Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

ARI UP 1962 - 2010

With the passing of Ari Up in October here's an article from ZigZag Mag when The Slits were first brought to my attention back in '77.

That done let me just say one thing (or two). When Joe Strummer died Bob Geldof was interviewed on the TV. He paid tribute to Joe and then said that Strummer's music in recent times had little relevance. Of course I kicked the tele in, because for me the fact that Joe was still making music and communicating the thoughts of a forty year old and applying the skill and artistry he'd gleaned over his entire career was absolutely relevant to me. Perhaps if I'd never seen the Clash play live I may have felt differently, but I went to see Joe & the M to hear the new as much as the old.

And this was the case when I went to see The Slits back in October 2009. Yes I'd have gone to see them again even if they hadn't just released "Trapped Animal" but it was the blending of the old and the new that made that night at the Rainbow in Brum relevant and special. Ari Up bounced on stage and immediately announced that "tonight we're going to play some old stuff from Cut and some new stuff from Trapped Animal and hopefully it will be a life changing experience". It was. As Marcia Griffiths OD said in a recent interview "music is not just entertainment, fun & dance it's a message that you're sending to teach, educate and up lift". Ari Up did all of the above we salute you.