Rose McDowall

Rose McDowall (vocals, guitar) was one-half of the '80s new wave duo Strawberry Switchblade. However, the bouncy, keyboard-laden pop of Strawberry Switchblade bears little resemblance to the work she would later do. McDowall formed Strawberry Switchblade in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1981. Initially consisting of four members, McDowall named the band after a fanzine devoted to Postcard Records. A year later, Strawberry Switchblade's lineup was reduced to McDowall and guitarist Jill Bryson. Performances for two radio deejays generated interest from record labels. Bill Drummond from Warner Bros. and former Teardrop Explodes member David Balfe became their joint managers. In 1983, Aztec Camera's Roddy Frame contributed to the group's first single, "Trees and Flowers." Strawbery Switchblade recorded one self-titled LP in 1985 before splitting up a year later. After Strawberry Switchblade, McDowall became involved with darker and far less commercial artists like Current 93 and Nurse With Wound, acts known for delving into gloomy folk and industrial noise; she was also a guitarist for Felt. In the late '90s, McDowall collaborated with Robert Lee as Sorrow, releasing the album Sleep Now and Forever. Fans of Strawberry Switchblade will still be able to recognize McDowall's soothing voice in her other projects; however, much of the music cannot be compared to her early-'80s discography. ~ Michael Sutton, All Music Guide