Au Pairs

Bio

The Au Pairs were a post-punk band who formed in Birmingham, UK in 1979. Musically they were very similar to bands such as Ludus, Gang of Four and Delta 5. That is, the rhythm section was tight and funky (obvious influences were James Brown and Funkadelic), but the guitars were light and "scratchy" (like Subway Sect). All these bands shared a strongly left wing social outlook, but the Au Pairs stood out due to their frontwoman, Lesley Woods, being an outspoken feminist and lesbian: the band were greatly influential in this respect on the riot grrrl movement a decade later. Music historian Gillian G. Gaar noted in her history of women in rock that the band mingled male and female musicians in a revolutionary collaborative way as part of its outspoken explorations of sexual politics. Their first album Playing with a Different Sex is considered a post-punk classic with strong, sarcastic songs like "It's Obvious" and "We're so cool" taking a dry look at gender relations. Other songs, such as "Armagh" with its refrain,"we don't torture" took a pro-republican look at the then ongoing "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, which caused some controversy at the time. The band's second album, Sense and Sensuality, showed an even greater influence of jazz, soul, funk and disco on the band's sound, but was less well received. The band broke up in 1983 just before they were about to go into the studio to record an album with producer Steve Lillywhite. Woods formed an all woman band called the Darlings in the late '80s, but then left the music industry. She now works as a lawyer. Guitarist, Paul Foad remains an active musician, playing with Andy Hamilton and the Blue Notes, a Jamaican Jazz band and teaching guitar in and around Birmingham. He has also published a guitar technique book, co-written with Stuart Ritchie, titled The Caged Guitarist (2000). Bass player Jane Munro works as an alternative therapist in Birmingham. Pete Hammond also remains an active musician and teaches percussion in Birmingham. The Au Pairs released two official albums "Playing with a Different Sex" (1981) and "Sense and Sensuality" (1982). Two more albums were released in 1983: "Live in Berlin" and the "BBC Sessions". Original Line-up: Lesley Woods - guitar/vocals Paul Foad - guitar/vocals Jane Munro - bass Pete Hammond - drums . User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

Similar artists

Delta 5, The Raincoats, Bush Tetras, The Slits, Liliput

Genres

classic pop and rock,punk,uk post-punk,post-punk,riot grrrl,new wave,gothic rock,

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Infos

On Tour: No

country: GB

City: 1979

Begin Date: 1979

Last Update:

Artist next concerts

by

Song Kick

Au Pairs with Gina Birch at Exeter Phoenix (January 30, 2026)

Exeter - Exeter Phoenix

30/Jan

2026

The Skids and Au Pairs at Chalk (January 31, 2026)

Brighton - Chalk

31/Jan

2026

Au Pairs at Effenaar (February 8, 2026)

Eindhoven - Effenaar

8/Feb

2026

Au Pairs and Gina Birch at Metronome (February 27, 2026)

Nottingham - Metronome

27/Feb

2026

Au Pairs and Gina Birch at The Drill (February 28, 2026)

Doncaster - The Drill

28/Feb

2026

Au Pairs and Gina Birch at The Limelight (March 7, 2026)

Belfast - The Limelight

7/Mar

2026

Au Pairs at Colchester Arts Centre (March 26, 2026)

Ipswich - Colchester Arts Centre

26/Mar

2026

Gina Birch and Au Pairs at Colchester Arts Centre (March 26, 2026)

Colchester - Colchester Arts Centre

26/Mar

2026

The Skids and Au Pairs at Leeds Beckett University Students Union (March 27, 2026)

Leeds - Leeds Beckett University Students Union

27/Mar

2026

The Skids and Au Pairs at O2 Ritz Manchester (March 28, 2026)

Manchester - O2 Ritz Manchester

28/Mar

2026

The Skids and Au Pairs at Y Plas Cardiff Students Union (April 17, 2026)

Cardiff - Y Plas Cardiff Students Union

17/Apr

2026

The Skids and Au Pairs at The Dome at Grand Central Hall (April 18, 2026)

Liverpool - The Dome at Grand Central Hall

18/Apr

2026

The Skids with Au Pairs at Barrowland (April 24, 2026)

Glasgow - Barrowland

24/Apr

2026

Au Pairs with Gina Birch at Trinity Centre (April 30, 2026)

Bristol - Trinity Centre

30/Apr

2026

Au Pairs at Electric Ballroom (May 1, 2026)

London - Electric Ballroom

1/May

2026

Videography

No biography registered

Artist discography

by

Last FM

Au Pairs Live In Glasgow

Au Pairs Live In Glasgow

Jan/2018

Au Pairs Recorded In Birmingham [Explicit]

Au Pairs Recorded In Birmingham [Explicit]

Jan/2018

Stepping Out of Line - The Anthology

Stepping Out of Line - The Anthology

Jun/2006

Shocks to the System: The Very Best of the Au Pairs

Shocks to the System: The Very Best of the Au Pairs

Jan/1999

Equal But Different - BBC Sessions 79-81

Equal But Different - BBC Sessions 79-81

Jul/1994

Sense & Sensuality

Sense & Sensuality

Aug/1993

Live in Berlin

Jan/1983

Sense And Sensuality

Sense And Sensuality

Jun/1982

Sex Without Stress

Sex Without Stress

Jan/1982

Inconvenience / Pretty Boys

Inconvenience / Pretty Boys

Jul/1981

Inconvenience / Pretty Boys / Headache (remix)

Inconvenience / Pretty Boys / Headache (remix)

Jul/1981

Inconvenience Pretty Boys Plus Re-Mix Of Headache

Inconvenience Pretty Boys Plus Re-Mix Of Headache

Jul/1981

Playing With a Different Sex

Playing With a Different Sex

Jan/1981

Inconvenience

Jan/1981

Headache (For Michelle)

Headache (For Michelle)

Jan/1981

It's Obvious

Jan/1980

Diet / Its Obvious

Diet / Its Obvious

Jan/1980

It's Obvious / Diet

It's Obvious / Diet

Jan/1980

You

Nov/1979

Sense & Sensuality

Sense & Sensuality

Aug/1993

Au Pairs Recorded In Birmingham

Au Pairs Recorded In Birmingham

Jan/2018

Stepping Out of Line: The Anthology

Stepping Out of Line: The Anthology

May/2006

Stepping Out of Line - The Anthology [Explicit]

Stepping Out of Line - The Anthology [Explicit]

Apr/2025

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