Gem was the gorgeous bass player for this
seminal Birmingham punk band that also featured Kevin
Rowland of pre-Dexies fame. Gem was taught by her
boyfriend in the band Mark Phillips and boy could she play. Good
looking, energetic and proficient she made the boys look sad at
playing and could have held her own in any band. She should definitely
join that pantheon of great Punk bassists long with JJ Burnel, Paul
Simenon and Sid Vicious. Kevin knew she was an exploitable asset in
the group so wherever possible he
"... wanted to make more of Gil's
appearance on stage...he encouraged the wearing of a basque...fish net
stockings and other sexually alluring clothing.."
(Keith Rimell 2001). He
even got her to sing a song in French while he played guitar though
unknown to him Gem was taking the piss with the lyrics!
One single to their name they split in
the late 70's and Gil formed Alternating with
drummer Bob Peach before they split. She then resurfaced in Girlschool,
courtesy of Lemmy, around their
Play Dirty period where she sang and
played bass before quitting music for good and ending up as a web page designer !! |
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