Amazulu was a British ska and new wave band from the 1980s.
The band formed primarily as an all female band, except one member, Nardo Bailey on drums. The name “Amazulu” is taken from the Zulu language word for the Zulu people. Former manager for X-Ray Spex and Adam & the Ants, Falcon Stuart discovered the act and helped promote their first single, “Cairo” to modest success in the UK.
The band started gaining appearances on Top of the Pops (1985) and The Young Ones (1984) which helped trigger their fame amongst a wider audience with hits such as “Moonlight Romance” and “Excitable.” The band broke into the United States with the “Montego Bay” in 1986. That same year saw the release of their self-titled full length album released on Island Records.
Breaking up in 1987, Anne-Marie Ruddock, Sharon Bailey and Lesley Beach continued to play on as Amazulu II, to little success. Ruddock went on to perform in the Alex Cox film Straight to Hell. The most notable member of the band with later success is Clare Kenny who went on to join Coming Up Roses, and eventually becoming a popular session player performing with Sinead O’Connor, Shakespears Sister and Damien Dempsey. |
