Interviews




	Locks, stock and apparel: The Belle Stars' former singer now sells pristine Sixties fashion to collectors, says Tony Marcus (interview from 1994) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two decades of fashion collide inside Dredd Experience, a tiny shop in the West End of London. An Ossie Clark black crepe nightgown fit for a vampire queen hangs next to some neatly pressed denim safari suits from the Seventies; matching hippie smocks and flares in wildly embroidered chiffon nuzzle up against a rack of Sixties slimfit button-down shirts. 'Clothes are so romantic, dude, I love them,' gushes Jennie Mathias, the shop's energetic proprietor. Zipped into a fluffball of fake fur, with thick dreadlocks peeping from under a dippy patchwork hat, she gestures enthusiastically around a shop stuffed with relics of yesterday's youth culture. 'Clothes are collector's items,' she says. 'It's the same as records.' A few streets away from Dredd Experience is another shop, Acupuncture, selling vintage punk and Vivienne Westwood originals for prices that rise well into the hundreds. Mathias's prices are more modest, with Fiorucci 'Love Boots' (lurid designer wellies which have to be seen to be believed) selling for less than pounds 30. Twelve years ago, Jennie Mathias was better known as Jennie Belle Star, lead singer of the Belle Stars, an all-girl, seven-piece pop group. They had a big hit with the anthemic 'Sign of The Times', and toured Europe with The Clash; Jennie Belle Star was a fully-fledged pop star. Why did it end? She gives me the sort of look that says she could have done without the question. 'We were all sick of each other. Three Virgos and four Leos in one band? You know what I mean?' And how did she end up running a fashion shop? 'What else could I do?' she retorts. 'I couldn't think of anything else. I'm only into music and fashion, I know nothing about anything else.' After the Belle Stars, she spent 10 years organising fashion shows in the Miami nightclub owned by Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, performing at European jazz festivals and finally finding herself just an ex-pop star. 'I spent a couple of years living in London squats wanting to be a hobo. I just dossed around and couldn't really decide what I wanted to do. 'I hadn't grown up really; I was still looking for something good to do. I tried to hold down a couple of ordinary jobs but it wasn't really me.' Her story is interrupted, first by an immaculate scooter boy who slides off his Lambretta and comes in to ask about suede bowling shoes and Fred Perry shirts, then by a small-time clothes dealer with a bag full of what Mathias calls 'deadstock': pristine items that have spent the past 20 years in a warehouse. She is hungry for this 'good- as-new' vintage wear, and has already found Seventies police jackets and Eighties silk shirts in fragile, stained-glass colours. The good-as-new relics aside, the most popular stock in Dredd Experience is a range of new jackets and coats co-produced by Matthias and her sidekick Terry Rawlings. The label is called Harry Palmer, in honour of the working- class spy played by Michael Caine in the film The Ipcress File, and reflects that character's cool, sharply tailored mod style. The range has been endorsed by the singer and mod icon Paul Weller, who offered the designers tips on early Sixties style details. A standout Harry Palmer item is a three-quarter-length coat in green suede with shiny black leather trimming and a silk lining. 'It's very sharp stuff - spot on,' says Tony Jackson, whose company, Global Village, has just finished shooting a promotional film for the range. You might call it Reservoir Mods - clean-cut Vespa-riding boys in shiny Palmer coats wielding sub-machine-guns. 'A lot of people dress down these days,' says Jackson, 'but Harry Palmer represents the England of yore and the heroes we're sort of attached to: sharp-suited Englishmen drinking double Scotches and toting machine-guns.' Mathias is also drawn to the dandified 'mod' styles. Forget the tabloid image of mods as bank holiday rioters and amphetamine addicts (the name 'mod' is derived from the stylistically distinctive young followers of modern jazz); for her they were ice-cool super-narcissists striving for immaculate street fashion. 'But this isn't just a shop for classic mods,' she says. 'I'm branching out to reach the psychedelic phase of the Sixties and chase it through to the looks of Marc Bolan, Eno, Bowie and the early Seventies.' What is the right tag for this diverse gathering of mod, hippie and glam styles? We exchange a few suggestions, such as my 'Nineties Beatnik' - and she reaches for a notebook and a pen and starts jotting down some things I have said. I am the one who is doing the interview: what is she up to? 'I write poetry - it's the only way I can relax,' she explains. 