The Slits
The Slits were a 1970s female punk trio. The members were Ari Upp (Ariana Foster), with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollit replacing founding members Palmolive (Paloma Romera), Kate Korus and Suzi Gutsy. They were also augmented by male drummer Budgie (formerly of The Spitfire Boys and later to join Siouxsie And The Banshees, and indeed marry Siouxsie herself). The Slits were later to get involved in other projects like "The Dog Faced Hermans" (are you sure? What is the link?). This band played a brand of brash, fun, snotty, catchy punk rock. Their originally extremely raw and raucous live sound, captured on a legendary Peel Session, was cleaned up and considerably polished by the time of their dub heavy, Dennis Bovell produced 1979 debut album 'Cut' (Island records). As well as the exceptional music this album contained, it was also notable for it's cover art, a photo depicting the band naked save for mud and loin-cloths.
Their sound and attitude became increasingly experimental and avant garde during the early 1980's, when they formed an alliance with Bristol post punk mavericks The Pop Group, sharing a drummer (Bruce Smith) and releasing a joint single, 'In The Beginning Their was Rythym/Where There's A Will' (Rough Trade records). However, by the time of their second 'official' LP release 'Return Of The Giant Slits'(a 'semi-official' bootleg of poorly recorded early material having been released in the interim by Rough Trade), it was clear that their initial energy, exuberance and inovativeness had deserted them. Various Slits became involved with On U dub-jamming project New Age Steppers.
Discography
- 'Cut' (LP, Island Records, 1979)
- 'Heard It Through The Grapevine' (single, Island Records 1979)
- 'Man Next Door' (single, Rough Trade 1979)
- 'In The Beginning There Was Rhythm' (split single with The Pop Group, Rough Trade, 1980)
- 'Bootleg LP' (LP, Rough Trade, 1980)
- 'Animal Space' (single, unsure of label- pos Rough Trade? 1981?)
- 'Return Of The Giant Slits' (LP, unsure of label- pos Rough Trade? 1982?)
- 'Peel Sessions (12" EP, Strange Fruit, 198?)