♥What was the spark that initiated this book?
I had always really loved punk and reggae, free and alternative music, and I was a music writer and DJ of a punky reggae / experimental radio show called the Pogo Sessions (now Paranoimia) so it was natural for me to fall in love with The Slits and want to write about them and push them wherever I could.
But specifically, it was when I heard their cover version of Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’ that I became really interested in them and their process.
They’d been written off as crazy girl punks, which they were too of course, but there was much more to them than that, as artists and as people, and I wanted to learn more. I was amazed when I realised no one had written a book about them, so after a while, I decided it might actually be a mission for me! Luckily the rest of The Slits and their comrades agreed, and Ari in particular has often rightly said that The Slits have always been swept under the carpet, and this is an opportunity to hopefully change that in some way.
But I also feel that it’s vital to draw attention to this group and what they did not simply because they absolutely deserve this tribute, but also for the sake of not just women but artists who are going their own way – I found learning about them wholly inspiring and motivating, and I hope the book will serve to spread this effect to others.
My idea was to particularly celebrate ‘Cut’, their seminal 1979 album which was so important and still sounds timeless, witty, original and exciting, and the book, which comes out this summer, will coincide with the 30-year anniversary of the album’s release. It also coincides with their then label Island Records’ 50-year anniversary too! So this is an important year all round.
♥What were some things you were surprised to find out while researching this book?
Well, The Slits and everyone around them are always full of surprises, so in the end, nothing is surprising because nothing, seemingly, is off limits! Whether it was their topless, muddy album cover for ‘Cut’, their decision to work with jazz legend Don Cherry, their impromptu door-stepping of Sun Ra on a trip to Philadelphia, they were very wild and free and open-minded, so anything was possible and doable in their eyes. But you’ll have to read the book to find out the real surprises… !
One thing that was very special, was that Viv Albertine, who initially it was thought would not want to be involved, not only gave a wonderful interview but told me that she had become inspired to play music again after all those years. Then at Mick Jones’ Carbon Casino last year I engineered a bit of a meeting between Tessa and Viv, the first time they’d seen each other or spoken in a very long time. They worked together a bit after that, and Viv even played two gigs with the ‘new’ Slits last autumn.
Viv has just recorded a really great solo album, out later this year, (I sing backing vocals and play percussion on it so have your earplugs at the ready for my bits). The Slits also have an album out this July, and I can’t wait to hear it.
♥Was there anything left out that you wished you could have put in?
If there was anything I’d had to leave out, then I probably wouldn’t be able to talk about it here either! But no, I’m very happy with how the book is and I feel it is all as it should be – I hope everyone else agrees!
I’d have loved to have included Island boss Chris Blackwell’s perspective and Clash guitarist Mick Jones’ too, but try as I might, I could not get hold of them for the life of me, and after a while I just couldn’t keep the whole book waiting on the off chance that we’d finally be able to sort something out with them as my deadline was looming.
Mick Jones was apparently aware of the book and up for an interview but I just could not pin him down unfortunately! But he is still an important part of the book as he was Viv’s boyfriend at the time, and he was very helpful to The Slits, tuning their guitars on tour etc.
Great, about time someone remembered the Slits. Sounds like Zoe has the right attitude and integrity to make it work. Really looking forward to reading the book.