Realised I’ve not written a post here about Rock Goddess. Must put that right. They were, back in the original New Wave of British Heavy Metal, days one of the few all-female bands out there (Girlschool and The Runaways being others) and they could rock with the best of anyone. With a recent reformation, mooted new album and active gigging it’s time for a Rock Goddess post.
All the way back in London in the late 1970s as NWOBHM was about to break out, the Turner sisters were mere teenagers (as was I at the time……man, I’m getting old). Well, slight inaccuracy to the previous sentence – Jody (guitar/vocals) was though Julie (drums) was yet to turn ten in 1977. Together with a school friend (bassist Tracy Lamb) the embryonic Rock Goddess was born.
After a brief flirtation with a second guitarist the “power trio” format was retained and the girls set about making a name for themselves. This was assisted by Jodie and Julie’s father who owned a music shop thus was able to make use of trade connections to help book gigs. The hard work paid off with a spot on the 1982 Reading Festival bill with a record contract following close after.
Their self-titled debut album surfaced in 1983 though with Julie Turner still at school it did cause some difficulty with gigging and promotion. The album sold quite well peaking in the mid-area of the UK top 100 albums. Respectable.
Then the line-up changes came. Lamb bailed out replaced by Dee O’Malley and another second guitarist arrived albeit for a short period. Kat payed on the second album (Hell Hath No Fury) which hit the shop in 1984. It looked like big things were on the horizon for Rock Goddess as they landed high-profile tours with the likes of Iron Maiden and Def Leppard and started to headline themselves such was their growing standing in NWOBHM circles.
Here’s a video of them performing Hell Hath No Fury a few years ago.
A few issues then arose (not untypical of the times) which would see the band part company with A&M and with an intended third album incomplete. It looked like the end was nigh however towards the end of the 1980s their Young and Free album saw a limited release and that was pretty much the end with the band splitting soon afterwards.
But as we know, NWOBHM never truly goes away and continues to enjoy a revival with many of or old favourites reforming, recording, gigging and releasing fine new albums.
The original Rock Goddess line up of the Turner sisters plus Tracey Lamb reformed a couple of years ago. A new album was in the works though as far as I know at time of writing this post it’s not been released. The band is active and gigging with appearances at various festivals.
Great to have the girls back again. Do check them out.
>> HELL HATH NO FURY ON AMAZON – GREAT REVIEWS <<
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