The Suburbans before The Suburbans

Posted by spacecow April 23, 2020

The Suburbans before The Suburbans - Sallypoks

Long before the runaway success of the Suburbans and their legendary album cover releases. There was a side to the early suburbanites we rarely got to see.

It was not all smooth sailing as most would expect with a world-famous band. There were the struggles, sacrifices, and tireless steps each and every one of the band members made before achieving the success that they revel in now.


Sallypoks wowing the crowds at the legendary Legends Pub.

Out of the four, Michelle aka Sally had the most colourful back story. Coming from a life of being constantly in the limelight, she was a natural on stage.

This saw her join up with the local gypsies to ply her trade as an entertainer. Often being the main attraction she was the key member of the outfit and the one that was pulling in the crowds with her singing and dancing skills.

Sally with some local Gypsies

Sally and The Poks in a concert along Orchard Road

At the height of her early fame. Music came easy to her.

But as with all success stories, pride and ego took over.

This saw a dark period in Sallypoks career as she let her fame and success get to her. We hear stories of how she lashed out at close friends and colleagues during this time.

Her innate musical abilities soon diminished as rage and anger took over.

The above video, one of many incriminating ones, which surfaced during this dark period shows but a hint at her ego fed ferocity when confronted with situations. But of course, this transitional time of anger was short-lived as she came to terms with what was missing in her life.

"I had fame, fortune and a growing list of hit songs, but I didn't have an album, more importantly, I didn't have any album covers", said a reflective Michelle aka Sallypoks in a recent interview by GEC News.

Teaming up with the Suburbans was the embrace she needed to fulfil her true potential, we saw not just songs, but a flurry of hit album covers produced during the early days of the suburbans. What many music historians would now call the Golden Album Cover Years, or GACY. We can't wait for more album covers and some new hit songs from this fabulous foursome and hoping we have more GACY's to come.


Along with early fame came some TV Acting gigs, here she is with fellow co-star in the Singaporean adaptation of Mission Impossible, Missions Possible.