Rachel Stamp

Rachel Stamp is a London glam rock band that forms in 1994 and remains active. The group is led by David Ryder-Prangley and includes Shaheena Dax; earlier members include guitarist Will Crewdson, drummer Cliff Harris, keyboardist Mike Rowe and drummer Robin Guy. The band develops a cult following in the United Kingdom and beyond through extensive touring and a run of independent releases.

Early years and line-up changes

The band begins when David Ryder-Prangley meets guitarist Will Crewdson at a Vanessa Paradis show in London. They form the group with Cliff Harris on drums and Mike Rowe on keyboards. A scratchy demo tape, featuring early versions of “Hey Hey Michael You’re Really Fantastic”, “Pop Singer” and “Stealing Clothes From Shelley Barrett”, attracts interest from WEA Records, but the deal ends before the recorded album is issued. Rachel Stamp then continues with a new drummer, Robin Guy, and later adds Shaheena Dax on keyboards after she is invited to join following a chance encounter at a live performance.

Releases and recordings

The band’s debut album, Hymns For Strange Children, appears in 2000 and is recorded in two weeks with John Fryer, who has also worked with HIM, Nine Inch Nails and White Zombie. The first pressing sells quickly and the album reaches the top of the NME Independent Chart. It is preceded by the singles “Spank” and “Didn’t I Break My Heart Over You”, the latter reaching the Top 3 of the NME Independent Singles Chart. Another single, “Monsters Of The New Wave”, follows and is described as one of the group’s most memorable releases.

The follow-up album, Oceans Of Venus, is released in 2002 on Pure Stirling and is produced by Rachel Stamp with Rodger Tebutt of Silver Ginger 5. The record features the single “Black Cherry”, which appears on Kerrang TV and MTV2. The album is later issued in the United States through Captiva Records. The band also works on a third album, Queen Of The Universe, and releases “Honey” as a double A-side single.

Touring and live activity

Rachel Stamp tours widely in the UK and Europe and plays support slots for acts including No Doubt, Korn, Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop and The Tubes. The band also plays a sold-out show at London Astoria. In the United States it performs dates in Texas and joins the United II Tour, gaining a wider audience there. The group continues to play live sporadically.

Other projects and related work

Will Crewdson later performs with Adam Ant, including as joint guitarist and on the concert DVD Dirk Live At The Apollo, and also works with LIVAN, fronted by Cosmas Livanos. Shaheena Dax and Crewdson form She Made Me Do It, which releases the EPs She Made Me Do It and Garbos Pool. David Ryder-Prangley also performs with Adam Ant, Peter Murphy, Angie Bowie and Eric Faulkner’s Bay City Rollers, and releases his solo album Black Magic & True Love in 2020. Robin Guy’s other credits include Faith No More, Bruce Dickinson, Tigertailz, Eric Faulkner’s Bay City Rollers and The Business, while Cliff Harris later joins Liberty 37.