'I say goodnight to my mum, go to my bedroom and sit writing before I go to sleep. I pick up on stuff that happens during the day.' She adds: 'I don't treat conversation lightly. I use it to my best advantage.' Dredd Experience, 20 Hanway Street, London W1. Jennie Belle Star - Essay paper by Denny McClain - 10/03/2009 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I came across Jennie’s work while she was performing in the all girl band “The Belle Stars”. Never thought in a million years I would be friends with her yet alone still following her music. Jennie has been involved in the music scene for over 32 years and is still going strong and performing in many capacities. While she never took private lessons it was her drive and determination and her love of music, which kept her busy and involved in the music industry. Jennie has performed in many groups and finds that her style changes with every project she is involved in. She has been in bands ranging from ska, punk, pop, rock, rave and jazz. She says performing vocally with all of them has proven to be a learning experience not to mention how each different gig can add to the quality of her voice. Whether or not her voice is deep and raspy or light and airy, it’s hard to dismiss that this woman can sing. Jennie grew up in an era of colorful rock & roll and outrageous stylings of clothes and attitude. Jennie was into the image and styles of the 70’s and David Bowie and Mark Bolan were some of the influences from her teenage years. She finds that these influences all had an affect on her music and direction within the industry. While Jennie is still performing and recording music she finds now that her experience in the music industry now allows for her to write more these days than perform. While still doing both things, she performed 4 times this year. Jennie tends to focus more as of lately with her writing the music. Jennie says that practicing keeps her voice in tune and prepared for whatever gig may come her way while still finding the time to write and using her voice for many other things. Jennie feels that she can use her voice in many other ways and her status as a recording celebrity has enabled her to use her voice to help others that cannot speak for themselves. Audience reaction and timing is everything in performing and she feels that keeping the energy going can not only enhance the show one on one but also bring the people closer to her music. She is still recording to this day. As for a career in music Jennie feels that she can spread a certain amount of happiness with her music and that performing globally has (and does) bring her in touch with people from all over the planet thus also increasing the opportunity to maybe even enter into another musical endeavor. She has a most adaptable voice and can work any piece of music with her energy and magic, making the listener part of the emotions Jennie is singing about. Denny McClain is a super fan from the USA. He’s currently studying a degree in social work and chose a music course as his elective - “I asked Jennie a certain set of questions and I in return had to write up an interview "type" of paper. SO that is what I did and I did not alter any of Jennie's questions.” The Dance Brigade - interview with Jennie - September 2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WHO'S THAT GIRL? - JENNIE GIVES IT SOME ON THE DANCE BRIGADE DEBUT Kindly reprinted from MIS-Online On 17 September 2008 at London's 100 Club, a very exciting event is due to take place, for it is the live debut of a group of extremely talented musicians, who together back in the summer of last year formed a band called The Dance Brigade. The MIS caught up with singer/songwriter Jennie Matthias (former lead singer of 80's all-girl group The Bellestars) to talk about her career so far, her current collaboration with Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson and how she feels about the up and coming live debut of her latest project The Dance Brigade. Jennie, how are you feeling today and how excited are you about the gig in a couple of weeks' time? Today I am tired, I have had a long and sorrowful week due to one of my dearest friends passing away. Re the gig I am more intrigued than excited but I guess closer to the day the excitement and adrenaline will most certainly kick in. I am also looking forward to seeing many people I haven't seen for a long time. Judging by the six tracks by The Dance Brigade that are currently up on your Myspace page, your musical style is very ska-based but there is a predominantly Latin flavour throughout as well. How do you decide which styles to use and blend together and what kind of music inspires you? The music we have chosen for the DANCE BRIGADE has actually come from a larger list of tunes and when we first started writing for TDB Latin tracks were also involved. We decided that the ones we chose would be more effective for the audience we were aspiring to and not to make it confusing we chose the ska element of what we were doing. Keith (Finch)'s backing tracks are predominately reggae or ska based and it so happened that when I chose the first batch of tracks I wrote those ones first although there is an amazing Latin track I also chose that features the wonderful Chico the track is called 'Smile'. Although The Dance Brigade is a coming together of various musicians, the two most well-known members are yourself and Madness's Lee Thompson. You've known each other since 1981, please tell us about how you first met and what made you decide to work together nearly 30 years later. Both Lee & I were on the same record label as Madness & The Bellestars years ago called Stiff Records! I also went out with his mate for 7 years Chris Foreman. A few years back Lee asked me to jump on stage with one of his other projects and I guess he must of remembered that when Keith mentioned that he was looking for someone to sing and possibly write with him on his tracks. I get on with Lee and it seemed an interesting thing to do at the time ...the rest is history. Looking at your previous collaborations, you've worked with both Pauline Black (The Selecter) and Rhoda Dakar (The Bodysnatchers) as