Baxtop

Formed in Johannesburg in 1978 by Larry Amos (guitars, vocals), Tim Parr (guitar, vocals), Robbie Whitelaw (bass) and Pierre de Vos (drums). Before their first gig Fuzzy Marcus replaced Robbie Whitelaw because Robbie had to go to the army.

Later Bruce Williams replaced Pierre de Vos. In 1979 they won the SABC’s Battle of the Bands competition and they released their only album Work It Out.

They released two singles from the album “Jo Bangles” and “Take Me To Your Heart”.

They were the first South African band signed by Benji Mudie at WEA Records. Money issues and internal disagreements led to the band breaking up in 1980.

Insisters

An all woman band formed in Johannesburg in 1981 with Sue Charlton (drums), Yvonne Raff (guitar, vocals), Linda Dawson (lead guitar, vocals) and Muff Shapiro (bass, vocals).

Linda Dawson wrote their first single “If that’s what you want” and it was recorded with Jonathan Handley’s Wradium Records in 1981 and a distribution deal was done with Benji Mudie at WEA who released it in 1982.

It featured on SABC’s Pop Shop video programme , was nominated as John Berk’s “Pick of the week” on Radio702 in 1981 and went on to chart on Capital Radio.

Although the song was released as an Insisters song Dawson arranged it, sang and played all the instruments apart from the drums which were played by Sue Charlton.

In 1982 Tammy Isaacson replaced Muff Shapiro on bass and Colleen Briel joined as keyboard player. They recorded a follow-up single “Bluebeat” in 1983 but split-up soon after that.

Sue Charlton went on to release a solo single “I’m amazed” with WEA in 1984.

Linda Dawson committed suicide in 1993. Jonathan Handley wrote the Radio Rats’ “The day is connected to the night” as a very fitting tribute to her.