Miami Beach Girls

The Miami Beach Girls were an all-girl 'poppy punk' band, founded in the Netherlands in the spring of 1981, by Sascha aka Syama de Jong. That drummer in 1977 had been a co-founder of the Lou's: the first French punk band and the first all-women rock band in any genre in France. In 1979, Sascha played many Rock Against Racism gigs in London, drumming for Verdict. After Sascha had returned to her native Leiden, she found the other members of the original Miami Beach Girls line-up. On vocals Ria, also the drummer of Cheap 'n' Nasty when Maarten could not play because of secondary school. On bass, Andrea Eppink (later also in Cheap 'n' Nasty). On guitar, Francine. They played their first gig in May 1981 in the Jam pub in Leiden. Supporting Cheap 'n' Nasty, with whom they would play often, eg, in Paradiso in Amsterdam. Sascha had played many of their songs before in the Lou's and in Verdict. Soon, Jeanette van Sijll joined on keyboards and backing vocals. On 11 September 1981, four of their songs, Tell you what, Chain reaction, the old Lou's song Hey stoned and Delight, were recorded live in Utrecht for the compilation album Onutrechtse Toestanden. When Ria left, Jeanette became the lead vocalist. They played with English band the Mo-dettes. In February 1982, they were on Dutch national TV, in the women's issues show Ot… en hoe zit het nou met Sien? In 1982, Andrea left. Heleen, also the bass player in Cheap 'n' Nasty, replaced her. Guitarist Francine left. They were a three-piece: Sascha drums, Heleen bass, Jeanette vocals and keyboard. In 1984, they were on tour as support to Golden Earring. Soon after, they disbanded. Francine and Heleen founded Ten Girls Ago. Later, in 1989, Sascha and Francine founded LoveCramps.