Welcome to the Strawberry Switchblade fansite

This is a comprehensive archive for Strawberry Switchblade, the mid-80s Scottish goth-pop group with the best ever vegetable matter/cutting implement name for a band, at least until the advent of Daisy Chainsaw. Since 2003, this has been a hub of all manner of material about the band,

Here you’ll find exclusive in-depth interviews with Rose McDowall and Jill Bryson, as well as their managers and producers. There are also dozens of vintage press interviews, loads of previously unpublished photos, a discography, lyrics, guitar chords, streaming audio and downloads.

There’s also a wealth of content from our YouTube channel of TV appearances and rare, unreleased and live audio tracks.

If you’re new to Strawberry Switchblade, maybe start with the Writings section of the site or the edited interview highlights that takes key points from everyone’s perspectives.

And if you have any rare tracks, vintage clippings or anything else that’d be a good addition to the site or YouTube channel then do please get in touch.

From the same session as the photo used for the cover of Melody Maker 26 January 1985
Jill: 'That's us in my flat in West End Park Street with Desmond, one of the rescue cats from the basement in the derelict tenement building where we used to rehearse.' Probably 1981 or 1982. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Strawberry Switchblade - Let Her Go cover
Rose on the set of the video shoot for Who Knows What Love Is, 1985 (directed by Tim Pope). Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Drapes photoshoot - 3. Polaroid test from photo session. Probably 1983 or 1984.
Strawberry Switchblade 1984 album promotional flexidisc cover
Summer 1983, London, with manager David Balfe. Jill: 'That was when we signed to WEA. That's round behind Selfridges, there's a little lane with a plaza, St Christopher's Place. We'd signed to WEA that day and we were out having a meal, and it was very hot.' Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
On the set of the video shoot for Who Knows What Love Is, 1985 (directed by Tim Pope). The picture in the background in the middle is a still from the Since Yesterday video. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Backstage (actually in the toilets) at Reading, 12 November 1983. Jill: ‘That was our dressing room – we had to get ready in the public toilets! There we are with a table of beer and crisps in the toilet. The glamour!’. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Strawberry Switchblade - Let Her Go, Japanese cover
Rose on the set of the Since Yesterday video shoot, 1984 (director: Tim Pope). Peter: 'I remember Paul Weller turned up, and I remember he was very pleased with himself. I believe he still is.' Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Cover of Blue Jeans, 27 April 1985
From an entirely unpublished photo session, later 1985. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Muswell Hill, London, 1985. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday 12 inch picture disc
At Rose's flat in Darnley, Glasgow, 1981 or 1982. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Promotional photo, mid 1985. From the same session as the photos used on the covers of the Japanese singles Jolene and I Can Feel. (Pic: Sheila Rock)
First ever Strawberry Switchblade gig, Spaghetti Factory, Glasgow, December 1981. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Rose on the inner sleeve of the 1984 promotional flexidisc
The last Strawberry Switchblade photo session, just weeks before the split in June 1986. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Unusually colourful promo shot, late 1984.
Rose, first visit to Japan, 1985..
Jill's polka dot fixation started early.. Picture later used on an early Strawberry Switchblade gig flyer in 1982.
Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday cover
Jill: ‘I think that was when we were on the cover of Woman magazine or Woman’s Own or one of those bizarre magazines that I didn’t ever think we’d be in!’ 1984 or 1985.
Promotional photo, c.1984. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Shot for Jackie magazine (they were cover stars for the May 16 1985 issue).
Jill on the inner sleeve of the 1984 promotional flexidisc
At Rose's flat in Darnley, Glasgow, 1981 or 1982. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Plain clothes and makeup as a blank canvas for coloured polka dot projections for the photo used on the poster that came free with early copies of the Since Yesterday 12”. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Rose at the photo session that yielded the Trees and Flowers cover picture, in Jill's flat, 1983. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Strawberry Switchblade - Jolene, Japanese 7 inch cover
Jill: 'Another of Peter’s college projects, 1977 or 1978. I bought that leopard print leotard and thought it was fantastic. Everything else, I used to have to go to the dance shop, you couldn’t get opaque black tights anywhere else. This punk walking into the ballet place asking for footless tights! I was quite short so I could pull the tights right down. I used to wear a black leotard all the time, so I got that and the black tights underneath whatever I was wearing.' Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Rose & Jill wth Suggs from Madness and Paul Weller, promoting UN Internatonal Youth Year, Regent's Park, London, February 1985. See the Press section of the site for No 1 magazine's report, 9 March 1985.
Pollock' photo session 5 (Pic: Paul Cox)
Trees and Flowers UK music press advert
Jill and Rose with her Fender Coronado II
Jill around the time of her solo gigs, 1987. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Smiley promo shot
Strawberry Switchblade - Ecstasy (Apple of My Eye) cover
Rose and Jill, promo shot in flamenco dresses
Rose on stage at The Warehouse, Leeds, supporting Orange Juice, 1 December 1982. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Record company promo print, 1984
Peter: 'This was a sort of image experiment that never went anywhere. It was taken in our flat in Muswell Hill, probably 1984.' Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Promotional shot of Jill Bryson, 1984 (Pic: Paul Cox)
Beeb magazine Strawberry Switchblade poster, issue 13, 23-29 April 1985
Strawberry Switchblade - Who Knows What Love Is? 12 inch cover
Jill: ‘That is in Hyde Park in London when we’d just signed for something – I’m not sure if was the publishing or when we got signed to Warners. We were down in London and it was dead hot.’ Probably summer 1983. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Rose and Jill, first visit to Japan, 1985
Despite the monochrome print, these clothes were very colourful. Late in the band's time, probably 1986. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
The photo used for the Trees and Flowers cover, uncropped. Taken in Jill's flat, 1983. Pic used by kind permission of Peter Anthony McArthur, who retains copyright.
Strawberry Switchblade - album cover
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