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strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade fansite
@strawfansite.bsky.social
430 followers 97 following 1.1K posts
The comprehensive online archive of all things #StrawberrySwitchblade since 2003. Posting about the band, nattering about music in general.

https://strawberryswitchblade.net
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strawfansite.bsky.social
Not your traditional festive tune. Here's Rose McDowall singing Christmas Time Is Drawing Near, from Coil's 1999 EP 'Winter Solstice: North'

www.youtube.com/watch?v=faGE...
Coil - Christmas Is Now Drawing Near
YouTube video by Virgil Pink
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Happy birthday Robin Millar, 74 today! Producer of Sade & Fine Young Cannibals he also made 2 tracks with Strawberry Switchblade that were supposed to be the start of the album. The indie guitar sound's very different to where the songs ended up. Here's Secrets:
🧵

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfgM...
Strawberry Switchblade - Secrets (Robin Millar version)
YouTube video by Strawberry Switchblade
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Unused photos from the session for Strawberry Switchblade's debut album cover, 1984.

(📸©️ Peter McArthur, used with permission)
Monochrome photo of Jull and Rose in white dresses with black polka dots. Jill leans away, eyes closed while Rose in the foreground looks in the other direction. Monochrome photo of Jull and Rose in white dresses with black polka dots. Jill and Rose both looking to the left, in different directions Monochrome photo of Jull and Rose in white dresses with black polka dots. Jill leans backwards with eyes closed while Rose in the foreground faces right but has her head turned to look into the camera The cover of Strawberry Switchblade's eponymous debut album. A monochrome photo of Jull and Rose in white dresses with black polka dotshas been coloured so their lips are red and the plastic flowered headbands trailing ribbons are all in colour.
December 17, 2025 at 9:20 AM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade - Hyde Park, London, summer 1983

(📸©️ Peter McArthur, used with permission)
Jill and Rose lie on the grass in the sunshine wearing polka dots and shades
December 16, 2025 at 8:45 AM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday performed on Japanese TV, 1985.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-2S...
Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday (Japanese TV 1985)
YouTube video by Strawberry Switchblade
www.youtube.com
December 14, 2025 at 11:28 AM
strawfansite.bsky.social
41 years ago this week, December 1984, if you were rushing out to buy the latest Smash Hits you'd have found Strawberry Switchblade on their first ever national magazine cover.
Cover of Smash Hits magazine featuring Strawberry Switchblade in all their ribboned, backcombed polka dot finery, looking at the camera
December 7, 2025 at 3:10 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
5 years after Stephen Lawrence's murder there was a public inquiry. It was supposed to be the Met coming clean. But they didn't reveal #spycops had been spying on the Lawrence family. Whistleblower officer Peter Francis wanted to tell but was overruled.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Spycops whistleblower says bosses stopped him revealing surveillance of Stephen Lawrence family
Peter Francis says he had ‘hostile’ exchanges over telling 1990s Macpherson inquiry into racist murder about covert operation
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade in the studio during the recording of their album, mid 1984. As befits a practical, work-focused day they are underdressed by their standards (though still flamboyant by anyone else's).
Four people stand in a room against a wall, smiling for the camera. Rose McDowall and Jill Bryson are in the middle in short dresses and hairbands with plastic flowers and long trailing ribbons. They are flanked by two casually dressed men of a comparable age. The walls have pictures of musicians, it appears to be one of Ringo Starr just behind Jill.
November 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
strawfansite.bsky.social
44 years ago today, 22 November 1981, an indie quartet called Strawberry Switchblade went to record a demo at the Hellfire Club, a 4-track studio in Glasgow. The 4 young women made a 3 song tape to help them get their first gigs. 🧵
Page from the Hellfire Club ledger dated Sunday 22 November 1981, listing the three songs and which instrument goes on each of the four tracks on the master tape. Page from the Hellfire Club ledger listing the Strawbery Switchblade songs recorded and the instruments used.
November 22, 2025 at 11:23 AM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade's Trees & Flowers (Just Music), the instrumental bonus track from the 1983 12" single with a gorgeous pastoral arrangement. Never been reissued & online versions were iffy quality so we just had it digitised from our treasured vinyl. Enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6-6...
Strawberry Switchblade - Trees and Flowers (Just Music) (high quality)
YouTube video by Strawberry Switchblade
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
New Trees and Flowers cover version just dropped! Madeline Goldstein did this beautiful rendition with Faith-era Cure vibes (and authentic sartorial choices) on 30 October at the Empty Bottle in Chicago.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=s85Y...
Madeline Goldstein - Trees and Flowers (Strawberry Switchblade live cover) Chicago 2025
YouTube video by Von Gehenna
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:30 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade backstage at Reading University, 42 years ago today, 12 Nov 1983.

Jill: ‘That was our dressing room – we had to get ready in the public toilets! There we are with a table of beer & crisps in the toilet. The glamour!’

