Friday 3/28 Guest: Strawberry Switchblade’s Rose McDowall

On The Friday, 3/28 Revenge of the 80s Radio Show, my guest will be Rose McDowall of the band Strawberry Switchblade. A podcast will be available shortly after Friday’s show.

After growing up in Glasgow, Rose became part of the UK Punk scene, where she was inspired to start her own band while watching The Ramones on concert. She and her then-husband started The Poems, but her next band with Jill Bryson, Strawberry Switchblade, would launch her to stardom.

During the interview, Rose and I talk about:

• Hoe she put together four bands, including Strawberry Switchblade, and performed with several others in her long career
• How Rose’s rough childhood became a major influence on her songwiriting
• The quick rise to success of Strawberry Switchblade, and how it contributed to the band not lasting long after their first hit, “Since Yesterday.”
• Why, although she had enjoyed commercial success, she remains true to her own musical style and with the spirit of the UK independent music scene.

Now, Rose is a staple of the UK independent music circuit, and is in the midst of creating a new album under her own name, which she says she’s about halfway finished with.