THE FABULOUS SINGLETTES: A GIRL GROUP WITH ATTITUDE
An early Singlettes line-up: Lisa Shipley, Naomi and Karen Johns
In August 1986 Naomi Eyers and musical director Wayne Alexander Findlay formed THE FABULOUS SINGLETTES, a homage to the legendary girl groups of the 1960s such as The Chiffons, The Shangri-Las, The Ronettes, The Shirelles and The Supremes to name a few. Taking the classic songs from the period and adding some outrageous humour into the mix The Singlettes became an overnight sensation. The original line up featured Naomi, Sheryl Black (who had also been a member of the Sydney band "Supermarket" with Naomi)and Karen Johns. Sold out seasons at Kinselas in Sydney followed along with massive critical acclaim. Lisa Shipley then replaced Sheryl and eventually Alison Jiear came on board to fill the void left by Karen. Naomi, Lisa and Alison were soon rocking audiences from Melbourne to Hong Kong and Perth to Singapore. But the biggest break was to come when the UK beckoned...
Lisa Shipley, Alison Jiear and Naomi at the Edinburgh Festival, 1987
The group took the Edinburgh Festival by storm and were invited by producer Bill Kenwright to headline their first West End season at the Piccadilly Theatre. STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE opened on 15th August 1988 to a rapturous reception from nightly audiences, keen to engage with the girl group sound of yesteryear. A live album was also issued on Dress Circle Records.
Amy Winehouse eat your heart out - the queens of the beehive circa 1989
Television specials followed in 1989 for Channel 4 in the UK, and the following year a prime time BBC musical-comedy created especially for the group.
TV Special 1990: Simone Dee, Naomi and Alison Jiear The Singlettes have performed with Tom Jones at the Royal Albert Hall, Shirley Bassey at the Wembley Arena and were special guests alongside Frank Sinatra and Peter Allen for the opening engagement of Sanctuary Cove in Queensland.
Return West End seasons followed at the Comedy Theatre (1990) and the Duke Of Yorks Theatre (1991).
Naomi and fellow Singlettes Alison Jiear and Simone Dee went their seperate ways in 1992, each to concentrate on solo careers.
A few years later on the cusp of a new Millennium, Naomi felt the call of the beehive once more. A rallying call went out, joined by Melissa Langton and Diane Dixon the Singlettes was resurrected to prove they were still utterly Fabulous and ready to rock Australia and Europe once again.
CHECK OUT THE SINGLETTES OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
http://www.fabulous-singlettes.com/
