“CLOTHES, CLOTHES, CLOTHES; MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC; BOYS, BOYS, BOYS – THAT’S ALL YOU’RE BOTHERED ABOUT” YOUNG VIVIANE ALBERTINE’S MUM WOULD TELL HER, AS CHILDHOOD GAVE WAY TO THE THRILLS OF LOOKS, LENNON AND LUST.

In her soon-to-be-published memoir – titled after her mother’s aphorism – Viv draws an expected line to, through and from the London punk scene of the late-1970s, and her influential band The Slits’ place within it. Unexpectedly, it turns out not to be their story which forms the heart of her book – nor which offers most insight or reward.
It’s not a standard music autobiography, offering a vivid and sometimes painfully three-dimensional account of a quite remarkable life – but it has far less to do with music than it does with being a woman. In a truly fantastic new edition of The Mouthcast Viv discusses her life before, during and post punk – and she explains how motherhood and marriage impacted on her creativity.
CLOTHES CLOTHES CLOTHES MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC BOYS BOYS BOYS is published by Faber & Faber on 5th June. Pre-order a signed copy here.