Clout

Clout was an all-female South African rock group formed in Johannesburg in 1977, best known for their hit single, Substitute which was actually a new arrangement of a Righteous Brothers song. 

Clout's version reached number one in South Africa and several European countries. It also reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and remained in the UK charts for fifteen weeks.

Due to sanctions against South African artists and performers by the UK's Equity at the time, the BBC One television series Top of the Pops used the group's performance of the song on Dutch programme TopPop, from 8 April 1978, to present the hit song for its top ten countdown.

Clout were very sucessful in Europe and a few of their singles made the top ten. However, like many other musicians, their sucess was not replicated in the US, where Substitute only reached 67 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

They split up in 1981, shortly after the release of their last major single, a re-arrangement of the Hall and Oates song Portable Radio.

The original lineup consisted of:

Cindy Alter: lead vocals, guitar (1977–1981)

Ilene Tomlinson: bass, vocals (1977–1980)

Ingrid Herbst: drums, vocals (1977–1981)

Glenda Hyam: keyboards, vocals (1977)

Jenni Garson: guitar, vocals (1977–1981)

Although an  all-female group, a number of male musicians joined the group later on. 

Cindy Alter is still active muscially and Clout have made several reunion concerts around South Africa - including this online performance during the peak of the SARS-COVID19 lockdown.