I'm still very much a choir girl. Our conductor gave us cues as to when to start and stop singing; when to sing softly and when to crescendo. Our choir learned to stand and sit in unison. We were not to fiddle; hands had to be at our sides. We filed on and off stage in an orderly way. We were like little robots.
And so during our early rehearsals I look to Coach Tony to "conduct" our group. He finds this bizarre. He explains that when I am singing the lead, I am the leader; the musicians watch me for cues, so I had better give them some.
Also, when you sing in a choir, no one must hear your voice. Your voice must blend in with the group. But in a rock band, you must be heard, and you must dominate the group. I have to learn how to do this, and to develop the "attitude" expected of a lead singer. I'm getting an education.
Our band needs a name. We all offer lists of possibilities, but we are not getting anywhere. Then someone suggests "Shelley and the Pacemakers". It's a play on "Gerry and the Pacemakers", plus one of the guys has actually had a heart operation. I protest that I really don't need to have the band named after me. But the name sticks and that's what we become.
I need a costume for the show. I can't appear on stage in my lawyer's suit or my eastern suburbs casual wear. I need something with "attitude". I'm singing two Blondie songs, so I adopt Debbie Harry as my muse. I find a black sequinned mini-skirt, and a graffiti-print singlet top with rips in it. I go home and put them on. My 14-year-old daughter tells me I need fish-net stockings, and I think she's right. Long black boots complete my ensemble
Our show is at Fowler's Live. It's a student bar and club with black walls and a grungy atmosphere. I arrive in the Green Room and it's not green but an indeterminate shade of grey. I muss up my hair and apply a lot of dark make-up.
We hear the audience of family and friends arriving. The first band goes on (there are five groups performing on this night). The MC is winding up the audience, reminding them that each band has had only four weeks to prepare. He keeps asking the crowd "How long?" and they have to shout "Four weeks!"
We're on second. We arrive on stage and it is all dark except for the blinding lights right in our eyes. I can't see anyone out there but I can hear them. The moment of truth comes when I sing my first song. I feel a bit shaky at first but once I've finished the first song I start to settle down. I'm aware of Rob's backing harmonies in the Dragon song "April Sun in Cuba" and feel the sense of team. Allison and I back him in his song "Route 66". The most challenging song for me is the Blondie song "Call Me". Even though the key is lower, the highest note is high for me and it needs to be strong. I relish the laid-back beat of Linda Ronstadt's "Your're No Good" and can hardly believe that I get to sing it. The final song is Blink 182's "All the Small Things" and several band members join in the chorus. It's a good, up-beat song to finish on.
At the end the crowd roars and applauds wildly. I grab Allison's hand and we punch the air. We did it!
We're now able to relax and watch the remaining performances. I find my husband and my two very bemused teenage children. It's very hard to sleep that night. I could happily go "on the road".
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