufactured at the same time.
They did come out of the punk scene, with Fun Boy Three being the Specials packaged commercially.
Cruel Summer is classic.
That entire album was excellent.
I agree.
Lots of great memories.
BFL
Glad to see Iggy pop mentioned. Sad no Ramones, Pixies,Smiths or Johnny Rotten mentioned. I think Iggy got Missing Persons band started up with a hotty playboy bunny singer (Dale Bozzio) and arguably one of the best drummers ever, Terry Bozzio.
Keren Woodward. Yum.
Many people have mocked Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! but he got (and kept) Keren. So there!
BFL
I vaguely recall the videos but never dropped a needle on their albums.
Their look reminds me of the look of the band at the end of Ladies & Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains (1982).
Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06kCwPpyjCk
Video from the end of the movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEjRg22yFBE
Cast includes members of the Clash (Paul Simonon), Sex Pistols (Steve Jones and Paul Cook), and Tubes (Fee Waybill and Vince Welnick).
I don’t recall if I’ve brought it up before but their is a 3-part history of (British) punk starting with the post-60s rock and roll revival and pub-rock, then covering 1977 in part II (and the wind down into NME pop and video produced acts), and post-punk (in part III).
The punk bands that successfully made the transition to video and dance clubs survived (the Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Billy Idol, etc.).
Funny thing is part I has footage of Malcolm McClaren selling past date 50s attire to the audience at the 1972 Rock & Roll Show at Wembley Stadium (to see Screaming Lord Sutch, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry).
BBC 4: Punk Britannia
Part I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrX5-V8pQr8
Part II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYG5M83zUn4
Part III
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaA0BfADpYg
But they didn’t even sing in harmony. On the 1-10 scale of vocal talent they were about a 2.
Great stuff.
Shonen Knife redux.
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