KATRINA AND THE WAVES

Katrina and the Waves Biography

Alex Cooper, Vince de la Cruz, Katrina Leskanich and Kimberley Rew formed Katrina and the Waves in 1981 in Cambridge, England.
The name Waves derives from Cooper and Rew’s mid 70’s band, which Rew left to join Robyn Hitchcock’s Soft Boys in 1978.

Meanwhile Cooper recruited US “airforce brats” Leskanich and de la Cruz.
Rew’s return in 1981 saw in Katrina and the Waves’ indie period – two Canadian albums plus the Bangles’ cover of Going down to Liverpool – leading to the first major label record in 1985 and the evergreen summer anthem Walking on Sunshine.

The band continued to record, including Sun Street in 1986, and tour, as headliners and as openers for the Kinks, the Beach Boys and many others.

In 1997 Katrina and the Waves won the Eurovision Song Contest for the UK with Love Shine a Light.

The group disbanded in 1999.

Katrina Leskanich pursued a busy career as a DJ, in the musical Leader of the Pack, and as a solo artist.