Typical Girls: Women in Punk/Post-Punk/Underground Music (Circa 1975-1980s)

[HunnyPi007 AT aol.com]

thank you, dee! bush tetras actually came to mind when i wrote "i think mixed gender bands are cool and sexy and foster the slits' core message of gender power and inclusiveness" in my other post. yeah, it's old news. we even touched on this here many years ago and decided that the members of this list are "typical girls" and "typical boys" (of course, this was meant tongue-in-cheek, and we hope to be more enlightened versions of who ari sings about in the song.) i think the same should apply in "the real world," i.e. in bands. in fact, i think the "need" for all-female bands has lessened greatly since the slits first came on the scene over 30 years ago. is it blasphemous to say that in this group? boys and girls making music together is a beautiful thing and is a good model for the world.

anyway, as is often the case, this group gets me googling, and i came upon a great bio for bruce smith. turns out he played with sade and lives right here in nyc (if the bio is current). i had no idea! since ari is sometimes based here and bruce is more of an original slits drummer than anna (no offense!), this is one more reason he could play with the slits again. anyway, thought some here would be interested in the bio (courtesy of PiL's website (see: Fodderstompf | PiL People | Miscellaneous Drummers):

BRUCE SMITH

Born: 
Bristol, England

PiL: 
Drums & Percussion 1986-90

Bio: 
Originally recruited for the 1986 'Album' tour, Smith stayed with PiL for nearly four years; playing on two studio albums (‘Happy?' & ‘9') and forming an important part of the "new" PiL. After excessive touring he finally left at the beginning of 1990. (Recording the track 'Criminal' for the 'Point Break' soundtrack just before leaving). By his own admission he did a lot of "partying and drugs" and it seems things just finally came to a head.

Prior to PiL Smith was drummer for The Pop Group (1977-81) & The Slits (1979-81), New Age Steppers (1980-81) & African Head Charge (1982). Married Neneh Cherry for three years and moved to Sweden. Formed Rip Rig & Panic (1981-84) & Float Up C.P. (1984-86).

Despite joining PiL in spring 1986, Smith simultaneously did session work for Terrence Trent D'Arby (1987), Guided By Voices (1989) amongst others. Post PiL, more session work followed including The The (‘Dusk', 1993), Björk (‘Debut',1993).

Bruce is still actively involved in and around the music scene composing and producing for various recording artists, films, documentaries, commercials etc. He has most recently been playing and recording with Sade's backing band Sweetback; appearing on their first album in 1996, and their follow up released spring 2004. He currently lives with his family in Soho, New York, USA.

btw, what's budgie up to post-divorce? is he available to be a slit again? in any case, was anna supposed to play with them at the uk gig that is now in question here?

lz

On Nov 10, 2008, at 9:58 PM, Dee Papadopoulos wrote:

speaking as a guy who's played in a band with all girls for almost 30 years, i find this topic kinda....old

On Nov 10, 2008, at 9:47 PM, robin dudley wrote:

that came out well!! of course the slits are not all men...

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From: rodudley AT hotmail.com
To: typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:46:16 -0800
Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS

well i'm sorry i ruled bruce out on account of his sex. but he is great as a man...not to say the slits have to be all men but if we are talking original lineup bruce ain'tit; i repeat anna is a great drummer for the slits why look for someone else????

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From: HunnyPi007 AT aol.com
To: typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org
Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 15:52:25 -0500
Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS

ah yeah, i forgot to mention that the drummer who played with ari at santos party house was TERRIFIC too! who is he? he could easily fill the drummer slot (or slit?!) for this reformation.

LZ

On Nov 8, 2008, at 1:21 PM, robin dudley wrote:

anna is a great drummer for the slits. palmolive is a born again and bruce (great drummer that he is) is a guy. the original lineup is dead. the new lineup sounds great. anna and cookie both add to the whole beautifully...

> From: HunnyPi007 AT aol.com
> To: typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 18:26:33 -0500
> Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS
> 
> NOW WE'RE TALKING! (Although I thought the guitarist who I saw playing 
> with Ari last month was great and reminiscent of Viv. Who is he? Does 
> he play with anyone else?)
> 
> Hope Ari can get Viv to play here in NYC too!
> 
> But...what about PALMOLIVE or the great BRUCE SMITH?? The "original 
> line-up" had a drummer, no? ; )
> 
> LZ
> 
> 
> 
> On Nov 5, 2008, at 5:23 PM, WWWhatsup wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/the%20slits%20reform%20for%20new%20shows_1085711
> >
> > THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS
> >
> >
> > THE SLITS are to play their first shows with the original
> > line-up in 30 years, it has been confirmed.
> >
> > After splitting in 1981, frontwoman Ari Up has previously
> > reunited with bassist Tessa Pollitt for shows in 2006, reports
> > Uncut.
> >
> > However, guitarist Viv Albertine has now returned to the fold
> > for two shows at Ladyfest in Manchester on November 9th, as
> > well as a headline gig at London's Astoria on December 3rd.
> >
> > The members decided to play the dates after collaborating on a
> > book to celebrate 30 years since the release of their debut
> > album CUT.
> >
> > Commenting on the reunion, Albertine said: "Zoe is why I
> > became interested in the Slits again - to see someone
> > intelligent and cool like that being so into what we did had a
> > major effect on me. And, the book, thank God, it's about time
> > the Slits got the respect they deserve!"
> >
> > The book, Typical Girls?, is due to be published by Omnibus
> > Press next Summer.
> >
> >
> > Joly MacFie
> > 212 608 1334
> > http://wwwhatsup.com
> > http://punkcast.com
> > http://pinstand.com
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TypicalGirls mailing list
> > TypicalGirls AT lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/typicalgirls
> 
> _______________________________________________
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