In
august 1981 Suzanne Scott (bassist / vocalist), Paula Richards (guitarist
/ vocalist) and Karen Yarnell (drummer) played for the first time as a
threesome under the name of The Gymslips. The band had been going a year
previous to that under the same name only with different members. Initially
dressing up in schoolgirls clothing and having 'Stage names' like Gladys
Ankle and Molly Mettle, the band supported the Dolly Mixtures on a UK
tour. Later on in 1981 an old Gymslips track was released on the allgirl
compilation LP "Making Waves" and the band went on tour with the Androids
of Mu & Rock Goddess. In the spring of 1982 they recorded their first
session for John Peel from which they got their record contract. Their
first single "48 Crash" (a cover of the Suzi Quatro hit)came out in november
of that year and the follow up "Big sister" was released at the beginning
of 1983. April 1983 saw the release of their "Rocking with the Renees"
LP which also saw the bad expand to a four piece with the addition of
keyboardist Kathy Barnes.With two further John Peel sessions, good reviews
for the "Robot man" 45 and the release of the album in a different sleeve
and with the tittle "Drink problem" especially for the American market
The Gymslips future looked bright but twelve months of personnel and contractual
problems led to Paula having to recruit a new line up and start all over
again. With Karen Kay on bass, Sue Vickers on keyboards and Michelle Chowrimootoo
on drums The Gymslips recorded their final Peel session in the summer
of '84 before issuing their last single "Evil eye" (produced by the Angelic
Upstarts MOnd Cowie) in early 1985 and then calling it a day soon after
it's release. Suzanne Scott quit music alltogether whilst Karen Yarnell
went onto join Serious Drinking and The Blubbery Hellbellies. Paula Richards
joined The Deltones and then Potato 5 before again teaming up with Yarnell
in band called The Renees and issuing the LP "Have you got it" as well
as contributing the track "He called me a fat pig and walked out on me"
to the female only compilation "Postcard from Paradise".
Mixed of Gymslips CD 's insert (Captain Oi) and "Rocking with the Renees" LP 's insert.
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The
three girls featured on the front cover were in fact the bands
(then) girlfriends with the one flashing the suspenders being
Paula Richards who later turned up in The Gymslips and The Deltones
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Karen
Yarnell went onto join Serious Drinking
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