In Memory of Ari Up

Ari-Up-performing-with-Th-002 — Ari Up (1962–2010)

Ari Up, co-founder and lead singer of the post-punk band The Slits, died yesterday. She was 48. She was also one of the coolest people to ever grace this planet—much too cool for us, apparently.

I never saw the Slits live, but here’s a remembrance by someone who did (in 1977!). The Guardian has also posted pictures (it’s where I stole the above photo from). And here’s Pitchfork Media’s obituary.

Below, Slits videos, about all we have now to hold onto.

…and there are a ton more at YouTube, mainly of more recent performances.

Godspeed, Ari Up. Everything that I know about dancing, I learned from you. You’ll be greatly missed.

A. D. Jameson is the author of five books, most recently I FIND YOUR LACK OF FAITH DISTURBING: STAR WARS AND THE TRIUMPH OF GEEK CULTURE and CINEMAPS: AN ATLAS OF 35 GREAT MOVIES (with artist Andrew DeGraff). Last May, he received his Ph.D. in Creative Writing from the Program for Writers at UIC.

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