The Slits
United Kingdom, 1976–2010
London band formed in 1976 around Ari Up and Viv Albertine, and one of the first all-women groups to come out of punk. Cut (1979), produced by Dennis Bovell, replaced punk's speed with dub space and reggae bass, and is a founding post-punk record.
MusicRoots documents 6 artists who influenced The Slits and 1 artist The Slits influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.
Who influenced The Slits?
- The Clash — Joe Strummer taught Ari Up to play guitar, and the Slits' first tour was supporting the Clash.
- Lee "Scratch" Perry — Ari Up named Perry's dub among the records she listened to, and Cut answers them — punk speed replaced by dub space.
- U-Roy — One of the deejays Ari Up named among what she was listening to while the Slits were finding the sound of Cut.
- Big Youth — Named by Ari Up among the deejays she listened to — the chanted delivery behind her own way of riding a bassline.
- King Tubby — The dub mixing Cut answers directly: instruments dropping out and coming back wet, used on a punk record.
- Sly and Robbie — The rhythm section Ari Up named — the model for the space Tessa Pollitt's bass plays in rather than the notes.
Which artists did The Slits influence?
- Mika — An unexpected name on Mika's own list, and the dub-inflected end of it.