The Ska Divas. These ladies are both 2-Tone legends and with the imminent 30th anniversary of 2-Tone approaching, I wondered what your opinion was on how this movement affected the music industry at the time - do you think it had a significant impact on the music scene as a whole? Like most movements throughout many a decade it would have had an impact for the people involved within that movement, and environment like the punks, Rock-a-Billy's, etc etc, to me this was Ska the second time around and it's appeal was that the lyrics, style and attitude spoke to the people. You've also worked with The Jam, Adrian Sherwood, Narada Micheal Walden, Randy Jackson, Lamont Dozier, Coti Mundi, Gary Clail, Pigface, Meg Lee Chin, Sounds From The Ground, Big 5, Skaville UK and Judge Dread to name but a few. Has there been anyone in particular that you really enjoyed working with and if not is there anyone you'd like to work with in the future? I have enjoyed working with them all but my favourite was when I got the chance to work with Randy Jackson, Preston Glass & Narada Micheal Walden in Miami, with a band called DANCE LIKE A MOTHER that was an eye opener in working with true professionals, we got to meet untold legends who played on our tracks and it was the most fabulous time...I also have to say that going on tour with THE CLASH was also amazing, great men and great times. The Bellestars were once described as the female version of Madness, there are numerous connections between you and the Nutty Boys. Not only did you support them on their 'Seven' tour of the UK during Oct/Nov 1981 but you shared the same record label on Stiff Records. This was at the peak of their popularity. What was touring with them at that time like, what did you get up to apart from becoming very close to guitarist Chris Foreman? We were only seen as the female version of Madness because people wanted to see us like that, The Bellestars were derived from the Bodysnatchers that could be one reason but we were on the same label and we were seven women but thats where it stopped. Touring with them was yet another memorable experience, they were loads of fun and it was easy for us all because we were both from the same area and on the same label...Chris is still a good friend and for the record will always have a place in my heart. He is also an outstanding Dad. During your career with The Bellestars apart from 'Sign Of The Times' you had the majority of your success with cover versions of songs such as 'The Clapping Song' and 'Iko Iko'. Who came up with the ideas for the songs that you covered? Well it was usually Dave Robinson from the record company, I brought 'Iko into the band because when I auditioned it was the only song I knew the whole way through and the girls liked it so it stuck...I hated doing covers but it was the thing at the time, having said that 'Iko' is currently being used in the Trinny and Susannah Littlewoods advert so we really can't complain. As well as writing songs, you are a published poet, is that something you've always done and do any of your poems turn into songs? I keep my poetry separate usually although there have been a couple I have poems I have turned into tunes. Poetry was the natural progression from song writing I guess. You apply your many talents to worthy causes such as the women's campaigns 'Strike 2000' and 'Praying For Asylum' as well as organising drug awareness programs for secondary schools and workshops for young offenders and ex-prisoners. These causes are obviously very close to your heart. Why is that? I have a passion for using my creative and artistic talents to assist with enhancing the plight of a good cause, the STRIKE 2000 project was for a women's organisation who's aims were to highlight the issue of rape survivors globally. The drug awareness projects were important to me as I have many friends who never made it through abuse of one kind or another, again I have created artistic projects using animated moralistic stories coupled with experience and knowledge I use them all as a tool in which to educate young people, I have picked up quite a few awards for this work. When you're not busy with all of the above what do you do to relax? I love to read and of course I never stop writing songs but a great new favourite hobby of mine is taking pictures of people, I just love it and carry my camera almost everywhere....beware everyone.....Jen's on the loose! What is your opinion of today's music scene and who do you like to listen to? I love today's music scene although I did prefer the fun of the 70's, where you had David Bowie, Slade, Roxy Music, T Rex, Hendrix, etc etc all being outrageous and fabulously rock and Glam...there was also the Ska movement of that era and it was in those days I got into Judge Dread, Desmond Dekker etc. If it has a beat I like it and I particularly like original sounds. I listen to everything ... Ska, Heavy Rock, Blues, Rock-a-Billy, Soul, Northern Soul, Disco, I love it all. Over the past few years you've been performing live on a regular basis with the likes of The Big 5, The Ska Divas and Skaville UK. Do you enjoy the whole live experience? I have played with many more bands than this and not all of them SKA - I enjoy playing live but as the years roll on I am beginning to enjoy song writing more, people seem to like what I create and I am happy to be able to offer something worthwhile that speaks to people lyrically and melodically.....there's nothing better than doing a gig and watching the audience dance to your