The Vedettes formed in Belfast back in 1980 when all four members were still attending Annadale Grammar School. The band were part of the thriving Belfast punk scene of the time and regularly supporting local punk acts such as Rudi, The Outcasts and Acme gaining a  loyal local support in the process. The band were Alan Mairs vocals, Ricky Monds bass, Gary Kirby drums and Nigel Charlesworth guitar. They played their set of original material with titles such as Deborah, Youth Excitement and All Times around all the usual dives in Belfast.

In search of that all important record deal, in 1982 the band decided to change their name to True Colours and aligned themselves with the New Romantic movement, recruiting various keyboard players on an ad hoc basic. The band secured a publishing deal with Chapel Music and recorded several sessions for the BBC (notably for the Janice Long Show). They also gigged regularly in London and supported their close friends and supporters Silent Running. Failing to land major label support the band drifted apart, briefly resurfacing in the late 80s to perform a low key reunion tour in Northern Ireland. Drummer Gary Kirby went on to replace Ian Gault as an ad hoc member of Silent Running and played in local bands with Belfast stalwarts such as Terry Sharpe & Pat Gribben (The Adventures), Brian Young (Rudi) and Iggy Ward (Katmandu).

On 29th March 2022 Spit Records released Shellshock Rockers Vol. 3, a compilation CD of previously unreleased tracks, all salvaged from old cassette tapes. This included Vedettes track 'Contact One', recorded in 1982.