Here to Be Heard: The Story of The Slits

The story of The Slits, the groundbreaking punk-reggae band led by Ari-Up. Founded in London by four teen girls in 1976, the band was threatening to men and inspiring to women. In an England ruled by bowler-hatted men, Tessa, Palmolive, Viv Albertine and 14-year-old Ari-Up were unique, with wild personalities. Totally unconventional, they made the music they wanted to: way past rock ‘n’ roll and punk, with feminine, reggae-inspired rhythms.

The Slits’ groundbreaking sound never reached a mass audience and in 1982, after two albums and plenty of line-up changes, the band folded. Willfully neglected at the time, The Slits’ importance is finally being recognised. The nomadic Ari-Up made music up until her death in 2010, first solo then, from 2005 onwards, again with The Slits. Her boundless energy, disrespect for rules and idiosyncratic personality continue to inspire.

Part of EarWORM, a screening of a music documentary with intros and outros, poetry, DJs and live music. Today: IFFR, GIRLS GO BOOM and WORM Present: Here To Be Heard: The Story of The Slits | Live Line-up: Introduction: Leonor Faber-Jonker, Q&A: Jan Hiddink, DJ’S Girls go BOOM, DJ Squad. 

Also see Raw Chicks.Berlin and The Doom Doc. 

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