The Bodysnatchers (band)

Infobox Musical artist
Name = The Bodysnatchers


Img_capt = The Bodysnatchers
Img_size = 140
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = London, England
Genre = Ska revival, rocksteady
Years_active = 1979–1981
Label = 2 Tone
Associated_acts = The Belle Stars, The Deltones
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members = Rhoda Dakar
Sarah Jane Owen
Stella Barker
Nicky Summers
Penny Leyton
Miranda Joyce
Jane Summers

The Bodysnatchers were a seven-piece all-female band involved in the British ska revival of the early 1980s.

Career

Formed in London by Nicky Summers in 1979, they released two ska/rocksteady singles on the 2 Tone record label. The Bodysnatchers' first concert was at the Windsor Castle pub in London, on 24 November 1979. After signing to 2 Tone, they undertook a tour supporting The Selecter. They appeared in the "Dance Craze" documentary film, featuring live performances by various British 2 Tone bands.

The Bodysnatchers played together for less than two years, with the group disbanding in 1981 and no album released. Some of the Bodysnatchers' members evolved into another all-girl band, The Belle Stars. After The Specials' original vocalists left the band, the Bodysnatchers' lead singer, Rhoda Dakar, went on to sing with The Special AKA.

In 1984, Sarah Jane Owen and Penny Layton formed the all girl ska band, The Deltones, who released an album and two singles on Unicorn Records in 1989. The group disbanded in 1991.

In late 2007, Dakar released a solo album on Moon Ska World. "Cleaning In Another Woman's Kitchen" is an acoustic album, which features new material, plus covers of The Bodysnatchers hits, "Do Rocksteady" and "Easy Life". These days she can also be seen playing in the outfit, Skaville UK, alongside former Bad Manners members Martin Stewart and Louis Alphonso. Dakar has also contributed vocals on their debut album, "1973", which was released in July 2007.

Line-up

* Rhoda Dakar – vocals
* Sarah Jane Owen – lead guitar
* Stella Barker (born 6 September 1954) – rhythm guitar
* Nicky Summers – bass guitar
* Penny Leyton – keyboards
* Miranda Joyce – alto sax
* Jane Summers – drums

Discography

* "Let's Do Rock Steady" / "Ruder Than You" - (1980) - UK # 22
* "Easy Life" / "Too Experienced" - (1980) - UK # 50

Other

The Bodysnatchers also appeared on the compilation albums, "Dance Craze", "This Are Two Tone" and "The Two Tone Story".

External links

* [http://www.comnet.ca/~rina/bodysnatchers.html The Bodysnatchers history]