THE SLITS Newtown ( John Peel Sessions, BBC, 1977)

It s difficult to describe the impact the Slits had on the music scene twenty years ago, as now it s difficult to imagine a prepunk world with few female artists. They came out of the heart of London s punk scene: Viv Albertine and Palmolive were members of Flowers Of Romance along with Sid Vicious and Keith Levine, rehearsing in Joe Strummer s squat. Meanwhile an allgirl group were rehearsing as The Castrators, including Kate Korus and Tessa Pollitt. Palmolive then teamed up with 14year old Ari, the wildly brattish, precocious daughter of a former rock chick, German heiress Nora. Kate Korus joined The Slits as guitarist, before moving on to form The Modettes. Tessa and Viv then joined the ranks, completing the definitive early lineup. After a few gigs they were invited by the Clash to support them on the White Riot tour. The band quickly acquired a violent, chaotic image, attacking bands like Sore Throat and Throbbing Gristle on stage, and chosen by Derek Jarman to trash cars in his 1977 film Jubil