The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Rock Legends > 1980s > The Insisters
4-girl pop group from Yeoville, Johannesburg 1980-1983
â… and here comes Linda Dawson with thigh-high leather boots on
Jonathan Handley (from âYeoville Canticleâ)
She plays lead guitar in an all-girl band …â
Biography
By Leon Rossouw, September 2023
The Insisters were originally formed by Sue Charlton and Linda Dawson towards the end of 1979. Sue was born in Somerset, England, where her father was a member of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The family moved to Kenya, where her father was transferred, when she was 12 years old, and after returning to the UK the family decided to emigrate to South Africa. She completed her schooling at Boksburg High, and although she never received any formal training in music or singing, started playing drums and singing with various bands after seeing an advertisement for female musicians. Sue became friends with one of the band members, Keith Forsyth, who was also a sound engineer, and they started writing songs and did many recording collaborations, initially in a home studio in Benoni and then at Gallo in the Johannesburg CBD.
She also met Linda Dawson, the daughter of well-known Springbok Radio DJ, Neville Dawson, through one of the bands she played in. Because Linda had guitars and amps and Sue had a Ludwig drum kit and PA, they decided to form their own band, the Insisters. They recorded the first Insisters 7â single, âIf That’s What You Want / Sweetheartâ in 1981 as a duo, but soon after recruited two additional members, Muff Shapiro, and Yvonne Raff, and then Colleen Briel when Yvonne left. They then rerecorded âIf That’s What You Want / Sweetheartâ in 1982 with all 4 members. Muff was the sister of well-known musician Colin Shapiro, who wrote the scores for movies such as âThieves of Fortuneâ (1990), âHostageâ (1986) and âSkeleton Coastâ (1988), but she returned to the UK and was replaced by Tammi Isaacson.
The Insisters were a very popular band in their day, especially as their genre of music was ânew waveâ rather than the pop music other girl bands preferred. They appeared alongside artists and bands such as Lesley Rae Dowling, Asylum Kids, Dog Detachment and Radio Rats at an annual live charity show in Springs each year, and released the 7â single, âBluebeat / Wild Horses Heavy Wavesâ in 1983 before they finally broke up later that year. Sue also released the single âI’m Amazed / Someoneâ as a solo artist in 1984.
The Insisters reunited for the James Phillips Tribute Concert in Doornfontein in 1995, but with Sue and Colleen as the only original members. Sue Charlton lives near Honeydew in Johannesburg and still performs live shows from time to time. Linda Dawson passed away in 1993 and Colleen Briel appeared with Julian Laxton for a while, but then disappeared from the radar, as did all the other former members of the Insisters.
Discography
Singles
The Insisters
- If That’s What You Want / Sweetheart (1982) Radium Wreckords, RADW/004; went to No. 1 on RAU charts and peaked at No. 39 on Capital charts on 13 March 1982
- Bluebeat / Wild Horses Heavy Waves (1983) WEA, WIS 804
‘Bluebeat’ is a fine example of garage pop at its best.
Benjy Mudie
“Bluebeat” (listed as “Blue Beat”) appeared on the Sharp Cuts – South African Pop 1976-1990 compilation CD in 1992.
Sue Charlton (solo)
- I’m Amazed / Someone (1984) WEA, WIS 817
Musicians
- Sue Charlton (Su Insister): vocals, drums
- Yvonne Raff: guitar, vocals (left in 1982)
- Linda Dawson: lead guitar, vocals (passed away 1993)
- Muff Shapiro: bass, vocals (left in 1982)
- Colleen Briel: keyboards (joined in 1982, see also Snakeshed)
- Tammy Isaacson: bass (joined in 1982)
Information supplied by Sue Charlton, September 2002.