Reformed band dedicates single to LGBT+ community

Ruth, Penny and Anita, in a photo from the 1980s, they all have their mouths open, as if shouting. Ruth has white short hair, heavy make up and big earrings, Penny has sticky long hair, a red jacket on, with a black top and large earrings and necklaces on, Anita, has a purple jacket on, purple make up and a black top with necklaces. Maggie Glen

The 1980s girl group Zenana reformed after they were signed to a record label in 2024

Alex Pope
BBC News, Bedfordshire

A trailblazing band that reformed after a chance discovery of their 1980s record in a second-hand shop have released a new single to celebrate the LGBT+ community.

Zenana, made up of Anita Gabrielle Tedder, Penny Griffiths and Ruth Elder, formed in Milton Keynes in 1983 and first disbanded in 1987.

Ms Tedder said that when she originally penned Touch of a Woman in 1985 it was a "scary and secretive" time to be openly gay, but it proved how "ahead of our time" the group was.

Zenana said they felt inspired to release the track on Valentine's Day as it included the lyrics: "Give me some love of a different kind."

Ms Tedder said when she was being interviewed for a heritage project in Milton Keynes on queer history, "a young woman said to me '40 years before Chappell Roan there was Zenana' and I thought that was wonderful."

Anita and Steph in 1981, in a colour photo, Anita has on large glasses and a white top with blue and pink on, and blue braces, Steph has a white top on with black braces, they are both standing in front of a wooden panelled wall. Contributed

Ms Tedder and her partner, band manager Steph Daniels, pictured in 1981

Anita and Steph, standing outside in a garden, with plants and trees. They are both smiling and looking straight at the camera. They both have glasses. Anita is wearing and black and white top, Steph, a floral top with a cream cardigan. Jean Finch

The couple are in a civil partnership and have been together for 44 years

Ms Tedder has been with her partner Steph Daniels, the band's manager, for 44 years. They live in Wootton, Bedfordshire.

The former teachers, who never came out at work, "campaigned politically and in London, where we felt safe", she said.

"Old fans are now coming out of the woodwork to tell us we were very important in providing a positive image for gay people back in the day, we were ahead of our time."

Ruth, Penny and Anita, singing in a garden, into three microphones. They are all wearing black outfits. Ruth, right is pointing one arm, Penny, in the middle has both arms out stretched and Anita on the right has her eyes closed and is singing into a microphone. There is a straw bale in front of them and an a speaker. Jean Finch

The band performed live in July 2024 at the Bedfringe festival

Anita, Penny and Ruth in 1985, in a black and white image, all wearing black and white. Steph Daniels

The band in 1985, who played The Point in Milton Keynes, The Angel in Bedford, the Hippodrome in London, as well as Dingwalls and Le Beat Route

Penny, Anita and Ruth in a room, in front of wine bottles, all smiling and looking at the camera. Anita, in the middle is holding a record of theirs called Witches and Ruth, right is holding a congratulations sign. Anita, is wearing a brown hat, with a leopard top, Penny a purple top and scarf and Ruth a black top and green jacket. Steph Daniels

Zenana today: The group celebrated when their synth-pop single Witches from the 1980s was re-released

Ms Tedder said Touch of a Woman would be released on all streaming platforms on 14 February and was "courageously sung by Penny, and at the time, as a straight woman it was a revelation to me".

"It was a big deal at the time," she added. "I've always said how grateful I am for their support - as Ruth has always said, love is love, it still touches me now."

The band is hoping the track is as successful as their single, Witches - that has built up 31,000 streams on Spotify after its re-release in 2023.

Six hundred copies of the vinyl remix of Witches, that was released by Rush Hour Records in September 2024 sold out, so a second print is being made, she said.

Ms Tedder said of the 1980s: "When the lyrics 'give me some love of a different kind' were played, people would launch into the air in gay clubs, it was a bit of an anthem.

"The world is a completely different place now, we did have double lives back then, it's humbling how far we've come."

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