Lesley Woods was an Au Pair between 1978 and 1983 and then jacked it in. Always deeply committed to human rights, she re-trained and passed the bar exams to become an immigration barrister in the 1990s and has practiced from London chambers ever since. But she yearned to be an Au Pair again and as of January this year she’s back in that role.
Nope, not child minding; fronting the resurrection of the politically-charged seminal post-punk band The Au-Pairs after a 43 year absence. The 2026 version sees lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Lesley joined by three new recruits; Estella Adeyeri, Jem Doulton and Alex Ward to form what Lesley calls a “shit hot band” to tour and record a new album.
The 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 main 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.
The new version of the band are out on a 20-date UK tour right now with 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. Reporting that fans at the shows are asking for a new album: “so they’ll get 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 article.]
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.
“I was bowled over and honoured they all said they’d love to do it with me. They bring a fresh, energised lease of life to the new Au Pairs. We have a really good rapport and get on really well. Nobody is on an ego trip and no hidden agendas. And we have a laugh”, Lesley explains. Admitting she was very nervous before the first shows with the new band, those nerves faded once they were on stage getting a positive reaction from the crowd.
“Yes I was nervous, but once I got into it, it was fine with the audience responding; some dancing and some even singing the words. I wasn’t sure how they’d respond to us as I hadn’t done it for so long. We went down really well which was most encouraging and we needed that”. She promises audiences coming to see them that it will be: “loud, exciting, dancey (sic), beautifully and passionately executed and performed; good energy and vibes between the performers and the audience”.
Lesley has carried on writing towards new songs across the decades since the original band split in ’83. She says she may rent a cottage to “avoid distractions” and to be “incommunicado” to focus on finishing some of the many part-written songs; “just me and an acoustic guitar, notebook and a pen.”
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. So what are the issues and events she feels passionate enough about to include in the new songs?
“I have songs forming about jealousy, another about what the Russian soldiers did when they went into Berlin after the 2nd world war ended, and another song about the how people in different countries approach relationships. There is the Palestine issue too which I feel strongly about, but I think many people have said most of what there is to say in their songs already”.
There is a credible cover of Bowie’s track “Repetition” on the Au Pairs debut album. Lesley has been listening to stacks of stuff for ideas for a cover on the next album, and she reveals right now she fancies a crack at the iconic Ike & Tina classic “River Deep, Mountain High”.
Interesting to hear what the biggest lesson is she has learned from her music career: “To be in the know about copyright and recording rights, which are quite technical issues, and make sure that you are informed about them.”
Best advice to anyone starting out in music today? “Don’t copy, don’t plagiarize. Have integrity and a unique sound. It is hard today not to say or do something that hasn’t been said or done before. Also, don’t compromise and do keep control of your music, don’t give up that control and keep on top of everything.”
Lesley’s “Track Record”
1. First song you can recall hearing as a child?
“Band Of Gold” by Don Cherry[1955], or Kit Karson [1955,] or Petula Clark [1956] – Not sure which version it was, I was 11. I also remember “Dizzy” as a child, by Tommy Roe [1969].
2. First single you owned?
“We Can Work It Out” by The Beatles.
3. First LP/album you owned?
“Pin Ups” by David Bowie.
4. First CD you owned?
“Purple Rain” by Prince.
5. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
“Fetch The Bolt Cutters” by Fiona Apple – digital download.
6. Which album would you be happy to receive as a gift?
“Let England Shake” by PJ Harvey.
7. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
“Remain In Light” by Talking Heads, “Transformer” by Lou Reed, “Lust For Life” by Iggy Pop, “Purple Rain” by Prince, “Legend” by Bob Marley and the The Wailers, “Tapestry” by Carole King, “Horses” by Patti Smith, “The Best of James Brown”.
8. One of the best [or the best] records ever made (can be single/album/EP – and choose more than one if need be)?
“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” by Gil Scott-Heron, “Exodus” by Bob Marley & The Wailers, “Fame” by David Bowie, “King Heroin” by James Brown, “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash, “Now That We’ve Found Love” by Third World.
9. Anything unusual or perhaps unexpected in your music collection?
Eartha Kitt singing Cole Porter, which I have on a 78 RPM record: “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love” [1951].
10. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
Music takes you out of and away from yourself, lifts your spirits, is great company when you are lonely, cheers you up when you are blue and melancholy, and a necessity for a good party [and I love to party!]
11. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
Most B52s music, “Get Up Offa That Thing” by James Brown, “Baby Love” by The Supremes.
12. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
“Lust For Life” by Iggy Pop.
13. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
“Shack Up” by A Certain Ratio, “Shame” by Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, “Good Times” by Chic, Back To Life” by Soul II To Soul.
14. Best song or album for a romantic moment?
“You Are Everything” by Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
15. Which song was played for the “First Dance” at your wedding (if you are married) or which song would you choose if you did get married?
“River Deep, Mountain High” by Ike & Tina Turner.
16. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke [or which song would you choose if you have yet to do karaoke?]
“Mood Indigo” by Nina Simone, “Nutbush City Limits” by Ike & Tina Turner.
17. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
“Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday takes me back to the racism in England in the early 60s, and the TV programmes back then like Alf Garnett in “‘Till Death Us Do Part”. My step-dad had a lot of jazz records which I listened to… “Strange Fruit” was about racism in its most extreme form, and it made me aware about how wrong racism is. And how it was actually going on around me as a child when I was about nine years of age in Luton, about 1967. There was even racism among kids at school which I remember when I was about 10.
18. Favourite band (or bands)?
Talking Heads, Black Uhuru, Third World, Sly & the Family Stone, Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Velvet Underground, The Undertones, The Cure, The Clash.
19. Favourite singer (or singers)?
Janis Joplin, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, David Sylvian, Bjork, Diane Reeves, Aretha Franklin, St Vincent [aka Anne Erin Clark], Nina Simone, Alison Krauss, Al Green, Gregory Porter.
20. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
“Bridges” by Diane Reeves.
Interview by Simon Redley
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