The Suffrajets
Encyclopedia
The Suffrajets were a British
all girl four-piece rock
band formed in a school playground by childhood friends Alex Gillings and Gemma Clarke. Their steady rise to fame came off the back of their frequent touring (from the age of around 14years old), the release of well-received singles such as "Hold These Eyes" and "Distinction" and a Channel 4
documentary entitled We Are The Suffrajets. Their high-profile fans include Bruce Dickinson
of Iron Maiden
.
The original line up, which resulted in the band getting signed to a subsidory of Sony, was founded by Gemma Clarke and Alex Gillings, completed by bassist Charlene Hall. Their first of many record contracts was a high profile deal with Poolside Records via Sony when the girls were just 17years old! The band toured L.A and recorded an album there with producer Greg Hampton. The following 6 months were full of uk tours and the first line-up change came in October 2002. A serious tourbus crash on the m25 resulted in Charlie breaking her collarbone and ultimately leaving the band. She was replaced by sisters Sam and Shelley Walker. It was during this period that the band came to the attention of Bruce Dickinson, who frequently played their music on his radio show. With his high profile support, music videos in circulation on music channels, high profile gigs and the screening of 'We are The Suffrajets' on Channel 4, the band seemed set to make a national breakthrough. However, tensions in the band caused next line-up change, in early 2004. Drummer Gemma Clarke found fame that year as a member of the original lineup of Babyshambles
, playing on several of the bands early singles and putting the Suffrajets on hold while she toured with Babyshambles through 2004.
After Gemma Clarke quit Babyshambles
in january 2005, The Suffrajets' founders Gillings and Clarke then regrouped with new members; Claire Wakeman (lead guitar and future co-founder of The Krak) and Vicky Kingston (bass). They toured february with punk band Towers Of London and released their first single "Sold" on the independent record label Tough Cookie
. The single received coverage in Music Week
and featured on the Radio 1
Show "Women in Rock." Sold reached number 8 in the official UK Rock chart.
The Suffrajets played Download Festival and Tiscali
Sessions at Reading Festival in Summer 2005 appearing alongside acts such as The Futureheads
, Graham Coxon
and We Are Scientists
and performing a collaboration with poet & friend of Peter Doherty, The Wolfman. During this period work was finished on their debut album at Dep Studios in Birmingham with Producer Danny Sprigg.
The band toured extensively in 2005, completing 30 dates in 30 days in September, ending in a sold out show at the Camden Underworld
. Their second single "Everything You Do" was released in October 2005 resulting in substantial coverage in The Guardian
and New Woman Magazine.
Tough Cookie
were bought out of their contract by Beyond Bedlam Records and released a single "Everything You Do" in March 2006 after a UK tour with The Subways
and Sheffield band Little Man Tate
.
In June 2006 the band toured the UK supporting Presidents of the United States of America , and shortly afterwards in June 2006 released their next single 'Worthy', which was playlisted on many uk radio stations. Shortly after this Vicky Kingston left the group, to be replaced by Lulu Small.
Their album 'Crooked Mile' went on release in September 2006, only available via their website and now on www.notonyourradio.co.uk.
The band announced that they had split in March 2007 after 11 years playing together. Claire and Gemma went on to form The Krak, Alex formed Lullaby Project & Bears (an acoustic duo) and Lu rejoined and reformed her original band 'Seven Embers'.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
all girl four-piece rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in a school playground by childhood friends Alex Gillings and Gemma Clarke. Their steady rise to fame came off the back of their frequent touring (from the age of around 14years old), the release of well-received singles such as "Hold These Eyes" and "Distinction" and a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary entitled We Are The Suffrajets. Their high-profile fans include Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
of Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
.
The original line up, which resulted in the band getting signed to a subsidory of Sony, was founded by Gemma Clarke and Alex Gillings, completed by bassist Charlene Hall. Their first of many record contracts was a high profile deal with Poolside Records via Sony when the girls were just 17years old! The band toured L.A and recorded an album there with producer Greg Hampton. The following 6 months were full of uk tours and the first line-up change came in October 2002. A serious tourbus crash on the m25 resulted in Charlie breaking her collarbone and ultimately leaving the band. She was replaced by sisters Sam and Shelley Walker. It was during this period that the band came to the attention of Bruce Dickinson, who frequently played their music on his radio show. With his high profile support, music videos in circulation on music channels, high profile gigs and the screening of 'We are The Suffrajets' on Channel 4, the band seemed set to make a national breakthrough. However, tensions in the band caused next line-up change, in early 2004. Drummer Gemma Clarke found fame that year as a member of the original lineup of Babyshambles
Babyshambles
Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project . Babyshambles has released two albums, three EPs and a number of singles...
