Rubella Ballet

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Rubella Ballet playing at the Clarendon Club, London, Christmas Eve 1985

Rubella Ballet was a punk rock band formed in 1979 by former Fatal Microbes Pete Fender (guitar), Gem Stone (bass) and It (also bass!), with vocalists Annie Anxiety and Womble and drummer Sid ( later also the drummer with Flux of Pink Indians). Annie, Womble and It were involved only initially, left and were replaced by vocalist Zillah Minx.

The new line-up were soon known for wearing brightly coloured dayglo clothes on stage, to differentiate themselves from the anarcho-punk bands who tended to wear black, 'army-surplus' style clothing. Pete Fender, remembered for silver trousers and glam-rock guitar licks, left at the end of 1982 and soon afterwards joined Omega Tribe as a full-time member, having been their early mentor and record producer. His involvement with Rubella Ballet is periodic and lasting, having been a founder member of the band and guiding light.

The band released one album on cassette tape, entitled Ballet Bag (1981) and a 4 track 7" EP, "Ballet Dance" (1982), both for XNTRIX Records. Following these early releases they went on to produce four further albums. The first two, on Ubiquitous Records, were 'At Last Its Play Time' (1985) and 'If' (1986). The next album 'Cocktail Mix' (1987) was produced on the Red Rhino label and the last album release 'At The End of The Rainbow' (1990) on Brave Records.

It was at this time that a compilation CD 'Greatest Trips' (1990) was produced on the Brave Label featuring many of the tracks from the first three albums.

Rubella Ballet still exist as an occasional entity and reform periodically to perform at punk celebrations and worthy gatherings.