National Geographic Music (National Geographic)

Before there were Riot Grrls, before there was Lilith Fair and before even Kim Gordon ever strapped on her bass, there were The Slits-the all-girl U.K. punk outfit that staked out a place alongside The Clash, The Damned and The Sex Pistols as part of the first generation of British punk. Though the group was defunct for almost 25 years, they're back and ready for a whole new generation of fans with a new, full-length LP and a whirlwind series of U.S. live dates in December.

Led by Ari Up, Tessa Pollit and Palmolive, the trio made their bones on the Clash's infamous 1977 "White Riot Tour", joining the Buzzcocks and the Subway Sect as supporting acts. Captured live in the BBC studios by DJ John Peel that same year, the Slits' sound was raw, immediate and chaotic. and the very embodiment of early punk's DIY, no-rules aesthetic. While their 1979 full-length debut, Cut remains one of punk's great experimental artifacts-a white-hot mess of punk attitude and deconstructed dub produced by equally legendary UK reggae producer Dennis Bovell.

The group's original lineup didn't last long—Palmolive left the band before Cut even hit the shelves, and the group disbanded altogether in 1981 (after the release of their follow-up LP, Return of the Giant Slits). But after decades of being consigned to the great cut-out in the sky, The Slits managed a ressurection of sorts in 2005, with Ari Up and Tessa Pollitt anchoring a band of younger female artists, playing occasional gigs and releasing a new EP, The Revenge of The Killer Slits in 2006.

But now The Slits are back in earnest, with Trapped Animal, their first full-length album in over 25 years and a short burst of U.S. tour dates in December. To quote The Slits' press release: "With Trapped Anima, The Slits remain the same genre bending band they were in their inception, still standing out from the rest of the pack. In the title track they examine how the conveniences that surround us in today's modern world have also trapped us. Other tracks include 'Pay Rent' which focuses on the everyday struggle artists face trying to pay the bills through their art along with the sexually charged 'Lazy Slam.'"

The Slits' current lineup features original members Ari Up and Tessa Pollitt along with Hollie Cook (daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook), Anna Schulte and Adele Wilson. Nat Geo Music caught this lineup at SXSW in 2008 and we were mightily impressed—the old material still sounds remarkably fresh and the new material was solid—and this time around the band actually knows how to play their instruments. Which didn't impact their joyful mayhem one whit.

The Slits Live Dates:

12/10 Bottom Of The Hill, San Francisco, CA
12/13 The Echo, Los Angeles, CA
12/14 Highline Ballroom, New York, NY