On the finish of the ’70s, Rock Towards Racism—a disparate community of anti-fascist, anti-racist bands that fashioned in opposition to a rise in assist for the Nationwide Entrance, a far-right, fascist political motion and an uptick in violence towards individuals of shade all through the nation—was at its top. Thatcher and Reagan have been about to carry their bootstrap politics to larger workplaces. The state of affairs was unsustainable. In 1978, in Birmingham, the Au Pairs fashioned out of their native RAR chapter. Woods had simply dropped out of Birmingham College, and like many different younger individuals in an economically ravaged, post-industrial Britain, was dwelling off of the dole. By RAR she met Paul, who launched her to his childhood good friend, Pete. They began taking part in collectively, impressed by the blade-sharp, discordant sound of bands like Gang of 4, the Slits, and the Pop Group. At first, they have been a band referred to as Finish of Chat, which was extra leftfield jazz and funk than rock’n’roll. After spending time taking part in collectively, with Woods writing the lyrics and the band co-writing every little thing else, they determined to grow to be a four-piece, symmetrical. Two ladies, two males. Munro joined, and sooner or later, Finish of Chat turned the Au Pairs. And the Au Pairs turned a post-punk band that appeared like completely nobody, with Woods’ completely pitched alto, a sure sonic symmetry, and lyrics that have been summary however solely potent.

They turned very large on the indie membership circuit, very quick. Their first performances befell simply 4 weeks after Munro joined. They went from “merely edgy and oppressive,” as one reporter wrote, to having “a cohesion, an unforced stream of energy and sense of decision and objective.” They toured with Gang of 4 and the Buzzcocks, taking part in high-profile gigs that landed them a take care of the indie label Human.

Alongside the best way, Woods turned a palpable stage presence. She wore excessive heels, a full face of make-up, and sang with stunning explicitness about intercourse. It wasn’t precisely well-received. “I don’t know the way they name themselves feminists once they costume like tarts,” one showgoer instructed a reporter for Rock On. “You’re a lady and also you sing about girls and boys and that’s okay as a result of it matches into music,” Woods quipped to Melody Maker, paraphrasing one notably misogynistic assessment of the band. “You couldn’t sing about Marxist ideology since you’re not clever sufficient.” Within the eyes of the band’s critics, what Woods was doing couldn’t be referred to as “feminist” in any respect. Isn’t it dangerous for girls, one would possibly incorrectly assume, to face up there like a bit of meat? Why couldn’t the Au Pairs be extra just like the Gang of 4—lower all of the salacious stuff and simply deal with theoretical Marxism?