The Belle Stars with Sarah-Jane Owen

<p>The Belle Stars with Sarah-Jane Owen in conversation with David Eastaugh</p> <p>After The Bodysnatchers broke up, guitarists Stella Barker and Sarah-Jane Owen, saxophonist Miranda Joyce, keyboardist Penny Leyton, and drummer Judy Parsons decided to form a new band, recruiting bass player Lesley Shone and lead vocalist Jennie Matthias (also known as Jennie Bellestar). Their first performance was on Christmas Day 1980, before they had chosen a name.</p> <p>Within a short time, the group became well-known around London, notably appearing on the front cover of <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sounds_(magazine)'>Sounds</a> magazine early in 1981. Shortly thereafter, they were signed by <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiff_Records'>Stiff Records</a>, then highly successful through its star act, <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madness_(band)'>Madness</a>.</p> <p>The band's debut single, "Hiawatha", was released in the late spring of 1981; it was produced by Madness producers <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Langer'>Clive Langer</a> and <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Winstanley'>Alan Winstanley</a>. The band promoted the single by playing support slots at gigs by ska acts <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beat_(British_band)'>The Beat</a> and Madness. </p> <p>When the third single, the radio-friendly "Another Latin Love Song" again failed to break into the charts, the band tried cover versions instead, with some success. "<a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iko_Iko'>Iko Iko</a>", a <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_version'>cover</a> of <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dixie_Cups'>The Dixie Cups</a>' 1965 <a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chart-topper'>hit</a> </p> <p>In January 1983, the Belle Stars released what would be their signature single, "<a href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_of_the_Times_(The_Belle_Stars_song)'>Sign of the Times"</a>, peaking at number three, and a chart success throughout Europe</p>