tunes whilst mouthing the words, I have been known to look at their mouth movements to help me on stage with not forgetting my lyrics ... ooh shit, now the secrets out! Speaking of live performances, how did your 2-song appearance at the Bermondsey Beat Festival go back in July? People seemed to like it from the response we got but I think they really liked 'Give It Some'. I think people were interested to see how me and Lee worked together also ... Lee of course was being his Mad self!!! On behalf of everyone at the MIS I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to do this interview and I'm sure I speak for all our readers in wishing you and The Dance Brigade the very best for this week's gig and the future. The Dance Brigade tickets are selling fast and if you haven't booked yet then do so soon as there will most certainly not be a chance on the night - for those with no credit card facility to buy online there is also the option of buying advance price tickets at the door but these must be booked so as they can be added to the advanced sales list to be paid on the door - the person to contact for this is Jenny Angus on 07919-377099 or alternatively by e-mail at jenny@the100club.co.uk and ask her to send you an e-mail confirming your booking. LONDON 100 CLUB WED 17TH SEPTEMBER 7:30PM - 11:00PM The gig will also feature DJ Darren from Hit The Moon playing the very best in Trojan Ska plus a touch of Northern Soul, oh and if you are going, then please ensure you dress up in your best gear as the show is being filmed for a documentary with the footage being used for a future video. Here is the link to book tickets online.... http://www.wegottickets.com/event/31470 The Dance Brigade on Myspace by Lee Buckley (Loobyloo) The Dance Brigade - interview with Jennie - 29/04/2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interview taken with permission from the Madness Information Service bulletin: Their line up is also going to include other legends of the Ska world as special guests on their tracks. Some of these will also be gigging with them in the future. Keith is "renowned for working with some of the greatest" and has quite a network of the best of those in Jamaican Ska. During a period of just three months, The Dance Brigade have already composed an album's worth of material. When we asked her how The Dance Brigade began, Jennie said that she and Lee had been friends for close to 30 years. They had been in successful bands and were even on the same record label at one point. "Throughout the years, Lee has called on me to jump on stage once and a while, and late last year, he asked me what I was up to and if I would like to add my vocals to a friend's music that he had also collaborated on". She eventually met up with Keith, and some pretty special music was created in a relatively short period of time. Jennie explained how the songs were written and described how the project has progressed. "Keith is the music master and main producer, putting the whole thing together. Lee and I both write lyrics, melodies and assist with arrangements. Lee, of course, also does his Saxophone stuff." We were happy to learn that Lee has also got a few tracks that he sings on. During those numbers, Jennie says that she and DEBRA BARKER perform background vocals. There is no front person, or single visionary. Everyone is sharing the spot light. It seems to be a real collaborative effort. Right now, they are so new that they aren't signed to a label yet. Jennie said that they are waiting to see what develops once they have finished off the rest of the tracks in the studio. In the meantime, they do have a MySpace page which everyone should check out. They already have three excellent tracks up now. "Musical Lesson" is taking Mozart's "Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major, K 525" [or as its commonly known, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"] and turning it into a very danceable Ska form [much like Madness did so brilliantly with Tchaikovsky' s "Swan Lake," and Lee's other band, Crunch!, did with Beethoven's "Fur Elise"]. The results are quite magical. The second track 'Give It Some' contains fun lyrics [such as "You know the drill boys 3-2-1/Get on that dance floor and give it some..."] and has an equally catchy melody, sweet vocals, and it will surely shuffle you off your feet. To us, it sounds like 'old school' classic combined with a modern twist. The latest addition the to their play list is "Who's That Girl," which features a quite incredible sax solo from Lee. The vocals, the piano, the melody sound smooth and really easygoing on the ears. The combination of delta blues, jazz, latin, pop and ska all make for a really good track. Jennie's voice is in control, and Lee's sax is the same as it always is - superbly pronounced and skillfully done. Of the tracks we have heard on the My Space player so far, Jennie told us that she was the lyricist. "I tend to write about experience or other peoples' experiences but I have been known to get a touch political also". The Dance Brigade are going to be putting more tracks up on their page soon as well, including one, probably within the next 10 days, so be looking (and listening) for them too. Visit The Dance Brigade on the web at My Space. By Trish Morgan with Lee Buckley It's highly unlikely, but if by any chance you don't happen to be a member of the MIS and therefore don't receive the weekly bulletins then you are so missing out. Join up and subscribe to the Madness Information Service.