Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be! Or is it? Lots of bands reform after decades in hiatus, to jump onto the vintage gravy train and maybe trade on past glory with a compilation album or bunch of re-releases.
Most stick to their hits and back catalogue and might notch up a tour or two and then walk off into the sunset for a final time, their eye firmly on the pay packet and zero appetite for penning and recording new material.
So, is that the case with late 70s and early 80s post-punk heroes Au Pairs, the influential and much respected four-piece fronted by Lesley Woods, who have re-emerged in 2026?
Hell no. The new incarnation is a powerful version still fronted by Lesley on lead vocals and guitar, but with new younger blood pumping through its veins in the form of three talented new recruits: Estella Adeyeri on bass, Jem Doulton on drums and Alex Ward on guitar to form what Lesley calls a “shit hot band” to tour and to record a new album.
They have already penned a few new songs and are currently filling decent venues and attracting acclaim on their debut tour across the UK. We caught them live in Colchester last night for a cracking gig at the almost full Arts Centre, and for an exclusive pre-show photo shoot of the band and their very special guest, Dusky, Lesley’s pet pooch!
A bit of history: Au Pairs formed in Birmingham in late 1978 in the post-punk era and now regarded as being ahead of their time. Lesley Woods lead vocals, guitar and songwriter, Paul Foad on guitar and vocals, Peter Hammond on drums and Jane Munro on bass. Jane Munro left the band six months before they called it a day in 1983; Nick O’Connor replaced her.
Since then, Lesley who had always deeply committed to human rights, re-trained and passed the bar exams to become an immigration barrister in the 1990s and has practiced from London chambers ever since. She got back into music quite recently with some well received solo shows, and support slots, but she yearned to be an Au Pair again – and as of January this year she’s back in that role.
After a 43-year absence fronting the politically-charged seminal band, Lesley and her new bandmates have their own headline shows and support slots to The Skids too. Kicking off in Southampton in January for the first come-back show, and due to close in London on 1st May. They have also played five shows in Europe, including two sold out shows to a total of 1500 people in The Netherlands in February.
Marking the 45th anniversary of The Au Pairs’ influential 1981 debut album, “Playing With A Different Sex” [# 33 in UK album chart], performing most of that album on this tour plus songs from their 1982 second and final album, “Sense and Sensuality”.
They also premiere a trio of newly-penned songs and Lesley reveals to Music Republic Magazine that the band are booked in to the studio in June to record three new tracks towards a full album they are currently speaking to labels about, to find the right home for it.
Some are asking why the original band split in 1983 and why none of the other three are in the new line-up. In a new interview, Lesley tells us: “After five years and two albums and many gigs all over the world, I think we had burn out. We had no money. The original bass player had already left. It was disintegration really. We weren’t communicating with each other”.
As to why she is the sole original member in the 2026 version, there has been a long-running dispute over song rights and royalty splits, and more recently a challenge to the trademark registration by Lesley of the name The Au Pairs; with a strongly worded statement posted on socials by the original members. [The ins and outs of which is not for in-depth discussion in this review.]
Setlist:
Come Again
We’re So Cool
Love Song
Repetition
Let It Go
Diet
Armagh
Cross The Bridge
Dear John
Headache For Michelle
In The Wrong Body
Unfinished Business
It’s Obvious
You
Piece Of My Heart
Lesley first returned to the stage with some solo spots as support to The Chameleons, Gerry Harrison and Gavin Friday, and festivals in the UK, Berlin and The Hague; just her voice and guitar. But she missed being part of a band and when a promoter who booked her for a support slot to The Chameleons planted the seed of reforming The Au Pairs for a tour, her enthusiasm for the idea grew.
She released an EP as “Lesley Woods Au Pairs” at the beginning of 2025, but says she didn’t do anything to promote it. “It was just to get me back in to recording and see if I could still do it. I didn’t want to continue on my own, it is very lonely creating on your own and I thought I want to be in a band and I’d love to reform the Au Pairs, but there was the stumbling block with the other original members. But as regards getting in new people, I didn’t think anyone would want to do it with me, but when I got offered the tour I had something to offer.”
But who would be in the band? “I told the promoter the other members won’t do it because the relationship between me and them wasn’t very good, and I haven’t seen them for about 43 years. He said, so get new members in”.
She asked a podcaster friend if he knew any female bass players, as she wanted the same two females and two males line-up as the original band, and he suggested Estella Adeyeri from the band Big Joanie, so Lesley emailed her. She also messaged Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and asked if he knew any drummers and guitarists “that are good”, and he suggested Jem Doulton on drums and Alex Ward on guitar who both work with Thurston, and Alex has also worked with Pere Ubu.
The hard-hitting social commentary and sexual politics in her lyrics and song themes on the first two albums are as relevant today as they were back in the day. The 2026 audience ranges from loyal fans from back in the day who lap up the older songs, but are also asking for a new album and new songs when they meet the band at the merch’ desk after each show on the tour. Then there is the younger crowd who have discovered the band via their parents’ or even grandparents’ record collections, or on-line playlists.
In the 15 song setlist on this tour, there are two credible covers: Bowie’s “Repetition” from Au Pairs debut album, and the set’s closer “Piece of My Heart”; written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, and originally recorded by Aretha Franklin’s older sister Erma Franklin in 1967. It was also a big hit for Janis Joplin and the Holding Company.
Lesley’s voice is still pretty much in tact; perhaps with a wee bit more grit than the first time round, which suits the aggressive nature of the material and lyrical content. She is visibly at ease and clearly enjoying being back at the coal face. There is a palpable chemistry between her and the three newbies; all excellent musicians.
The crowd very happy with the night’s performance, including the support from Gina Burch and The Unreasonables; Gina a founder member of The Raincoats, one of Kurt Cobain’s favourite bands and much praised too by a certain Mr John Lydon.
Lesley’s best advice to anyone starting out in music today? “Don’t copy, don’t plagiarize. Have integrity and a unique sound”. Well, more than four decades later, Au Pairs mark II do not sound like they intend to milk the nostalgia circuit just yet or to only rely on the old songs. Nope.
Their sound today still has bite and with new songs to come, and a new album, The Au Pairs’ new baby is in good health.
Photos by Liam Battersby
Words by Steve Best
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