Rough Trade (band)
Canadian rock band known for provocative lyrics and stage antics.
Rough Trade was a Canadian rock band active from 1973 to 1988, built around singer Carole Pope and multi-instrumentalist Kevan Staples. The group was known for pushing boundaries with sexually charged lyrics and theatrical performances—Pope frequently wore bondage gear onstage. Their 1981 single "High School Confidential" became one of the first Top 40 hits anywhere to explicitly address lesbian themes.
The band began in 1968 in Toronto, when Pope and Staples performed in a folk group called "O" with Clive Smith. After Smith left in 1970, the duo renamed themselves The Bullwhip Brothers and played acoustic sets at art festivals and private events. In 1973, they became Rough Trade, adding percussionist Chris Faulkner, bassist Bob Jennings, and drummer Donny McDougal. The lineup shifted often; by 1974, the core duo was joined by Hap Roderman, Jane Cessine, Sharon Smith, and Marv Kanarek. Their blend of rock, R&B, and raw sexuality made them a staple at Toronto's Grossman's Tavern.
In 1976, Rough Trade recorded *Rough Trade Live*, a direct-to-disc album—a method that had been used by several artists before them, such as Chase in 1974. Despite its title, it was a studio recording, with each side performed in one take and cut straight to the master disc for higher audio quality. The lineup at that time included Pope, Staples, JoAnn Brooks, Rick Gratton, Michael Fonfara, and Peter Hodgson. Most songs were written by Pope and Staples. That same year, Geoff Travis opened a record shop in London named Rough Trade—the name is widely believed to be inspired by the slang term "rough trade", not the band, though the store later led to the formation of Rough Trade Records in 1978.
On December 19, 1977, the band staged a live musical called *Restless Underwear* at Toronto's Massey Hall, co-starring Divine. The show was a one-night run of outrageous sexual satire, but after it ended, the entire band except Pope and Staples quit over a payment dispute. After a six-month break, the duo rebuilt the group, adding David McMorrow, Bucky Berger, Terry Wilkins, Bert Hermiston, Colina Phillips, and Betty Richardson at various points in 1978 and 1979. They returned to regular gigs at the Horseshoe Tavern. In 1978, Tim Curry released a cover of their song "Birds of a Feather" from the 1976 album. Pope and Staples also wrote for film and TV soundtracks, winning a Genie Award that ye
- formed
- 1973
- disbanded
- 1988
- origin
- Toronto, Canada
- genre
- Rock
- known_for
- Provocative lyrics, bondage attire, lesbian-themed hit "High School Confidential"
Lore & Background
The first iteration of the band was formed in 1968 in Toronto when Carole Pope and Kevan Staples began performing in a folk group known as "O". After several name changes and lineup shifts, the band settled on the name Rough Trade in 1973. They became a popular draw on Toronto's live music scene through regular shows at Grossman's Tavern, with Pope often performing in bondage attire. Rough Trade recorded a direct-to-disc album in 1976 with *Rough Trade Live*—a method that had been used by earlier artists like Chase—though the album was actually a studio recording. In 1977, the band presented a live musical called *Restless Underwear* at Massey Hall, co-starring Divine, but the rest of the band quit after the one-show run over a payment dispute.
After rebuilding, Rough Trade landed a contract with True North Records in 1980 and released *Avoid Freud*. Dusty Springfield sang backing vocals on the track 'All Touch' from the album *Shaking the Foundations* (1982), not *For Those Who Think Young*.
Reader's Guide
Rough Trade's significance lies in their bold exploration of sexual themes in popular music, particularly through Carole Pope's bondage attire and the explicitly lesbian-themed "High School Confidential", which was one of the first such songs to reach the Top 40 worldwide. Their direct-to-disc recording method for Rough Trade Live was innovative for its time. The band also influenced the naming of the Rough Trade record shop and label in London. Despite commercial decline after 1983, their work remains notable for its unapologetic sexuality and theatrical live performances. Their music was covered by artists such as Tim Curry and Dusty Springfield, and they contributed to film and television soundtracks, winning a Genie Award in 1978. The band's legacy includes continued interest through reunion shows and a 1999 musical revue based on their music.
Did You Know?
- Rough Trade was the first rock band to record a direct to disc album, with 1976's Rough Trade Live.
- The band's 1981 hit "High School Confidential" was one of the first explicitly lesbian-themed Top 40 hits in the world.
- Geoff Travis opened the first Rough Trade record shop in London in 1976, reportedly taking the name from the band.
- Dusty Springfield sang backing vocals on Rough Trade's 1982 album Shaking the Foundations and later covered two of their songs.
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