There’s a multitude of talented musicians who “coulda been a contender” but instead faded into obscurity. Some due to their own personal demons, some perhaps due to a lack of dedication, and some, well…due to circumstances beyond their control. This documentary from Carla J Easton and Blair Young takes a delve into the careers of this last category, who suffered from the triple whammy of unfortunate circumstance: they’re Scottish, they have minds of their own, and (God save those poor record company execs) they’re GIRLS!
Exploitation of musicians has been around as long as the music business has existed, but it has always been worse for women, when harassment is added into the mix.
Since Yesterday covers five decades of Scottish all-women bands, starting with The McKinleys, who supported the Beatles and became the first female band to play Wembley when they opened for the Rolling Stones. Interviewed here, Jeanette remembers the excitement of it all but points out that they never saw any money. At the height of their fame they were living in a bedsit, sharing a bag of chips.
And when the bands are not being exploited or harassed, they’re being ignored or, like Strawberry Switchblade whose hit single gives this film its title, misunderstood. Rose McDowall makes the point that the song – the only one by a Scottish girl band to reach the UK Top Forty – wasn’t the love song it was taken for, but a lament for a post-apocalyptic society devastated by nuclear war.
In more recent times, Glasgow’s The Hedrons who achieved a degree of success, playing several major festivals, found that major labels were reluctant to sign them as one of them might get pregnant… (There’s a clip in the film of them playing an open-air gig ahead of the Stones, where a walkway into the crowd has been erected for “the sole use of Mick Jagger – Keep Off!” As we say in this part of the world “Aye, right…”)
On the other hand, it was a pregnancy that curtailed the progress of Sophisticated Boom Boom. Singer Libby McArthur’s announcement that she was expecting was followed by her instant replacement by the band. She took the name with her, and they continued as His Latest Flame who experienced some success, even if it was a lot less than they deserved.
But all the bands have tales to tell that show the Londoncentric, male dominated music industry has changed little from the 1960s up to date. This fine film at least gives a voice to some of them, and while I would recommend it to anyone it should be required viewing for any girl band looking to follow in their footsteps. Take heed, but go ahead and follow your own path. And when you come to the industry’s door, you might find that knocking politely is less effective than kicking it in.
Since Yesterday is in cinemas from 18th October.
Jim Welsh
Radio Summerhall Arts 