The Slits

Ari Up (real name Arianna Foster) was just 14 when The Slits made their live debut with The Clash. Palmolive (Paloma Romera) and Viv Albertine weren't much older. They could barely play, but they more than made up for it with attitude, inspiring a generation of girls to get up and have a go.

By the time they recorded Typical Girls - their rant against female conformism - with producer Dennis Bovell, they had become more musical and evolved their own style, heavily influenced by reggae and free jazz but keeping the chaotic, angry edge. The rolling bass, skittering guitars, Ari's yelping voice: it all screamed freedom, opening up a new world of possibilities.

After The Slits disbanded in 1981, Ari joined The New Age Steppers, lived in the Borneo jungle, became Johnny Rotten's stepdaughter and eventually settled in Jamaica as a clothes designer and mother.