Polly, Thelma and Millie; circa 1985.
The Shaggy Lays, a play on words after The Shangri-La’s girl group, won the second ‘Gong Show’ at Heaven in 1985. The original trio, Alice, Polly and Thelma were signed up by an agency and quickly gained a loyal following, lip-synching to the great 60’s classics that included; ‘Walking In The Sand’, ‘Give Him A Great Big Kiss’ and ‘One Fine Day’ amongst many. They too took their inspiration from the girl groups of that era; big hair, big eyes and equally big egos. Quickly establishing themselves as an integral part of London’s burgeoning drag circuit, the pressure of overnight fame proved too much for Alice and she graciously ‘hung up her wig’ (rumour has it she kept forgetting to hide it when dragging bits of unsuspecting trade back to her squalid bedsit)! Alice needed to be replaced, and quickly. Being a great friend of all three, the most obvious choice was not far away; The Goddess was asked, and duly accepted the challenge. Rehearsals were rapidly arranged; within a week, they were ready for the first of many ‘threesomes’…
The Goddess remembers the first ‘gig’ being in a venue with very low ceilings, somewhere in South West London. Naturally, the show was a success and the group went on to enjoy many more threesomes up and down the country. Regularly appearing at The Two Brewers, The Black Cap, The Vauxhall Tavern and The White Swan amongst many, the trio spent these show nights invariably sending the assembled throng into a state of girl group euphoria. From Bournemouth to Nottingham, The isle Of Dogs to Birmingham, who doesn’t LOVE to sing along to ‘Leader of the Pack’ and imitate the crash scene (‘No, no, no, no, no…look out, look out, look out’) whilst clutching their invisible string of pearls?
The Shaggy Lays enjoyed ‘international’ fame, The Goddess securing them a tour of Holland in 1986 (albeit a long weekend). From Groningen in the far north of Holland to The Hague and Amsterdam, the trio finally completed their weekend at The Gay Palace in Rotterdam. Wowing the audience in their fluorescent pink circle dresses with black polka dots, many were to fall at the feet of the trio; they themselves wanting to be the leader of this pack, The Shaggy Lays!
The Goddess remembers the first ‘gig’ being in a venue with very low ceilings, somewhere in South West London. Naturally, the show was a success and the group went on to enjoy many more threesomes up and down the country. Regularly appearing at The Two Brewers, The Black Cap, The Vauxhall Tavern and The White Swan amongst many, the trio spent these show nights invariably sending the assembled throng into a state of girl group euphoria. From Bournemouth to Nottingham, The isle Of Dogs to Birmingham, who doesn’t LOVE to sing along to ‘Leader of the Pack’ and imitate the crash scene (‘No, no, no, no, no…look out, look out, look out’) whilst clutching their invisible string of pearls?
The Shaggy Lays enjoyed ‘international’ fame, The Goddess securing them a tour of Holland in 1986 (albeit a long weekend). From Groningen in the far north of Holland to The Hague and Amsterdam, the trio finally completed their weekend at The Gay Palace in Rotterdam. Wowing the audience in their fluorescent pink circle dresses with black polka dots, many were to fall at the feet of the trio; they themselves wanting to be the leader of this pack, The Shaggy Lays!
2 comments:
How Bona girl,my palone loves the Shaggy Lays-remember seeing them perform @ the Flowerpot circa fuck knows when(Just after the death of The old queen Victoria)they were simply stunning Thelma,Polly & HRH Millie Mopp-Love em
The Shaggy Lays!
I thought it was all a dream. I stumbled upon them, when passing by a pub somewhere on the coast. Being a huge Shangri-Las fan, I just had to see the show. It was the funniest drag act I have ever seen and I recall having to dash for the loo before I wet myself.
Happy, happy memories!
Irresistible Eric x x x
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