characterized much of punk's aftermath. The band was formed at
Hornsey Art College, London, in 1976 by Gina Birch and Ana Da Silva.
Augmented by Vicky Aspinall and manager Shirley
O'Loughlin, they were originally joined by Palmolive (b. Paloma
Romero) before she left to concentrate on the Slits. This line-up was
merely a nucleus for a flexible structure that involved numerous
other musicians. As Birch recalls: "We didn't exactly ignore the
audience, but for us, playing was an emotional thing. We would
struggle, we would cry, we didn't really know what we were doing half
the time'. The Raincoats" debut, "Fairytale In The Supermarket",
appeared on Rough Trade Records (a label that shared their
groundbreaking stance) in 1979. It would sell a healthy 25,000
copies. A self-titled album that same year boasted a similarly
distinctive sound, and both were revered by critics and a hardcore of
admirers alike. Odyshape followed in 1981, but was less direct than
their debut. Two further singles, a cover version of Sly
Stone's "Running Away" in 1982, and "Animal Rhapsody" a year later,
both hinted at unfulfilled potential. The Raincoats eventually
delivered their swan song in 1984 with Moving. However, as fitting an
epitaph as any can be found on The Kitchen Tapes, on the ROIR label,
originally released in 1983.
The Raincoats may have remained of historical interest only had not
one of their biggest fans, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, tracked down Ana
Da Silva to an antique shop in Notting Hill, London. In exchange for
a customized original of the band's debut album, Cobain offered the
Raincoats the chance to re-form and support Nirvana on upcoming UK
dates (he would also write sleeve-notes for the CD reissues of their
albums). Thus the 1994 model Raincoats, who featured Da Silva with
Birch, joined by violinist Anne Wood and drummer Steve Shelley (a
stand-in on loan from Sonic Youth). Palmolive was said to have
departed for a life of religious evangelicalism in Texas, while
Aspinall was busy running a dance label. The new line-up issued
Looking In The Shadows in 1996. Original members Da Silva and Birch
were augmented by ex-Bratmobile Heather Dunn (drums) and Anne Wood
(violin).
some girls are bigger than others
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