Legendary punk rock songstress Ari Up, best known for her work with The Slits, passed away yesterday at the age of 48 according to John Lydon, her stepfather and leader of the Sex Pistols.

Lydon announced via his website yesterday that Up, born Arianna Foster, passed away as a result of complications stemming from a “serious illness.” The post revealed no further information regarding the cause of her death.

Foster began her journey into the punk rock hall of fame in 1976, at the age of 14, with the formation of The Slits.  The all-girl group featured Foster on vocals, the legendary Palmolive on drums, Suzy Gutsy on bass and Kate Korus on guitar. Together the quartet released Cuts in 1979, one of the earliest and most influential punk records of all time.  The band broke up shortly after the release of 1981’s Return of the Giant Slits, but Foster restarted the group in 2005 to release an album, Trapped Animal, and an EP, Revenge of the Killer Slits.

Beyond The Slits, Up also maintained a solo career and worked with the heavily experimental New Age Steppers.

In memorium of Foster’s death, Narnack Records has released a video for “Lazy Slam,” which comes from The Slits’ album Trapped Animal.  Check out the video below:

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