SOULKISS

The next phase I discovered to my liking was -  the 'Futuristic' 'New Romantic' -  it was about Glamour and style and being original and it took over from punk . Bow wow wow , Lords of the new church, more dance tunes, the dark & vampire Bauhaus, Death Cult rose from the ashes of 'Southern Death Cult. Lots of electronic music such as bands like Yello, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk,Human League .We used to go to Wigan pier on Wednesday nights and they held band promotion evenings, met Depeche Mode and ABC, Flock of Seagulls (whom incidentally a friend of mine was married to the drummer). Peppermint Gardens in Warrington and local club 'Gossips' which held an 'Alternative night' .Due to this creative period I decided to hand in my notice at the old folks home as a Care Assistant enrol at Salford Technical College in Manchester (now University) for 2 years to study Fashion Design full time.

Friends of the time were Karen McWilliams, and Jo Collins (Stockport) whom I met from an advert I had in 'Sounds' music paper.

I met Jo Collins (she brought in such influences as The velvet Underground, Lou reed, Nico, Marc Bolan, Glam rock – She was an old veteran of the ranch, Electric Circus, Pips. Thompson arms, Rembrandt, New York New York. Vance became her partner in later years and I last saw her around 1995 ?) and we ventured to Manchester's

Pips, 55 Fennel Street, M4 - A complex with several dance floors.The gay bar's in and around Canal Street, Cloud 9 and Legends. The Blitz scene was booming in London and the magazine (think it was called ID)  was a regularly purchase for me, as was The Face. I  probably wore more outlandish clothes and ridiculous clothes during this time, than any others from wedding dresses, to vampire/Goth attire, to sexy punk.The look changed from week to week  as did my hairstyle. Being a little older I had more confidence than during the punk days. Photo on the right with me trying for the Hollywood glamour or yesteryear with my antique dress and gloves taken at 'Bluto's night club in Wigan.
Photo to the left was my own creation, a kind of Indian inspired wedding attire with a difference, on route to 'Pip's' taken at Stockport station.

Bauhaus a favourite band in the 80's - Bela Lugosi's Dead - singing live 1982

Hanoi Rocks live singing 'Until I get you' Live 1983 - a band which inspired the Glam rock movement

Various different outfits I designed along the journey 1982 - 84

The 'whip it good' twins as we were known locally , reference from Devo track 'Whip it'....thought it was a cool name !We used to dance with the whip outstretched and thrashing it around.
Bright pink hair coloured with 'crazy colour' became the order of the day, started with the fringe and erupted to all over eventually.
Standing at the bar in 'Gossips' night club - we were at that time the only 'weirdos' in our village.


Photo Right taken in Manchester on route to 'Pip's - My 'showgirl' cabaret look.








Photo taken Oct 7th 1984 at 'Peppermint Gardens with a boyfriend of the time John (18) from Stockton heath. Me and Karen with home made red laced dress again at Peppermint Gardens Dec 30th 1983


A more sophisticated, funky phase was on the horizon, we took this 'look' to London, staying with my first proper boyfriend Colin North. Colin delighted us with The Hippodrome, Heaven, Zenon, Copacabana, Vauxhall tavern and various Gay Clubs. Here is me and Colin pictured at Heaven, wearing my version of a Jane Khan creation, resplendent with huge false eyelashes. Taken on Sept 6th 1984