Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

typicalgirls - Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS

typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org

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

List archive

Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS

Chronological Thread  
    < Chronological >       < Thread >
  • From: robin dudley <rodudley AT hotmail.com>
  • To: "Typical Girls: Women in Punk/Post-Punk/Undergrou" <typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS
  • Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:51:27 -0800
well first off i don't think i said anything about Typical Roxy girls? did I? nor did i say kate was on the white riot tour. like i said i don't remember when the roxy shut down and i don't know when you took pictures. i know : that kate was still in the band in summer of 77, though she had to spend some time with her mother after a heart attack; perhaps viv played with them during that hiatus but i don't think so.  i repeat dates are hard to remember unless they have "markers" so maybe it was all earlier than i suggest but the summer 77 stuff is pretty definite! i also know that she helped write most of the original set, came up with the name, and played the first few gigs when nobody else was interested in being in a band entirely made up of girls. she created a job that others saw as desirable, and for that she deserves not to be written out of the history. there are plenty of other myths entangled in the actual history. for some reason people like to think these girls just picked up instruments and jumped on stage. they practiced and wrote for months before performing. (except for tessa! the teenage prodigy). by the time she hit the stage with the slits viv had been playing for well over a year with coaching from keith l, one of the best guitarists to grace the punk scene. kate had been playing music since the age of 3. paloma started well before the slits did. ari learned instruments as she went, and they all learned onstage about being onstage. yes it took guts, yes they were unpolished and fearless, what i am trying to say is myth is myth and tends to exaggerate the true stories. this includes most other bands at the time not just the slits......

From: misschief AT earthlink.net
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:48:47 -0600
To: typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS

Robin,

Like I said, the Roxy closed in April 1977. I was a regular until the end. No, I am not thinking about 1978, as you suggest. Not sure why you would say that, since I am clearly talking about the Roxy 1977.  Siouxsie, Lora Logic, Gayle Advert, Slits,  Cherry Vanilla ):, Raincoats (in the house), who am I forgetting?  

Typical  Roxy girls . . . not really, none of us were ever typical anything . . . we were punk rockers!

In the earliest  book on punk I own, Virginia Boston's "Shock Wave", from 1978, Boston  says : "Viv replaced Kate in April 1977." (She spells Kate's last name right so that gives her some cred right there.)

So now I think my Roxy photos with Viv were taken in April 1977, one of the last shows there . . . and, given this, I don't think kate was on the White Riot tour as you seem to think . . . 

Anyway, it seems that with our faulty memories, spotty knowledge and need to rely on suspect books, we're not at all clear about our 'Typical Girls' even after the zillions of words written under this banner.
 
Shame on us?


On Nov 16, 2008, at 10:37 PM, robin dudley wrote:
i have seen pics of kate at the roxy with viv's name on them. the harlesden gig with the clash (1st gig) was with kate, as ditto the screen on the green and at least one roxy gig. i HAVEN'T seen the Roxy 1977 album. perhaps you are thinking  of 78, which would have been after the white riot tour...i don't remember when the roxy shut down. argh, now i see the point of keeping diaries - too late! there was a slight similarity in their looks i guess...

From: misschief AT earthlink.net
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:29:19 -0600
To: typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS

Robin, 

Autumn 1977?  But, I'm quite sure it was Viv that played all the Roxy dates from Jan. 1977 to April 1977. I saw all those shows and took lots of pictures. The photos of Ari and, I think, Palmolive on the Roxy 1977 album are mine (not sure Palmolive pic is on there, haven't looked lately at the album, I'll dig it out).

Someone correct me if I'm wrong on this . . I guess memories can also be pretty slippery when you go that far back!


On Nov 16, 2008, at 7:08 PM, robin dudley wrote:
annette;

would've been autumn of 77 - i think! dates are a little slippery when you go that far back.

From: misschief AT earthlink.net
Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:12:32 -0600
To: typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS

Robin,

Thanks for filling me in on the Slits' background, I do appreciate learning the facts from someone who obviously knows more than I do about Kate and her many contributions to the group! Just for the record, . . . when did Viv replace Kate?

(I'm not arguing lineups or anything, just want to know this to add to the history you have given us).


On Nov 13, 2008, at 9:31 AM, robin dudley wrote:
actually, when the slits "burst upon the scene"  with that name you considered so amazing, they were palmolive, ari, kate and tessa. viv came in AFTER it appeared to be a going concern. before that she did not want to know and actually scoffed at the "publicity gimmick" of an all-girl band.

true to most people the "original" lineup includes viv, but the name, much of the first set's music, and first few gigs which caught people's attention, included and were created with kate playing a very active part. viv was nowhere to be found. the fact that she made a good replacement and played on the white riot tour does not change that fact. so maybe we should just stop talking about original lineups cause its not going to happen!

From: misschief AT earthlink.net
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:37:16 -0600
To: typicalgirls AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [TypicalGirls] THE SLITS REFORM FOR NEW SHOWS

After more thought I would like to amend the last sentence of my previous post to read:

"Sincere thanks, and kudos, to the men and women who helped them refine, progress, make great albums and keep the band alive today . . . ."



On Nov 12, 2008, at 1:42 PM, Annette wrote:
When the Slits burst upon the London scene in January 1977-- I am talking about when they were first splashed across the fronts of newspapers (their name was horrifying, of course, to the populace; never, ever, and maybe forever, had any band borne so disturbing and incredible a name); when they were mainstay players at the Roxy and absolutely integral to shaping Punk Rock; and in general, when hanging about for months making their music, mischief and being well, the Slits, as everybody knew them, they were 4 girls. Their names were Ari Up, Viv, Tessa, and Palmolive. For most of us there, this was the Slits and will always be the Slits.

Sincere thanks to the men who helped them refine and progress and make great albums, but the Slits, to us, were Ari Up, Viv, Tessa, and Palmolive.


On Nov 12, 2008, at 1:36 AM, weasel walter wrote:
>>> and for that matter viv was not the original guitarist so its all moot!!!
 
ha ha ha. this is a good point. they'd have to get kate korus back.
 
ww


____________________________________________________________
Click here to become a professional counselor in less time than you think.
_______________________________________________
TypicalGirls mailing list

_______________________________________________
TypicalGirls mailing list


Get 5 GB of storage with Windows Live Hotmail. Sign up today.
_______________________________________________
TypicalGirls mailing list


Windows Live Hotmail now works up to 70% faster. Sign up today.
_______________________________________________
TypicalGirls mailing list


Color coding for safety: Windows Live Hotmail alerts you to suspicious email. Sign up today.
_______________________________________________
TypicalGirls mailing list


Color coding for safety: Windows Live Hotmail alerts you to suspicious email. Sign up today.

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page