Rubella Ballet is a gothic anarcho-punk band formed in summer 1979, who released several albums before splitting up in 1991. They reformed in 2000. The band was formed by drummer Sid Truelove (born 18 April 1960, Sutton Coldfield, a former chef and later also the drummer with Flux Of Pink Indians), together with former Fatal Microbes Pete Fender (Dan Sansom, guitar), Gem Stone (Gemma Sansom, bass) and It (Quentin North, also bass), with vocalists Annie Anxiety and Womble. Their first gig was at the Triad Leisure Centre in Bishops Stortford on 5 August 1979, where they crashed the bar to play at a Crass/Poison Girls/Epileptics gig that was happening in the main hall. Several other gigs followed throughout the summer of 1979, until Annie, Womble and It left, to be replaced by vocalist Zillah Minx (born Zillah Elaine Ashworth, 31 March 1961, Birkenhead) towards the end of the year. (read more on wikipedia)
Links to Peel[]
Peel first played Rubella Ballet in 1982, where he claimed that singer Zillah Minx's dad was a Liverpool supporter. He invited the group to do two sessions for his shows, which they did. In an 2013 interview with the Punk Globe website, singer, Zillah Minx was asked about her experience in doing the Peel session:
"The BBC had a computerized recording studio. When we arrived the Engineer and crew told us we were locked out by the computer for three hours. It was surreal as no one we knew of at the time had computers. But the BBC are cutting edge when it comes to technology as they have millions of pounds to spend on equipment they couldn’t use. It felt futuristic but annoying as we only had eight hours in the studio to record and mix all the tracks. We were disappointed John Peel wasn’t there for the recording but the BBC have separate people to do the recording session and then Peel plays it. I later met John Peel when I appeared in a strange one off Channel Four programme, What ever you didn’t get. Vi-Subversa (singer of Poison Girls) was the Queen and Boy George was the King. The rest of us, George Michael (who tried to chat up all the women including me, before he came out as gay) John Peel, Dave Vanian, etc were guests. It was at the making of this show I got my chance to talk to John Peel to thank him for the session and tell him I was also from Liverpool. He offered us our second John Peel session, result nice one John." [1]
Sessions[]
Rubella Ballet - Peel Session 1982
1. Recorded: 1982-05-29. Broadcast: 06 July 1982. Repeated: 29 July 1982, 03 November 1982
- Slant And Slide / Belfast / Ballet Dance / T / Me
2. Recorded: 1983-01-26. Broadcast: 08 February 1983
- Love Life / Newz / Exit / Blues
Other Shows Played[]
- 29 April 1982: Krak Trak (7" - Ballet Dance) Xntrix Records
- 07 September 1982: The Ballet Dance (7" - Ballet Dance) Xntrix
- 15 September 1982 (BFBS): Unemployed (7" EP - The Ballet Dance) Xntrix XN2005
- 15 September 1982 (BFBS): The Ballet Dance (7" EP) Xntrix XN2005
- 1983
- 24 August 1983: Unemployed (7" EP - Ballet Dance) Xntrix XN 2005
- 27 August 1983 (BFBS): Unemployed (7" EP - Ballet Dance) Xntrix XN 2005
- 1984
- 18 April 1984 (BFBS): 42°F (7") Jungle JUNG 12
- 25 April 1984 (BFBS): Slant + Slide (12" - 42°F) Jungle JUNG 12
- 25 April 1984 (BFBS): Blind Ambition (12" - 42°F) Jungle JUNG 12
- 1985
- 08 April 1985 (BBC World Service): Money Talks (12”) Ubiquitous