Keyboards and Saxaphone

Clare Hirst

Clare has played all over the place with lots of different artists since leaving The Belle Stars.  She's currently a jazz musician and has released her own jazz albums, under the Clare Hirst Quartet and the Clare Hirst Band. 

She is married to Alan Barnes, a successful saxaphone player in his own right.

Clare has toured with many bands and artists (to name but a few):
Amazulu
Mervyn Africa
Iggy Pop
Hazel O'Connor
Mica Paris
The Communards
Sandie Shaw
Shriekback
David Bowie (Live Aid)

Check out the TV page for some links to YouTube videos featuring Clare.

The Demons - Action by Example (1980)
Featuring Clare on saxaphone.  This was a band with Nik Fiend before he formed Alien Sex Fiend.

Andrew Edge - Boys Will Be Boys (Year???)
Not sure of the year, possible pre-Belle Stars.  Andrew Edge is a drummer and mentioned a self produced single which Clare was involved. Not sure whether Boys Will Be Boys is the name of the band or the single.

Amazulu - Moonlight Romance (1984)
I think this was Clare's first appearance after leaving The Belle Stars.

The Communards - Don't Leave Me This Way (1986)
I think Clare plays sax on a couple of tracks on the album.  I'll have to dig out my albums some time to confirm which tracks/albums she appears on.  Clare also appears in the video for Don't Leave Me This Way. Clare also toured with the band and I remember seeing The Communards at the Hammersmith Odeon (I think - I need to check where and when!) and Jimmy introduced Clare - I had no idea she was playing as part of the band but I couldn't see very well as I was near the back!  Great gig though.

Idiot Savant - 1986
Not sure what, if anything was released.

The Happy End - Resolution (1987)
Clare plays on It Is A Day.

Sandie Shaw (John Peel Session - 05/12/1988)
Girl Called Johnny
Cool about You
Flesh and Blood
Strange Bedfellows

Luxuria - Unanswerable Answers (1988)
Not sure which tracks Clare plays on.

Julia Fordham - Julia Fordham (1989)
Clare plays on Woman of the 80's and also appears in the video.

Shriekback - The Dancing Years (1990)
Not sure which tracks Clare plays on.

Shriekback - Alternative Mixes and Live (year???)
Clare features on Petulant (Drug Bastard Mix #3)

The Blue Aeroplanes - Swagger (1990)
Not sure which tracks Clare plays on.

Alien Sex Fiend - Open Head Surgery (1992)
Clare plays sax on Clockwork Banana, Banana Moon and Magic.

The Clare Hirst quartet - Tough & Tender CD (1995)

Tracklisting:
1. Heavy Hipsters
2. Tough & Tender
3. Salsita
4. Beautiful(ish)
5. Little Steps
6. Strollin'
7. Just an Emotion
8. Rudie's Blues
9. Mi Cancion
10. Gallicia

Clare Hirst and Hilary Cameron - Summer Song CD (2004)
Featuring Clare on saxaphones, Hilary Cameron on Piano and vocals.

Tracklisting:
1. Morning
2. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
3. I Only Have Eyes For You
4. Jody Grind
5. My One And Only Love
6. Summer Song
7. Three Little Fish
8. East of The Sun
9. Five Hundred Miles
10. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart

Clare Hirst - Touchy CD (2008)
The third album from Clare (released 15/09/2008) featuring 7 original tunes and 2 covers.
Band line-up is
NICK RAMM - PIANO
PAT LEVETT- DRUMS
TIM ROBERTSON-DOUBLE BASS

Tracklisting:
1. Touchy
2. Pockets
3. On the Street Where You Live
4. Cherry Blossom (Sakura)
5. What Now?
6. Happiness
7. Seven
8. Come On Home
9. Purple Gazelle

The Clare Hirst Quartet - Live at the Whitgift Centre in Croydon