Ari Up (born  Arianna Forster) has died at 48, John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) has confirmed on his website.  Lydon, who is married to Forster’s mother said she died after a long illness on October 20th.  Up formed the Slits with drummer Palmolive in 1976 at the age 0f 14 and the original all female punk outfit, became well known for their unpredicatble and outragous antics, breaking the all boys club barriers of punk at the same time.  During their formative years they released two very influental albums, 1979’s ‘Cut” which remains famous for having a cover photo of the band topless and covered in mud, and my personal favorite 1981’s ‘Return of the Giant Slits,’ before disbanding.  In 2005 the Slits reuntied and released the under appreciated ‘Trapped Animal.’ in 2009.

In a interveiw with Spinner last year Up described the Slits legacy as being a mythology.  “They’re like Xena the Warrior Princess. She knew what she wanted. The Slits were totally rebellious and crazy. We were the absolute threat to society. We were such a threat. For our people, we changed the world.”