, playing on several of the bands early singles and putting the Suffrajets on hold while she toured with Babyshambles through 2004.
After Gemma Clarke quit Babyshambles
Babyshambles
Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project . Babyshambles has released two albums, three EPs and a number of singles...
in january 2005, The Suffrajets' founders Gillings and Clarke then regrouped with new members; Claire Wakeman (lead guitar and future co-founder of The Krak) and Vicky Kingston (bass). They toured february with punk band Towers Of London and released their first single "Sold" on the independent record label Tough Cookie
Tough Cookie
Tough Cookie is a UK based producer of audio and video content for the internet. Tough Cookie was launched in 2004 by Andy Wood and Neill Sullivan and has placed itself at the forefront of the booming online video market, having produced over 300 pieces of content for brands, cross-media...
. The single received coverage in Music Week
Music Week
Music Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...
and featured on the Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
Show "Women in Rock." Sold reached number 8 in the official UK Rock chart.
The Suffrajets played Download Festival and Tiscali
Tiscali
Tiscali may refer to:*Tiscali, an archaeological village of Nuragici people, in Sardinia, Italy, notable because it was completely inside a huge cavern*Tiscali SpA, a telecom company based in Italy*Tiscali TV , multiple uses...
Sessions at Reading Festival in Summer 2005 appearing alongside acts such as The Futureheads
The Futureheads
The Futureheads are an English post-punk band from Sunderland. consisting of Ross Millard , Barry Hyde and David "Jaff" Craig...
, Graham Coxon
Graham Coxon
Graham Leslie Coxon is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter. He came to prominence as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of rock band Blur, and is also a critically acclaimed solo artist, having recorded seven solo albums...
and We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists is a New York-based indie rock band that formed in Berkeley, California in 2000. Originally formed of Keith Murray on drums, Chris Cain playing bass guitar and Scott Lamb providing vocals and guitar, before Michael Tapper became drummer and Keith became vocalist and guitarist...
and performing a collaboration with poet & friend of Peter Doherty, The Wolfman. During this period work was finished on their debut album at Dep Studios in Birmingham with Producer Danny Sprigg.
The band toured extensively in 2005, completing 30 dates in 30 days in September, ending in a sold out show at the Camden Underworld
Camden Underworld
The Camden Underworld is a music venue in Camden Town, London, England. The venue itself is a part of the World's End pub, being situated in the basement of the building.- History :...
. Their second single "Everything You Do" was released in October 2005 resulting in substantial coverage in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and New Woman Magazine.
Tough Cookie
Tough Cookie
Tough Cookie is a UK based producer of audio and video content for the internet. Tough Cookie was launched in 2004 by Andy Wood and Neill Sullivan and has placed itself at the forefront of the booming online video market, having produced over 300 pieces of content for brands, cross-media...
were bought out of their contract by Beyond Bedlam Records and released a single "Everything You Do" in March 2006 after a UK tour with The Subways
The Subways
The Subways are an English alternative rock / indie rock band. Their debut album, Young For Eternity, was released on 4 July 2005 in the UK and February 14, 2006 in the U.S. Their second album, All or Nothing, was released on 30 June 2008 and their third album Money and Celebrity debuted on the...
and Sheffield band Little Man Tate
Little Man Tate
Little Man Tate is a 1991 motion picture drama directed by and starring Jodie Foster.It tells the story of Fred Tate, a 7-year-old child prodigy who struggles to self-actualize in a social and psychological construct that largely fails to accommodate his intelligence...
.
In June 2006 the band toured the UK supporting Presidents of the United States of America , and shortly afterwards in June 2006 released their next single 'Worthy', which was playlisted on many uk radio stations. Shortly after this Vicky Kingston left the group, to be replaced by Lulu Small.
Their album 'Crooked Mile' went on release in September 2006, only available via their website and now on www.notonyourradio.co.uk.
The band announced that they had split in March 2007 after 11 years playing together. Claire and Gemma went on to form The Krak, Alex formed Lullaby Project & Bears (an acoustic duo) and Lu rejoined and reformed her original band 'Seven Embers'.
Second line-up
- Lead vocals/rhythm guitar; Alex Gillings
- Vocals/lead guitar; Shelley Walker
- Vocals/Bass guitar; Sam Walker
- Drums; Gemma ClarkeGemma ClarkeGemma Clarke is a professional musician who was previously the drummer for The Suffrajets, The Krak and Babyshambles.-Babyshambles:For a year, Clarke played drums for the ex-Libertine Pete Doherty's band Babyshambles...
Third lineup
- Vocals/rhythm guitar; Alex Gillings
- Lead guitar/vocals; Claire Wakeman
- Bass guitar; Vicky Kingston then Lulu Small
- Drums; Gemma Clarke