Rough Trade To Enter Indies Hall Of Fame

Rough Trade, who blazed a trail for gay bands while racking up a number of hits in the early '80s, will be inducted into the Indies Hall Of Fame at the seventh annual Independent Music Awards in Toronto on March 7.

Singer Carol Pope and songwriting partner/guitarist Kevan Staples first got together under the name O in 1969. They kept that moniker until 1971, when they became the Bullwhip Brothers, but they eventually stuck with Rough Trade — derived from Pope's fascination with S&M — in 1974.

"Our first Rough Trade poster had the slogan 'repulsive yet fascinating,' and I have always thought this was an apt description," says Staples.

Rough Trade Live came out in 1976, but their first major taste of success came four years later when bassist Terry Wilkins and drummer Bucky Berger became full-time members and True North released Avoid Freud. Despite radio censorship for the singles "Fashion Victim" and "High School Confidential," the album was certified platinum for selling more than 100,000 copies.

For Those Who Think Young (1981) spawned the single "All Touch," which is on the recently released soundtrack for Trailer Park Boys: The Movie. Shaking The Foundations, featuring the title track and "Crimes Of Passion," followed the next year. Weapons and O Tempora! O Mores! came next, and the group's final album was a 1985 hits collection titled The Best Of Birds Of A Feather.

Pope received a 1981 Juno Award for most promising female vocalist, and followed that up the next two years with Junos for best female vocalist.

Rough Trade broke up in 1986, but have briefly reunited a few times for live appearances since then. Pope has been living in Los Angeles and New York City, recording as a solo artist, contributing music to television shows, doing theatre work and writing an autobiography titled Anti Diva. Staples composes music for TV, films and commercials.

Rough Trade will reform to perform at The Indies, and True North will release the gold-certified Weapons on CD for the first time to coincide with their HOF induction. The record will be remastered by Peter Moore and will include the 12-inch mix of "Deca-Dance" as a bonus track.

The Indies Hall Of Fame has previously inducted The Parachute Club, The Pursuit Of Happiness, Martha & The Muffins and D.O.A.