Marianne Faithful

Of Euro-aristocratic stock, Faithful embodies the archetypal fallen society girl. Discovered by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Oldham at a party, Faithful’s virginal demeanour and plaintive vocal style brought her a hit with the Jagger/Richards composition ‘As Tears Go By’.

Together with Anita Pallenberg, she proved a huge influence on the Stones’ classic ’68-’72 period (to the extent of co-writing ‘Sister Morphine’). The mid-’70s were lost to heroin, but her comeback album Broken English, with its cold electronic tones and harsh delivery, fit right in between punk and Bowie-style Germania.

Her latest album, Kissin’ Time, features collaborations with Beck, Jarvis Cocker and Billy Corgan and was released in March 2002.

Kate Bush

Born in Bexleyheath, Kent, Bush was a child prodigy who rocketed onto the scene at the age of 20 with the ultimate English gothic (small ‘g’) epic ‘Wuthering Heights’, which displayed her four-octave range and lyrical finesse to fine effect. Bush’s first and only tour showcased her prowess in dance and performance arts; thereafter she stuck to making lavish videos and masterpieces like Never Forever and Hounds Of Love.

She recently broke her near-hermit status to be honoured at last year’s Q awards.

Sarah Cracknell (Saint Etienne)

The dreamy voiced angel-face of Saint Etienne – whose remit included everything from television themes to kitsch Europhile disco to medieval pop – Cracknell hailed from Chelmsford, Essex. Her band were often dubbed too clever for their own good, but in retrospect they managed to provide the missing link between Kylie and Moloko.

Justine Frischmann (Elastica)

Frischmann, from Twickenham, London, was often classed as the indie-posh girl slumming it with wannabe cockney paramours such as Brett Anderson (Suede) and Damon Albarn (Blur).

In fact, her father was a Hungarian refugee while her mother’s family ran a corner shop in Glasgow. After quitting the embryonic Suede, Frischmann formed Elastica, who released a series of killer singles (‘Connection’, ‘Waking Up’) and a number one album before going to ground to work the Wire/Fall obsessions out of their systems.

Five years later, they produced an underrated (and underperforming) follow-up The Menace, and promptly split.

Julianne Regan (All About Eve)

Former music journalist and Gene Loves Jezebel bass player Regan hit paydirt as a sort of indie-goth Sandy Denny when All About Eve enjoyed a brief moment in the Top Ten with ‘Martha’s Harbour’ in the late ’80s.

The group disbanded soon after guitarist Tim Bricheno left to join the Sisters Of Mercy, and Regan’s brief collaboration with ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler came to an unproductive and acrimonious end.