Deadbeat

Issue 16
25 July-22 August 1983

Strawberry Switchblade

As Strawberry Switchblade prepare to take the world by storm, Deadbeat, with more than a little help from Stephen from The Pastels, got down to the nitty gritty of life in showbiz.

Jill and Rose play guitar and sing and they’ve just released their debut single ‘Flowers and Trees’ [sic]. This interview began with a question about the record and continued through bouts of infectious laughter and Glasgow accents:

Jill: The single’s going out on Rough Trade but we’ve actually just signed to WEA. We did this single ages ago and Rough Trade wanted to put it out but we didn’t want to put it out on WEA because it was recorded before all that.

Rose: It’s actually going out on 92 Happy Customers – that’s the name of the label.

Keith: What’s it like?

Jill: The A side ‘Flowers and Trees’ [sic] is quite a big production – it’s got a rhythm section and backing vocals and the B side ‘Go Away’ is more like us as we usually are – just me and Rose singing with a guitar, so it’s quite contrasty.

Rose: The B Side’s probably the best.

Jill: I don’t know, I like them both.

Keith: What’s your deal with WEA for?

Rose: An album and two singles. We’ll probably start on that sometime this month or August.

Stephen: Are you ever going to have Strawberry Switchblade as a full time band with more than just guitars and vocals. (SS used to be a four piece)

Jill: No, I don’t think we ever will – not full time.

Rose: I don’t think t would ever work again after being just the two of us.

Stephen: Do you not think it puts you at a disadvantage when you just go into the studio and play guitar and sing and you’re sort of put at the will of other people and they can maybe do things that you don’t like and it’s embarrassing to tell them you don’t like?

Jill: We just tell them anyway.

Rose: We just say try something else.

Jill: I suppose it’s been OK up to now because we haven’t had to use anything we haven’t liked.

Rose: I think it would be more embarrassing if we had two permanent members who did something we didn’t like.

Keith: What’s your favourite Glasgow Night Club?

Jill: 68 West End Park Street when The Pastels are playing an impromptu gig in the front room with Stephen Pastel on top of the TV. We don’t go to night clubs.

As Strawberry Switchblade provide the backing vocals on The Pastels new single I thought the two bands seemed to go hand in hand but they all just laughed.

Rose: We made this great dress for Stephen and he looks terrific in it.

Stephen: Was it nice working with the Madness rhythm section (on the single)?

Rose: Yeah, it was good.

Stephen: Any nasty habits you could tell us about?

Jill: Only if we made them up. They’ve both got wooden legs.

Stephen: Well let’s talk about your bizarre lifestyles then. What really goes on at 68 West End Park Street?

Jill: We watch too much TV. That’s all we do, Coronation Street.

Rose: We model ourselves on people like Stan and Hilda Ogden. I’m Hilda and she’s Stan.

Jill: Oh, I think that’s really horrible Rose.

Stephen: What about you Rose, are you pleased when people whistle the Munsters theme at you?

Rose: I love it. A wee boy in Darnlee [sic] calls me Mrs Munster.

Stephen: What’s the first thing you’ll do if you get to be massive big pop stars and get loads of money?

Rose: I’m going to buy a cottage in the Highlands and retire.

Jill: I don’t know. I won’t buy a cottage in the Highlands. It’s too boring.

Stephen: If you get on TOTP are you going to do something subversive to show that you don’t really approve of groups like Buck’s Fizz – or do you approve of them?

Jill: No, I think I’ll be too scared. I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything.

Rose: I just don’t want them to use those dancers.

Jill: Or drop balloons on our heads. I have this image that if we ever are on TOTP I know a balloon’s going to drop on my head and I’ll be really embarrassed – not that I think we’ll ever get on but I just mean any programme.

Keith: Have you ever given blood?

Jill: Yeah, I have.

Rose: I haven’t, I’m too wee. I’m not 8 stone.

Jill: It’s horrible – I didn’t look. I didn’t like it cos I had to show somebody my arm and I don’t like my arms.

Rose: I might put on some weight so that I can give blood sometime.

Keith: Are you going on holiday – camping in the Highlands maybe?

Rose: Ach no, nobody’ll go with me.

Stephen: What about Peter and Drew, they’ll go with you.

Rose: They’re a pair of saps – I don’t want tae get wet – that’s all they’d say.

Jill: I’d love to go camping but if I want on holiday I’d just go a holiday to Glasgow. [sic] I don’t really enjoy being on holiday, if I ever go on holiday I just stay in my room. So if I ever say I’ve been to Blackpool I mean I’ve been to a room in Blackpool. Blackpool’s very like home – full of drunk Glaswegians.

Stephen: Is it true that you really like horror films Rose?

Rose: Oh yes.

Jill: She especially likes ones where eyeballs fall out.

Rose: I don’t. One thing that scares me is eyeballs falling out. I had this dream once when I was wee and I was in a phone box and this eyeball came out and then all these other eyes came after me.

Jill: The Munsters is as far as I can go. Mr Munster is really scary.

Keith: Anything you’d like to add?

Rose: I’d like to jump from a parachute.

Jill: Jump from a parachute?

Rose: Well… I’d like to jump from a plane with a parachute on. I’m going to buy my own plane, maybe next year when we’re really big.

Jill: She’s full of ambition. Oh yeah, please don’t write this in Glasgow accents and we’re definitely not glamorous.

Rose: Nope, definitely not.

Jill: I think we should say that in case anyone sees us and gets a fright.

Keith: And you’ll never forget your friends when you’re famous?

Jill: What friends?

That was the cue for my exit and as I strolled onto the underground I’m sure I could still hear them giggling.