Thee Headcoatees

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Thee Headcoatees
Origin Kent, England
Genres Garage rock revival, garage punk
Years active1991–1999
LabelsVinyl Japan, Damaged Goods, Get Hip, Sympathy for the Record Industry
Past members Holly Golightly
Kyra LaRubia
Ludella Black
Debbie Green
Website Thee Headcoatees' Myspace page

Thee Headcoatees were an all-female garage band formed in Chatham, Kent, England in 1991. [1] They were part of the Medway scene. The members were Holly Golightly, Kyra LaRubia, Ludella Black and "Bongo" Debbie Green.

Contents

Formation

Thee Headcoatees were formed by Billy Childish as a backing group for his band Thee Headcoats. Ludella Black's previous band The Delmonas had performed the same function for Childish's earlier bands, starting with The Milkshakes. [2] Their songs were principally written by Billy Childish and were songs that did not suit his own acts. After Holly Golightly did a cameo appearance with Thee Headcoats, Childish added her to The Delmonas lineup; soon thereafter the band was renamed Thee Headcoatees.

History

As a backing band Thee Headcoatees initially would just do a few songs to warm up for Thee Headcoats. Their song "Headcoat Girl" on The Sisters of Suave even states "I wanna be a headcoat girl". In 1991 the band cut their first album Girlsville for Hangman Records. It consisted of songs written by Billy Childish and covers of songs by The Kinks (Last Plane Home), The Beatles (Run For Your Life), The Tamrons (Wild Man) and more. In 1998 Debbie Green left the band, which was reduced to a three piece for their final album, Here Comes Cessation. Thee Headcoatees continued to tour with Thee Headcoats until the group folded in 1999. [3]

Post break-up

Holly Golightly has gone on to pursue a solo career, recording more than ten LPs, and has worked with the bands The Greenhornes and The White Stripes and in her latter career has formed the band Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs. [4] Kyra and Debbie went on to sing for The A Lines (featuring Delia from Mambo Taxi and Julie Hamper of Billy Childish's Musicians of the British Empire); [5] Debbie and Delia currently play in Ye Nuns. [6] Kyra and Ludella later appeared in The Shall I Say Quois [7] alongside Julie Hamper, while Debbie also went on to play with Dutronc, [8] Baby Birkin [9] and The Speed of Sound; she also drummed and sang with Would-Be-Goods, and recorded in The Buffets, alongside Hamper. [10]

Album discography

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References

  1. "Thee Headcoatees - Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  2. "The DELMONAS". Damagedgoods.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  3. "THEE HEADCOATEES". Damagedgoods.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  4. "Holly Golightly website". Hollygolightly.com. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  5. "A Lines - Interview". Pennyblackmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  6. Hann, Michael (17 November 2017). "Nuns on the drums! The bizarre world of 'superniche' cover bands". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  7. "THE SHALL I SAY QUOIS". Damagedgoods.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  8. "DUTRONC". Damagedgoods.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  9. "BABY BIRKIN". Damagedgoods.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  10. "THE BUFFETS". Damagedgoods.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  11. "Girlsville - Thee Headcoatees - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  12. "Have Love, Will Travel - Thee Headcoatees - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  13. "Ballad of the Insolent Pup - Thee Headcoatees - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  14. "Bozstik Haze - Thee Headcoatees - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  15. "Punk Girls - Thee Headcoatees - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  16. "Here Comes Cessation - Thee Headcoatees - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  17. "Sisters of Suave - Thee Headcoatees - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 December 2018.