Strawberry Switchblade

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Glasgow, United Kingdom (1981 – 1985)

Strawberry Switchblade was a band from Glasgow, Scotland in 1981. A Scottish female duo, Rose McDowall (who would later become associated with the industrial scene and contribute to projects such as Coil, Current 93, Death in June, Nature And Organisation, Nurse With Wound, Psychic TV, Boyd Rice, etc) and Jill Bryson bonded during the Glasgow punk scene of the late 70s, first as friends, then as bandmates.

With their distinctive style (garish colours, polka-dots and a slight geisha influence) already intact they formed Strawberry Switchblade (named after a never-released Orange Juice song and quickly aborted fanzine) in the early 80s. After signing to Warners they moved to London, and released the single Trees And Flowers in June 1983. Deceptively pretty, while actually written about Jill’s agoraphobia, it topped the indie charts and generated some hype.

They then hit the big time with the infectious hit “Since Yesterday” which reached #5 in the UK in November 1984, featuring Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera on guitar, Mark Bedford of Madness on bass and Boris Williams, later of The Cure on drums. Following this, their self-titled album was released in mid 1985, though by then the pop world had moved on and the later singles Let Her Go and Who Knows What Love Is failed to make much headway.
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  • Ashei

    go away

    Friday morning

  • Sonicjr01

    @Vaccy ... Sorry ... you will have to start at 1981, since sadly, no other has accomplished even a slightly similar sound.

    24 days ago

  • waigy

    Hi Jill Bryson has a brand new website This is big news to any SS fans like myself. She has worked as an artist since 1986. Theres an artwork page where you can buy originals/prints of her artwork. There's a couple of Strawberry switchblade galleries and a blog that Jill updates herself. www.jillbryson.com Craig

    27 days ago

  • Vaccy

    So where should I start if I wanted to hear something similar to Strawberry Switchblade?

    last month

  • KrassEstranged

    They really are rather wonderful.. Not the sort of thing I'd normally listen to.

    March 2012

  • acoverover

    WHERE HAS THIS BAND BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE. I HATE MYSELF FOR NOT LEARNING ABOUT THIS SOONER.

    March 2012

  • cat-dentures

    I always get this band mixed up with Switchblade Symphony and keep thinking, "holy shit this is their happiest song!"

    February 2012

  • misterpockets

    whoa... i forgot about them! i still have original vinyl of them from the 80's!

    January 2012
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