Attaching a Hello Kitty vibrator to a microphone stand during a performance and creating a music video that was censored for alleged S & M content, it is perhaps surprising that the Sisters of Sharon would be described as a cross between the Carpenters and the Sex Pistols.
The quartet would rather not categorise their music, dubbing it 'cruddy pop' and 'guitar music'. 'Some songs go from bordering on love song ballads to the hardest grunge . . . we don't do jazz,' says guitarist and vocalist Chris Bowers.
Spending time with the all-female outfit, which has been compared with Iggy Pop, Hole, Sonic Youth and Bjork, amongst others, one senses that they like surprising people. The four boisterous women who say 'yes to talking dirty . . . no to silicon implants', are known for their electric stage performances.
Even the name of the band has provided material for them to have fun with. Spinning the tale that there really is a sister Sharon - a name usually associated with a loud female with an interesting dress sense - the group once distributed flyers asking if anyone had seen the missing sister.
'We were doing a radio interview and we really played into it. This poor woman called in, she was really concerned,' says Kim Falkingham, also on guitar and vocals.
The Sharon myth continues, and the group's Web site (sistersofsharon.com.hk) even includes Sharon's diary and a Dear Sharon advice column. 'Between you and me,' says Bowers, 'we can't get rid of her.' The Sisters, however, do take their music seriously - a dedication that has kept them together for almost a decade. They were one of the earliest - if not the first - 'rock chick' bands on the Hong Kong music scene in the early 1990s. Founding members Bowers, Falkingham and bassist Jill Eason have been together since 1990, and drummer Featherstone joined a few years ago.
Since its formation, the group has become one of the most popular live acts, performing in numerous venues around town. They attribute their longevity to friendship, a commitment to enjoying themselves, and an openness which Falkingham believes wouldn't exist in a co-ed band.
