First concert at The Tabernacle

Da Silva and Birch were inspired to make a band in 1977 after they saw the Slits perform live earlier that year. Birch stated in an interview with She Shreds magazine, “It was as if suddenly I was given permission. It never occurred to me that I could be in a band. Girls didn’t do that. But when I saw the Slits doing it, I thought, ‘This is me. This is mine. ‘ ” For the band’s first concert on 9 November 1977 at The Tabernacle , the line-up included Birch, da Silva, Ross Crighton (guitar), and Nick Turner (drums). Guitarist Kate Korus (from the Slits and later the Mo-dettes ) joined briefly but was replaced by Jeremie Frank. Nick Turner left to form the Barracudas , and Richard Dudanski (ex– the 101ers and later Public Image Ltd. ) sat in on drums, while filmmaker Patrick Keiller replaced Frank on guitar.