The Slits | Artist

The Slits were a British post-punk dub band formed 1976 in London by Arianna Forster aka Ari Up (vocals), Paloma McLardy aka Palmolive (drums, vocals), Kate Korus (guitar) and Suzy Gutsy (bass). Viv Albertine (guitar, vocals) and Tessa Pollitt (bass, vocals) replaced Korus and Gutsy soon after the band formed. They came together from two former bands the Flowers of Romance, and the Castrators. The band got their big break as a support band, along with Buzzcocks, on The Clash's White Riot tour. Soon after they recorded their quirky masterpiece debut album Cut (1979) produced by Dennis Bovell, with Neneh Cherry on backing vocals. Budgie the drummer from Siouxsie & the Banshees (and Siouxsie's husband) played drums for The Slits for a few years. The band carried on with lineup changes until 2010 when lead singer Ari Up passed away. The Slits' unique mix of post punk and dub styles, coupled with their social and political activism made them one of the most influential bands of their era. Cut is a classic album and the follow-up Return of the Giant Slits (1981) is also excellent. The 1997 compilation In the Beginning: A Live Anthology 1977-81 is also excellent. Ari Up, the step-daughter of the Sex Pistols' John Lydon, also worked on collaborations with Lee Perry, New Age Steppers, Singers and Players, and Adrian Sherwood. Palmolive later worked with The Raincoats, and Viv Albertine has released solo works since the Slits disbanded in 2010. Legend has it that the trigger for The Slits' formation was when as a fourteen year-old, Ari Up went to a Patti Smith gig and was inspired to form her own band. After having an argument with her mother who didn't want her daughter in the music industry, Ari was approached by Palmolive and Kate Korris with the offer to form a band and the next day they had their first rehearsal. Ari's mother Nora Forster was no stranger to the music industry herself, having been a friend of Jimi Hendrix, girlfriend of guitarist Chris Spedding for three years, and husband of John Lydon, Sex Pistols front man. Nora Forster married Lydon in 1979 and their home was a punk domain where Nora would take in poor musicians. The constant presence of punk music led to Ari learning to play the guitar from the Clash's Joe Strummer.

Artist Website: theslits.co.uk

Featured Albums: The Slits

Related Artists: Ari Up, Viv Albertine, Hollie Cook, New Age Steppers