Initial line up of The Slits at their first show in 1976 (photo by Ian [email protected])
"HERE TO BE HEARD" The Story of The Slits" is a film about the world's first all girl punk band who formed in London in 1976, contemporaries of The Clash & The Sex Pistols, they are the pioneering godmothers of the musical movement known as "Punky Reggae". The film tells the story of the band and the lives of the women involved, from the bands inception in 1976 to the bands end in 2010 coinciding at the death of lead vocalist Ari Up.
When Ari passed away she was working with SLITS tour manager and friend Jennifer Shagawat on a film about the band. After Ari passed and the film was still not completed Jennifer contacted her long time friend bill over at Molasses Manifesto to come on and help finish the project.
So far we've filmed with Tessa Pollitt (SLITS Bass Player), Paloma Romero AKA Palmolive (SLITS Founder/First Drummer), Viv Albertine (SLITS Guitarist), Bruce Smith (SLITS Second/PIL Drummer), Hollie Cook (SLITS Vocalist/Keyboards/Percussion), Vivien Goldman (NYU's Punk Professor), Don Letts (Former SLITS Manager/Punk Documentarian), Dennis Bovell (Producer of The SLITS album CUT), Adrien Sherwood (Producer/Long time friend and collaborator of the band) and many more are on the way!
We've also collected previously unseen footage of the band, as well as photographs, newspaper clippings, and recordings.
HTBH is nearing the end of post production soon and will exhibit in 2017.