(📸©️Peter McArthur, used with permission)
Rose and Jill sit wearing black polka dot flamenco dresses and large headbands with colourful plastic flowers. in front of them are numerous open beer bottles on a table, beside and behind them are hand basins.
November 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
If you were rushing out to buy the new Smash Hits this week in 1984 you'd find future Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant was reviewing the new singles. He declared Strawberry Switchblade's Since Yesterday to be 'one of the few records this week which isn't trying to sound like something else'.
Scan of a section of a page of Smash Hits. It reads: Singles reviewed by Neil Tennant STRAWBERRY SWITCHBLADE Since Yesterday (Korova) This begins, if I’m not mistaken, with a snatch of something famous by the composer Sibelius, and then ventures into a wistful melody, sung in brittle harmonies which touches the heart. One of the few records this week which isn’t trying to sound like something else.
November 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
One year since the Since Yesterday film! Glasgow Women’s Library are doing a screening on Wed 13 Nov with a panel discussion celebrating the legacy and future of Scotland’s girl bands.

Tickets via sinceyesterdayfilm.com and womenslibrary.org.uk
Since Yesterday
Popstars, Post-Punks and Pioneers - a documentary platforming the trailblazing Girl Bands who challenged a male-dominated industry, acknowledging their rightful place in music history and examining enduring barriers faced by women making music. A colourful mixtape of unheard demos, lost archive and rare performances, written and narrated by musician Carla J. Easton.
sinceyesterdayfilm.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:42 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
We've talked a lot about Strawberry Switchblade's cover of Jolene but it's not the only Dolly Parton song Rose McDowall covered. In 1993, under the name Spell, she & Boyd Rice released Seasons in the Sun, a covers album that included the heartbreaking Down From Dover

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S4c...
Spell - Down From Dover
YouTube video by Mute
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:41 AM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade's Jill Bryson & Stephen McRobbie of @thepastels.bsky.social. Taken by Peter McArthur, Jill's partner & prime photographer of the early 1980s Glasgow indie scene. They look bored as it's just Peter testing camera flashes. Outside Peter & Jill's flat, West End Park St, c.1982.
Two young people outside a doorway in a sandstone building. Stephen is on the left in a duffel coat, Jill on the right in blue jacket, daisy print dress and very thick eyeliner. Neither looks like they're posing for the camera. The same two young people outside the doorway in a sandstone building, but taken from further back. As before, Stephen is on the left in a duffel coat, Jill on the right in blue jacket, daisy print dress and very thick eyeliner. Both have their hands in their pockets. Neither looks like they're posing for the camera.
October 31, 2025 at 12:23 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade's Since Yesterday was released this week in 1984, accompanied by this brilliant video directed by Tim Pope which perfectly complements the song and the band.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SToF...
Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday [High Quality]
YouTube video by Strawberry Switchblade
www.youtube.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:47 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Happy birthday to the one & only Rose McDowall, 66 today! The talent, the voice, the endless musical exploration of melancholy beauty, the amazing self-definition & an absolute goth style icon too.

📸 Sin Bozkurt 2016, Peter McArthur c.1983, Gilbert Blecken 1989, unknown
October 21, 2025 at 7:27 AM
strawfansite.bsky.social
New screening of the documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland's Girl Bands!

This coming Saturday, 25 October, at Galoshans Film Festival, Greenock.

galoshansfestival.co.uk/event/since-...
Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland’s Girl Bands (15) - Galoshans Mini Film - Galoshans Festival
galoshansfestival.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade's 1982 4-Piece Demo EP now available on grape coloured vinyl. Pressed for Japan earlier this year, a few copies are now available direct from the label @nightschoolrecords.bsky.social:

night-school.bandcamp.com/album/1982-4...
October 20, 2025 at 3:44 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Since Yesterday reviewed on the 'pop panel' segment of BBC kids' TV show Saturday Superstore. The non-musicians disparaged it but the musicians were approving. Delia Smith hated the 'doom & gloom', Midge Ure retorted 'I quite enjoy a bit of misery'!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1zt...
Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday review on Pop Panel (Saturday Superstore, 20 October 1984)
YouTube video by Strawberry Switchblade
www.youtube.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:44 AM
strawfansite.bsky.social
A year ago today Jill Bryson & Rose McDowall were at Glasgow Film Theatre for a panel discussion after a screening of the documentary Since Yesterday: The Untold Story of Scotland's Girl Bands. In this clip they look back on Strawberry Switchblade
October 19, 2025 at 2:58 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade record company promotional photos for the press, 1984.

📸1 - unknown
📸2 - Peter McArthur
📸3 - Paul Cox
Black and white photo. Face to face from the side, turned to the camera. Black and white photo, close up of faces. Rose lies down with eyes closed, Jill leans over her from behind and looks at the camera black and white shot from across the room. High contrast so subtle details are lost. Both wear a lot of white polka dots.
October 14, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Strawberry Switchblade fansite
ellekay68.bsky.social
@strawfansite.bsky.social Hope it's ok to ask on here, but if anyone knows of anyone selling a vinyl copy of Spell - Seasons in the sun, I'd be so grateful for the heads up. My daughter is a huge fan of Strawberry Switchblade and is also a fan of all the solo works by both Jill and Rose. Thank you.x
October 10, 2025 at 12:32 PM
strawfansite.bsky.social
Strawberry Switchblade, September 1985, around the time of their Jolene single.

📸 Mike Prior for No 1 magazine
Close up photo ina studio. Jill has red lipstick, crimped red hair and a hairband with red plastic roses. Rose stands next to her in a black PVC catsuit with black crimped hair and a diamante tiara, with purpley blue lipstick.
October 10, 2025 at 6:35 AM