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‘They couldn’t even afford a bag of chips!’: Scotland’s great lost all-female bands

From the Edinburgh duo who toured with the Beatles to the ribbon-festooned Strawberry Switchblade, Scotland produced thrilling girl bands. So why couldn’t they sustain their success? A new film tells their stories

I don’t know if he thought four girls from Glasgow were gonna jump him … That’s certainly true for Strawberry Switchblade, whose 1984 hit Since Yesterday – which spent 21 weeks on the UK singles chart – gives the film its title. Just as their song was misunderstood, the duo’s vibrant aesthetic – polka dots, hair ribbons, makeup dramatic enough to make Robert Smith blush – led to criticism from the media and their record label. Inspired by US grunge and riot grrrl feminism, a scene of DIY labels, zines and all-female charity gigs sprung up in Edinburgh and Glasgow, featuring bands such as Lungleg, Hello Skinny and Pink Kross.

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