The Slits' Viv Albertine releasing new memoir, doing U.S. book appearances

In 2014, former Slits guitarist Viv Albertine released Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys, Boys, a memoir that took her from childhood, to art school and punk, with much of the book dealing with her post-Slits life which was just as interesting (and at times, heartbreaking) as the parts about Mick Jones, Vivienne Westwood and Johnny Rotten. It’s a book I’d recommend to anyone whether you’re familiar with her music or not. On May 1, Albertine will release To Throw Away Unopened, which follows her life since the release her first book:

At the launch party for her memoir Clothes Music Boys in 2014, Viv Albertine received the news her mother was dying. She left the party immediately and spent a few final hours with a woman who had been an enormous presence and force in her life. In the weeks that followed, Viv was left with the task of sorting through her mother’s affairs. In that process she came across one fatally curious item: a bag labelled “To throw away unopened.” This auspicious moment lies at the heart of Viv Albertine’s second book, part memoir, part manifesto, part polemic in which she touches on sex, ageing, feminism (in all its guises) and other conundrums that characterize the 21st century life. It is a bold and unapologetic follow-up to a book which became a sensation by a musician and writer who sits at the heart of the counter-cultural landscape today as a celebrated and feted figure.

Viv has a few scheduled U.S. appearances around the book’s release (it’s out in the UK already), including two in NYC: April 26 at McNally Jackson in Soho (7 PM), and April 27 at Rough Trade. She’ll be doing Q&As and signing copies of the book at both,

She’ll also be in San Francisco on April 29 for the Bay Area Book Festival where she’ll be interviewed by Greil Marcus (tickets).

Meanwhile, new The Slits documentary Here to Be Heard: The Story of the Slits will be touring around the U.S. starting in May, and includes a screening at Nitehawk Cinema on May 8 which is part of the BrooklynVegan-presented “Music Driven” series (tickets) and there will be a Q&A with director William E. Badgley and the film’s producer Jennifer Shagawat (who is one half of Shellshag), moderated by Pitchfork’s Jenn Pelly. There are also screenings at Alamo Drafthouse on May 5 (tickets) and WFMU Monty Hall on May 6 (tickets) and both of those have Q&As with Palmolive of The Slits (and Raincoats). You can watch the trailer for the film, and check out the full list of screening dates, below.
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Here to Be Heard: The Story of The Slits – 2018 Screening Dates
Saturday, May 5th – Brooklyn – Alamo Drafthouse – 10pm (Q&A includes Palmolive of Slits/Raincoats)
Sunday, May 6th – Jersey City – WFMU Theater (Q&A includes Palmolive of Slits/Raincoats)
Monday, May 7th – Philadelphia – PhilaMoca – 7:30pm*
Tuesday, May 8th – Brooklyn – Nite Hawk – 7:30pm (Q&A moderator w/ Jenn Pelly and film producer Jennifer Shagawat of Shellshag)
Wednesday, May 9th – Baltimore – The Parkway Theater – 7pm
Thursday, May 10th – Washington D.C. – AFI Silver – TBA
Monday, May 14th – Toronto – The Royal – 8pm
Tuesday, May 15th – Pittsburgh – Row House Cinema – TBA
Wednesday, May 16th – Cleveland – The Capitol Theater – 7:30pm
Friday, May 18th – Detroit – Third Man Records – TBA
Sunday, May 20th – Chicago – The Empty Bottle– 8 PM (Q&A moderator: Jessica Hopper)
Sunday, May 27th – Dallas – Texas Theater – TBA
Monday, May 28th – Austin – Alamo Drafthouse The Ritz – Matinee
Thursday, May 31st – Birmingham, AL – Saturn – TBA
Wednesday, June 20th – Bellingham, WA – The Shakedown – TBA
Thursday, June 21st – Olympia, WA – The Capitol Theater – TBA
Friday, June 22nd – 24th – Seattle – Northwest Film Forum – TBA (Q&A moderator: Hozoji Matheson-Margullis of Helms Alee)
Saturday, June 23rd – Portland, OR – The Hollywood Theater – 7pm
Sunday, June 24th – Oakland – The Parkway Theater – Matinee 3pm
Sunday, June 24th – San Francisco – Alamo Drafthouse – TBA
Monday, June 25th – Los Angeles – The Regent – TBA (Q&A moderator:Allison Wolfe of Bratmobile and The Ex Stains)