RiffBlog

NINETIES girl band Girlfriend are reforming to mark the 25th anniversary of their No.1 hit Take it From Me.

The band, who were marketed to a teen and pre-teen audience, released two albums, cracked the UK and Japanese market and even released a clothing line.

Frontwoman Robyn Loau met up with former bandmates Siobhánn Heidenreich, Lorinda Noble and Jacqui Cowell earlier this year, then Melanie Alexander last week.

They have made plans to perform later this year, with details being finalised.

“It’s been tricky to organise because we all live in different parts of the country,” Loau said. “It’d been at least 10 years since I’ve sat down with them all face-to-face. But it was a gorgeous reunion. Everybody’s great. Most of them are mothers and married, they’ve ventured into other directions. Siobhánn is a successful interior designer, Jacqui is a drama teacher, Mel has a successful video production company and Lorinda has her hands full with two very young kids.”

Girlfriend paved the way for the Spice Girls, who released their first single, Wannabe, in 1996 — the year Girlfriend split.

Girlfriend’s song Girl’s Life (a UK hit in 1992) even used the Spice Girls’ eventual catchphrase ‘girl power’.

They scored six Top 40 hits — Take it From Me, Girl’s Life, Bad Attitude, Without You, Heartbeat and Sooner or Later.

“I feel as though we were pioneers, even if we were unaware of it at the time,” frontwoman Robyn Loau said this week.

“I remember in the early ’90s we met with a big pop manager in the UK who went off to put together the Spice Girls. I’m not sure how much of meeting us was his blueprint for the Spice Girls. It was interesting they all had a very certain role, which Girlfriend had also.

“We didn’t have a reality TV show behind us. In 1992 pop was such a dirty word in the music industry in Australia. It was the era of Nirvana and grunge. We were met with real cynicism from the cool kids, but adored by families and mums and dads and the younger generation we were targeting. For me, it was my foot in the door, it was my work experience. Some people do work experience at Maccas or Coles, mine was as the lead singer of a pop group.”

New Zealand-born Loau, who is of Samoan heritage, could also be seen as a groundbreaking figure in an era of white pop.

“I was probably one of the first faces of multiculturalism within a girl group,” she said. “Females are quite marginalised; especially coming from a non-Anglo race. For me that was a great achievement without even realising what I was doing.”

Loau left Girlfriend in 1994. They continued as a four piece called GF4 and tried to mature their image with songs like I Need Love (To Make the Sex Right).

Original member Jacqui Cowell left in 1995, replaced by future Bardot member Belinda Chapple.

Loau, whose first solo single Sick With Love turns 20 this year, said the reunion is a happy ending after the band were “exploited” during their heyday.

“We’ve all grown up. I was the spokesperson in terms of the band being exploited at the time. I’m quite forthright in how I feel. It took us quite a few years for me to shake off the injustice of what had transpired with management and the record company and realise that is just how the music industry operates. Unfortunately it still happens, it’s very common, it’s a very fickle industry. I’ve been able to get through it all and heal in a healthy way. I see it now for what it was, which was just a celebration of youth and love of pop music.”

Loau has two daughters and is married to Whitlams member Jack Housden.

She is now one of the country’s most in-demand backing vocalists, performing with the likes of Martika, Eurogliders, Real Life and Berlin on retro tours.

“Nostalgia is the order of the day now. Those retro tours that are making the most money. Everybody wants to relive the soundtrack to their childhoods and those wonderful memories. I’m all for it.”

After revealing their reunion plans on line fans have hit up the band’s social media pages.

“They’re saying they’ve memorised the choreography or tell us what their favourite song was and that they’re dusting off the flower hat and getting out their old cassingles.”

But don’t expect Girlfriend’s trademark flower hats to make an appearance at the possible reunion.

“I left my flower hat with the GF4 girls when I kissed them goodbye in record company office. I left a suitcase full of festering costumes! If we did get something together on stage I figure it’ll be a little like going to your high school reunion. I know Siobhánn and Jacqui are ready to finally get their opportunity to sing a solo, which was a cause for a lot of tension in the band back in the day. Now, we are going to give everyone a shot,” said Loau.

“The great thing about it is we’re not being held at gunpoint by management anymore to march to their beat. We’ll see how it pans out. I’m just looking forward to getting back on stage with the girls and being silly with them.”

Before Girlfriend pick up the microphones again, Loau has taken on her first pantomime role — she’ll play Tiger Lily in Peter Pan and Tinker Bell.

The production is staged by Bonnie Lythgoe and marks the first time she’s taken her plays out of Sydney.

“I’m playing the role of Tiger Lily, the Indian princess that has been kidnapped by Captain Hook, played by Todd McKenney, and held ransom so he can lure Peter Pan into his realm. I’m glad Todd’s joined the dark side with me. And it’s suitable for all ages, from three to 103,” said Loau.

“I can bring my kids along, I don’t have to warn them there’s going to be burlesque or pole numbers they’ll have to close their eyes for, which I have done in the past!”

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, Arts Centre Gold Coast, June 23-July 1; State Theatre, Sydney, July 7-16; Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, July 21-30; tickets ozpanto.com

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