THE SLITS: My last Ari Up interview.

We were planning a book, then she was gone.

The news of David Lynch’s passing hit quite hard. I’d been a huge fan since watching Eraserhead in a local hall in 1977, got addicted to Twin Peaks, swooned into suspended animation at Mulholland Drive and obviously loved the Inland Empire Empire rabbits. When I met my Helen it turned out he was her favourite director too. She’d even put together a book of his quotes called According To David Lynch nearly 20 years ago that got his blessing.

Quite why this led to me remembering Ari Up, livewire vocalist with The Slits, I’m not sure but , in maybe quite Lynchian style, I thought I’d run this account of the last interview I did with her in 2009 in which she talked about the reformed band’s new Trapped Animal, reissue of landmark Cut and asked if I’d be up for supplying words to the book she was planning featuring her memories and memorabilia. When I took over Zigzag in 1977, they were the first band I stuck on the cover and there were many adventures over the next few years (including celebrating my mag’s tenth birthday with them at Island for a photo session for another cover and it all ending up over me). I loved Ari and would often be enlisted to get her home safe to her mum Nora’s place in Shepherds Bush. It was so sad when she just slipped away; like Helen a victim of cancer.

This was our first chat in 28 years. ..