The Raincoats - Storming the Social Conscience

In 1977 two art school students in London, Ana da Silva and Gina Birch, would start the post-punk band, The Raincoats . Not only did they develop an unusual sound and approach to music incorporating experimental and other elements, but this band also that took on social and political issues. The Raincoats would release their self-titled debut album in 1979 as an all-female band for this debut. The Raincoats would be one of the first bands to influence feminism and they would inspire generations of female fronted bands that came after. The band would break up in 1984 following their third album, but the band’s influence in the 90’s on artists including Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain would inspire a reissue of their catalog and a rekindling of the group in 1993. This episode will tell the story of the early years of the band, their impact on social issues, their music, and the chance meeting of Ana da Silva with Kurt Cobain that led to the reformation of The Raincoats .