The Suffrajets
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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'.
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[edit] Original line-up
- Vocals/Guitar; Alex Gillings
- Drums; Gemma Clarke
- Bass; Charlene Hall
[edit] Second line-up
- Lead vocals/rhythm guitar; Alex Gillings
- Vocals/lead guitar; Shelley Walker
- Vocals/Bass guitar; Sam Walker
- Drums; Gemma Clarke
[edit] Third lineup
- Vocals/rhythm guitar; Alex Gillings
- Lead guitar/vocals; Claire Wakeman
- Bass guitar; Vicky Kingston then Lulu Small
- Drums; Gemma Clarke
