Post by Fuggle on Apr 27, 2006 18:16:07 GMT -5
The return of The Slits
Bobby Moore
Posted: 4/26/06
In an era of non-stick wallpaper music and painted up pop stars, The Slits have returned to show that girls do not have to look, sound or act a certain way to be in a band.
The group, which was the first all-girl band in the history of the UK when they formed in 1976, are back after a 25 year hiatus.
When The Slits first debuted on the London scene in March 1977, they featured Ari Up, a very feisty 14 year old who was from a wealthy German family, and Palmolive (Paloma Romero) on drums.
By the time the band secured a spot on the White Riot Tour with The Clash and Subway Sect, they also featured guitarist Viv Albertine and bassist Tessa Pollitt.
Early on, The Slits were not known for their musical skill, which can be heard on the Y Official Bootleg and also on the earliest Peel Sessions.
Despite the treatment they often received for being women and the fact that Palmolive would quit the band because of in-fighting, the band continued to tour and built an alost tribal-like following in the UK.
However, by 1979, when the group finally signed a recording contract they were a tight musical unit.
Thanks to the drumming of Budgie, the future husband of Siouxie Sue, and producer Dennis Bovell, the band's first album "Cut", which has an image of the three girls in the band topless and covered in mud on the cover, is considered a classic by both fans and critics.
The interesting thing about "Cut" is that while it kept some of the "punk" sound and attitude of their earlier recordings, there is a definite reggae and dub style feel to the album.
After "Cut" was released, the band would would replace Budgie with Bruce Smith, who would later play in Public Image, Ltd. with Ari's stefather John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten).
Not long after the release of the second album, 1981's "The Return of the Giant Slits", the band would split.
Over the years, Up continued her musical career with groups like The New Age Steppers and Rip, Rig, + Panic.
Pollitt would disappear due to a drug addiction, but would later straighten up her life, go to music school and raise the daughter she had with former Rip, Rig, + Panic bass player Sean Oliver.
The other two original members, Albertine and Palmolive, no longer have any connection to the band. Albertine is currently a filmmaker, and Palmolive is a born-again Christian and the drummer for the band Hi-Fi.
Late last year, while she was promoting her solo album "Dread More Dan Dead", Up announced her intentions to reform The Slits.
The current lineup may be the most talented to date, as Up and Pollit are back with the group. They are joined by three younger women, Adele, NO and Anna.
After months of rumors, the band finally hit the stage once again at a very bizarre venue.
On March 10, they played Selfridges, a huge department store in London, as part of a 30 Years of Punk celebration.
In a video on the band's main site, www.theslits.co.uk, Up discusses the irony of the band's opportunity to perform the song "Shoplifting" in a place like Selfridges.
Since March 10, the band has played several dates in the UK and they currently have two huge dates in Dublin and Berlin lined up in May.
Both an ep and full length album are rumored to be in the works, with On-U Sounds' Adrian Sherwood set to produce both projects.
Now, in a scene that is full of political allegiances and bands that take themselves too seriously, Ari and the crew are back to remind everyone what punk is about individuality.
Bobby Moore
Posted: 4/26/06
In an era of non-stick wallpaper music and painted up pop stars, The Slits have returned to show that girls do not have to look, sound or act a certain way to be in a band.
The group, which was the first all-girl band in the history of the UK when they formed in 1976, are back after a 25 year hiatus.
When The Slits first debuted on the London scene in March 1977, they featured Ari Up, a very feisty 14 year old who was from a wealthy German family, and Palmolive (Paloma Romero) on drums.
By the time the band secured a spot on the White Riot Tour with The Clash and Subway Sect, they also featured guitarist Viv Albertine and bassist Tessa Pollitt.
Early on, The Slits were not known for their musical skill, which can be heard on the Y Official Bootleg and also on the earliest Peel Sessions.
Despite the treatment they often received for being women and the fact that Palmolive would quit the band because of in-fighting, the band continued to tour and built an alost tribal-like following in the UK.
However, by 1979, when the group finally signed a recording contract they were a tight musical unit.
Thanks to the drumming of Budgie, the future husband of Siouxie Sue, and producer Dennis Bovell, the band's first album "Cut", which has an image of the three girls in the band topless and covered in mud on the cover, is considered a classic by both fans and critics.
The interesting thing about "Cut" is that while it kept some of the "punk" sound and attitude of their earlier recordings, there is a definite reggae and dub style feel to the album.
After "Cut" was released, the band would would replace Budgie with Bruce Smith, who would later play in Public Image, Ltd. with Ari's stefather John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten).
Not long after the release of the second album, 1981's "The Return of the Giant Slits", the band would split.
Over the years, Up continued her musical career with groups like The New Age Steppers and Rip, Rig, + Panic.
Pollitt would disappear due to a drug addiction, but would later straighten up her life, go to music school and raise the daughter she had with former Rip, Rig, + Panic bass player Sean Oliver.
The other two original members, Albertine and Palmolive, no longer have any connection to the band. Albertine is currently a filmmaker, and Palmolive is a born-again Christian and the drummer for the band Hi-Fi.
Late last year, while she was promoting her solo album "Dread More Dan Dead", Up announced her intentions to reform The Slits.
The current lineup may be the most talented to date, as Up and Pollit are back with the group. They are joined by three younger women, Adele, NO and Anna.
After months of rumors, the band finally hit the stage once again at a very bizarre venue.
On March 10, they played Selfridges, a huge department store in London, as part of a 30 Years of Punk celebration.
In a video on the band's main site, www.theslits.co.uk, Up discusses the irony of the band's opportunity to perform the song "Shoplifting" in a place like Selfridges.
Since March 10, the band has played several dates in the UK and they currently have two huge dates in Dublin and Berlin lined up in May.
Both an ep and full length album are rumored to be in the works, with On-U Sounds' Adrian Sherwood set to produce both projects.
Now, in a scene that is full of political allegiances and bands that take themselves too seriously, Ari and the crew are back to remind everyone what punk is about individuality.