Bananarama was formed in London in 1981 by Sara Dallin, Karen Woodward, friends since childhood, and Siobhan Fahey who met while studying journalism at the London College of Fashion.

Keren and Sara lived above the rehearsal room in Denmark Street which was used by former Sex Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook, who persuaded the girls to get a band together. The trio recorded a demo of "Aie A Mwana", a cover of a swahili song by Black Blood, produces by Cook. The tape was heard at Demon Records who offered the firls their first deal. The single was at first an underground club hit which was given a second chance when Banarama signed with London Records.

Terry Hall, ex Specials, already liked the Afridan influences in Bananarama's "Aie A Mwana" when he discovered the look of the yet unknown trio in the pages of The Face.

Hall's newband The Fun Boy Three and Banarama recorded together "It Ain't What You Do". The single was released in February 1982 and ended at number 4 in the UK charts. Banarama's career was truly on track.

The next sindle, a cover of The Velvelettes Motown tune "Really Saying Something", went top five too. The sindle was followed by several more hits ("Shy Boy", the cover of "Na Na Hey Hey") and then the band's first album "Deep Sea Skiving" in 1983.

True international success came in 1984 with the band's second album "Bananarama" produced by Swain and Jolley (Imagination, Alison Moyet). The self title opus featured most noticeably "Cruel Summer" and "Rover de Niro's Waiting".

In 1986, after hearing Dead or Alive's hit "You Spin Me Round", the girls decided to collaborate with producers Stock Aitken and Waterman on their cover of "Venus", originally by the Shocking Blue, for their third album "True Confessions"/ The track went to number 1 in many countries including the US. Bananarama consequently chose to have thier fourth album "Wow!" entirely produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman.

"Wow!" Contained a string of hit singles such as "I Heard A Rumour" and "Love In The First Degree".

A Few months before the release of the Bananarama's "Greatest Hits" package and their entry into the Guinness Book of Records as the Most Successful All-Girl Group Ever, Siobhan Fahey who wanted to take new artistic direction, left the group to form Shakespeare's Sister in 1988. She was replaced by their friend Jacquie O'Sullivan and in March 89 the band eventually launched the long awaited World Tour.

In 1991, Bananarama released "Pop Life" produced by their long time friend Youth (ex Killing Joke), their first album to receive so many positive critics. The sound of the album was definitely more pop-rock than the songs co-written with Stock Aitken and Waterman and features the hit singles "Preacher Man" and the cover of "Long Train Running" with Alma De Noche (formed by ex members of the Gypsie Kings).

At the end of the year, upon a common agreement, Jacquie left the band, having not truly managed to find her place.

Sara and Keren have since continued as a duo, releasing in 1993 "Please Yourself" (produced by Mike Stock and Pete Waterman). This album marked the end of the band's contract with London Records.

In the mid 90's, Sara and Keren wanted to put out a Euro-dance album and in 1995 released "Ultra Violet" (also titled "I Found Love In Asia). Taken from this seventh album, the singles "Every Shade of Blue" and "Take Me To Your Heart" both entered the US dance chart top 10.

Following a one-off reunion recording of Abba's "Waterloo" with Siobhan in April 1998, the twosome returned in 2001 with their eighth studio album "Exotica".

In February 2002, Bananarama celebrated their 20th Anniversary in front of a crowd of 3,000 in London, joined on-stage by Siobhan, a memorable event for fans who traveled from around the globe.

It's tempting to say that Bananarama rewrote the pop rulebook. The truth is that they never even read it in the first place - for over twenty years their name has been synonymous with bright, sophisticated and authentically brilliant pop music. And here are Keren and Sara back with some of the strongest material of their career.

Now signed to independent label A&G Productions - allowing the girls the autonomy necessary for their ideas to thrive - Sara and Keren feel at their most invigorated for over a decade. Recording with the Murlyn crew (Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Ms Dynamite, Dannie Minogue) in Sweden has clearly proved an agreeable backdrop for Sara and Keren's songwriting talents.

Newt racks like "Lovebite", "Look On The Floor", "Don't Step On My Groove" and "Rules Of Attraction" represent Bananarama's best work in a decade.

Monday July 25th sees the release of "Move In My Direction", a slice of gorgeous glitterball disco-house - dipped in lush vibes and electro flavored, it's the perfect summer soundtrack to unite happy hedonists, club kids and pop-heads everywhere.

An album follows on November 14th. Packed with pop fuelled tales of list, madness, mayhem, passion filled dance floors, and disco insanity, "Drama" is a luscious mix of electro beats, happy house, boogie nights, and even the occasional ballad.

Totally modern, totally pop, totally Bananarama.