The Suffrajets

The Suffrajets were a British all girl four-piece rock band. Their steady rise to fame came off the back of their frequent touring (despite set-backs such as tourbus crashes), the release of well-received singles such as "Hold These Eyes" and "Distinction" and a Channel 4 documentary entitled "We Are The Suffrajets". There high-profile fans include Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden.

The band had three different line-ups.The original line up, which resulted in the band getting signed to Tough Cookie, was founded by sisters Samantha and Shelly Walker- who have been hailed as the band's true songwriters and are much accredited to the band's earlier success. After leaving The Suffrajets, they formed "JoanOvArc" and are currently recording their debut E.P.

After Gemma Clarke quit Babyshambles, The Suffrajets released their first single "Sold" on the independent record label Tough Cookie. The single received coverage in Music Week and featured on the Radio 1 Show "Women in Rock." Sold reached number 8 in the official UK Rock chart.

The Suffrajets played Tiscali Sessions at Reading Festival in Summer 2005 appearing alongside acts such as The Futureheads, Graham Coxon and We Are Scientists. During this period work was finished on their debut album at Dep Studios in Birmingham.

The band toured extensively in 2005, completing 30 dates in 30 days in September, ending in a sold out show at the Camden Underworld. Their second single "Everything You Do" was released in October 2005 resulting in substantial coverage in The Guardian and New Woman Magazine.

Tough Cookie were bought out of their contract by Beyond Bedlam Records and released a single "Everything You Do" in March 2006 after a UK tour with Little Man Tate.

In June 2006 the band toured the UK supporting Presidents of the United States of America, and shortly afterwards in June 2006 released their next single 'Worthy'.

Their album 'Crooked Mile' went on release in September 2006, only available via their website.

The band recently announced that they had split in March 2007 after 11 years playing together. Claire and Gemma went on to form The Krak, Alex formed Lullaby Project & Bears (an acoustic duo) and Lu rejoined and reformed her original band 'Seven Embers'.

Original line-up

* Lead vocals/bass – Samantha Walker (currently in JoanOvArc)
* Vocals/rhythm guitar – Shelly Walker (currently in JoanOvArc)
* Vocals/lead guitar – Claire Wakeman
* Drums – Gemma Clarke

2nd Line-up

* Lead vocals/rhythm guitar – Alex Ware
* Vocals/lead guitar – Claire Wakeman (previously in the DNA Dolls)
* Bass – Lu Smalls
* Drums – Gemma Clarke (well-known due to her stint as drummer with Babyshambles)

External links

* [http://www.rolanddopson.co.uk/interests/suffrajets.html Interview with the band from 2001]