COLOUR - THE FINAL FRONTIER
I dreamt a dream one night. Someone whispered to me the words 'Rubella Ballet' I had no time to question. Flashing lights cut through the darkness. The grown ups turned away, unable to take it, while children with brightly coloured hair and clothes danced in unashamed delight. My eyes eventually became a little accustomed to the lights and focus on the band...
INFLICT PAIN THROUGH NOISE
They are six. All of them dressed in dayglo and black, make up and ribbons reflecting in the flurescent light. Through the swirling sound, (two guitars, two basses makes your head pound), a girl sings, just getting the better of those guitars and the unrelenting drumbeat. I turn, just as a hole suddenly appears and I fall thru', can see, hear, feel nothing until I drop to the floor, in another time, another place. The Rubella Ballet's still here, (I remember those words even if I do not really know what they mean. It's everything I feel, unexplainable in words), different, though. Now the band are four. The drumbeat's the same. So's that voice. But now there's just one girl on bass and one boy on guitar. I black out, and come to in a large, comfortable room. The walls are red, and one has black writing painted onto it. Behind me is a mirror. In front, three huge windows, overlooking a large part of the city, The girl, the singer in the band, walks in. She still looks dazzling, even in this light - long, white hair, coloured bangles and earrings and a bright dress. She smiles, looks quite friendly now, gives me something to drink. I take it unquestioningly. Immediately, the room begins to spin and the girl starts to talk...
HAVE I GOT NOTHING
TO GIVE?
She tells of long ago - seven years, when she first stepped upon a stage, asked to sing by drummer Sid. Of others, who joined in spontaneously. Anyone can be a star. Everybody IS a star. It worked. She spoke of a spirit, a feeling. Of taking things further - a brother and sister, (Dan and Gemma), joining permanently on guitar and bass. The Rubella Ballet had begun. Seven years of turmoil, Dan leaving and rejoining, nothing ever seeming settled. But the songs were there. Always noisy, melodic, tribal. The bare essentials of Punk Rock. Lurex dresses and sweaty Moonlight Club gigs. Me, a battered young schoolgirl, discovering a whole new world. Dan left for good, and Sean was initiated into the Ballet...
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