His Latest Flame (band)

Lore & Background

The band began as five friends from Glasgow making music together. Sophisticated Boom Boom became a mainstay in the early 1980s Glasgow music scene until singer Libby McArthur became pregnant in 1983. The remaining members decided to continue under the name His Latest Flame and recruited new vocalist Moira Rankin. In 1986, they released the track 'Somebody's Gonna Get Hurt' on Go! Discs and supported the Housemartins on tour that same year. They later signed with London Records and released their debut album, In the Neighbourhood, in 1989. The band performed on BBC One's Wogan on 18 October 1989 and supported Edwyn Collins at the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow. They disbanded in 1990.

Reader's Guide

His Latest Flame represent a notable chapter in the history of Scottish all-female bands, emerging from the Glasgow scene of the early 1980s. Their formation directly from Sophisticated Boom Boom after a member's departure illustrates the fluidity and resilience of grassroots music collectives. Though they released only one album, their signing to a major label and national television appearance on Wogan indicate a level of mainstream visibility. The band's legacy is partly carried by its members' later careers: Jacquie Bradley became a deputy headteacher, Trish Reid headed a university arts school, and Moira Rankin joined dance group QFX. Their inclusion in the 2024 documentary Since Yesterday, which traces Scottish girl groups, underscores their role in normalizing all-women bands in prominent venues like Glasgow's Barrowland.

Did You Know?

• His Latest Flame were originally formed from members of Sophisticated Boom Boom after vocalist Libby McArthur left in 1983.
• After His Latest Flame disbanded, Moira Rankin became a session singer and later worked in music management.