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Biography

London, England (1976 – 1982, 2005 – present)

The Slits were formed in 1976 in London, England. The original members, all female, were: Arianna Forster (aka Ari Up, Ari-Up & Madusa, vocals), Paloma Romera (aka Palmolive, drums), Kate Korus (guitar) & Suzi Gutsy (bass). Viv Albertine & Tessa Politt would later replace Kate & Suzi. Pete Clarke (aka Budgie, formerly of Spitfire Boys & later to join Siouxsie and the Banshees), was the drummer when Palmolive left to join The Raincoats - then later Bruce Smith.

They released their first album ‘Cut’ on Island Records in 1979, a Bootleg Retrospective on Rough Trade Y in 1980, and The Return Of The Giant Slits in 1981. Further releases since their initial split in 1981 are two sessions for the John Peel show released on Strange Fruit, In The Beginning: A Live Anthology 1977-1981, and Live At The Cibus Club. Ari Up, went on to help form, The New Age Steppers. The Slits have since reformed with original members Ari Up and Tessa Politt plus new members Hollie Cook on keybooards, and Anna Schulte on drums, and guitarist No. The band toured widely and released another album, Return of the Giant Slits before breaking up in early 1982. Ari Up and Tessa Pollitt reformed the band with new members in 2005. In October 2006 the EP Revenge Of The Killer Slits was issued and in October 2009 the well-received album Trapped Animal was released.

On Wednesday October 20th 2010 John Lydon’s web site announced that, after a serious illness, Ari Up had died.
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  • flowersonthewal

    inspired the coolest slits :) http://ryanfrailich.bandcamp.com/track/you-fell-into-my-grave

    31 Jan 8:18am Reply

  • igloopieface

    havin a slitsy kind of night. bummin hard thinking about sweet ari --- thankful i got to see them about a year before she passed. got some lovely photos of her in her hot pink, furry leg warmers, too ♡ rip

    26 Jan 2:29am Reply

  • Synthetic

    I'm not sure the political stance of Riot Grrrl translates retroactively without forcing an extraneous and ideology loaded label on older artists, or devaluing the Riot Grrrl movement itself. As for the belief that many Riot Grrrl bands were conforming to an image, surely that's another reason to NOT tag The Slits as such. They really don't need it. Regardless, big love to them; I really do miss the presence of Ari Up.

    23 Jan 8:34pm Reply

  • RussellChap

    Cut is The Slits mistresspiece despite what the snobbish purists say, the Peel sessions are great an' all but are just sketches compared to Cut.

    2 Jan 9:39am Reply

  • chivesontheweb

    I finally got around to listening to Return of the Giant Slits. Now I'm sorry that I put it off for so long, because it's pretty nice!

    27 Dec 2012 Reply

  • Punk_Life75

    Why can they not be tagged Riot Grrrl, surely Ari was the epitome of a riot grrl. She truly did what she wanted and didn't care what society thought of her. A lot of the actual riot grrrl bands where just conforming to an image they wanted to portray where Ari did it her way.

    7 Dec 2012 Reply

  • Nimbie

    Who keeps tagging them as "riot grrrl"? Stop it, it's stupid. Ari Up was a true rebel girl, but there was no Riot Grrrl! movement in 70s.

    6 Dec 2012 Reply

  • chainy_rabbit

    Top!

    9 Sep 2012 Reply

  • bingbongbilly

    10 quid for the lot...we paid f*ck all!

    15 Aug 2012 Reply

  • Nimbie

    Why is Return of the Giant Slits so unpopular? I'd say, it's as good as "Cut", and even more interesting and experimental.

    10 Aug 2012 Reply

  • muteoff

    Their version of Grapevine is beautifully twisted.

    5 Jun 2012 Reply

  • mutantorgans

    mutant reggae punk

    26 May 2012 Reply

  • elegiak

    DOCUMENTARY ABOUT WOMEN IN PUNK MUSIC made by Zillah Minx (Rubella Ballet) : http://odvievonvegas.blogspot.fr/2012/05/shes-punk-rocker-uk.html

    16 May 2012 Reply

  • badwolf_TMC

    Happy Birthday Ari Up. Gone but not forgotten.

    17 Jan 2012 Reply

  • scottdoesntknow

    I can believe Ari died, but not as soon as she did. Does anyone know what kind of cancer she had? I've been listening to "Cut" for the past few days and can't get it out of my head.

    6 Jan 2012 Reply

  • JohnyChhet

    Psychic Dancehall! http://wp.me/pLKms-1YF

    7 Dec 2011 Reply

  • blixt

    I still cannot believe Ari died. what an amazing woman

    22 Oct 2011 Reply

  • Conebeast

    lol @ them being tagged Riot Grrrl

    26 Sep 2011 Reply

  • outrenoir

    Cut has more than enough listeners someone be brave and try Return of the Giant Slits already :) :( :)

    11 Sep 2011 Reply

  • DubheSjel

    got their cd ;)

    31 Aug 2011 Reply
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